The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-15

10 keep Il drunk for months at a time.
When the late cane crop was harvested
and manufactured into sugar and mo-
lasses. there being no demand for the lat
ter, IL was largely dumped into the Mis-
sissippi and its tributary bayous. This
made little difference 10 the Mississippi
but Bayou Teche. considered the most
beautiful stream in Louisiana, and a fav-
ortte place Of residence. has been almost
ruined by molasses. Enough of the latter
was poured into IL tn cause fermentation,
kill the FISH, and create Odors worse than
those which blow from Hunters Point.
But, in spite of the rum refinery. the
dumping of millions of gallons of mo-
lasses into the river and bayous. and the
use as fuel for the sugar houses and as
food for stock. there are still some 25.-
10000 gallons Of molasses left over from
last years gripding which the planters are
anxious to get rid of or to find some use
for. They will soon begin grinding again,
and will turn out another 100000 gallons
of surplus molasses, and they have no
room for il. The molasses is worth nomi-
nally to cents a gallon, or say, 81, 10000
! to S2,000,00o for the crop. 1t was worth &C.,
10000 or more a few years ago. This
seems large amount to throw away sim
ply because of the cost OF barrelling it.
Any one who can solve the problem of
utilizing what was formerly a valuable
product will not only get the aid and as
sistance of the planters, and all the mo-
lasses he wants free but will also be re-
garded by them as a friend and bene-
/ factor
This subject has monopolized the last
two meetings of the planters association,
hut no conclusion was reached. and II was
resolved to appeal to inventors, specula-
tors. and others in the north to see II they
cannot solve the problem. The mOlasses is
now being most extensively used as food
for stock, and does very well, but it is inn
possible or at least unhealthful to feed
cattle and mules on molasses alone, and,
even If il could be done, there are not
/ enough cattle and mules in the sugar dis
| trict to consume one-third of the annual
product. 1t has been proposed that the
molasses be shipped to Texas and used in
fattening cattle there. but here Arises the
question Of barrelling and freight. If the
molasses could be carried in tank vessels
or cars like petroleum it might be prac-
ticable, but it will scarcely be possible to
carry it to Texas in barrels, for 1t would
cost over 100000 TO barrel.
The idea Of manufacturing it into rum
is still popular, but there is the difficulty
Of finding a market for the product. and
very considerable capital is needed for
| the business. 1t may be possible in time
to have a rum rectifying establishment
annexed to every sugar factory, but it
will take long time. The planters have
bdItly 6nOuSn capital 10 carry OIL the
sugar business without enlbarking in that
of rectifying or manufacturing rum.
The plan which seems to strike the
planters as the most practical is to utilize
the molasses as fuel. 1t consists of nearly
pure carbon, and at its present cost would
be cheaper than coal, IL some practical sys-
tenn of combustion could be found. The
planters have been experimenting with
molasses as fuel, but, of course, only on a
small scale, and with crude machinery
The molasses has to be admitted into the
furnace very slowly, and so as not to gum
the carrier, and even then 1t frequently
does harm. A system of sprinkling the
molasses on the bagasse, the dead canes,
after thek saccharine Juice has been
squeezed from them has worked best, but
the planters recognize that they have not
reached perfection by any means, and
that some practical mechanic and engi-
neer is needed to give them perfect pro-
cess.
The Sugar Planters Association, the
sugar exchange and the New Orleans
newspapers are receiving suggestions by
the dozen, and It seems probable now
that attention has been called to the mat
ter. that some valuable use will be found
for this molasses. A Texas engineer de-
clares that he has found that by mixing
molasses with red or iron clay and salt
water, it makes the best lining for fur
ing asbestos and fire clay. Ex-
periments showed that when fire
clay and asbestos had both worn
off, the molasses compound was as good as
ever. He manufactured this furnace
compound of one-half gallon of molasses,
mixed with a bushel of clay and enough
salt water to soften it to the proper de-
gree
A physician in Oklahoma proposes to
take charge Of the molasses crop. ami
cement ii into chemical products He
believes that the molasses can be utilized
to advantage in the manufacture of acct
ic acid, the various acetates, vinegar and
incidentally as product in the
manufacture of acetate of lead
He will come to New Orleans
to that end. A New Yorker proposes to
have hundred or so barrels of molasses
sent 10 New York and distributed free
among the poor of that city. Bread AMI
molasses is better than bread and but
ter, he writes, and all you have to do
is to teach the people to eat it. Once in
troduced and popularized, it will be an
easy matter to sell the molasses as hui
man food, Still another New Yorker has
a process by which the molasses can be
hardened so that it can be hauled like so
much lHmber. thus doing away with the
cost of barrels, one of the heaviest ex-
penses in marketing the crop, and which
more than anything else prevents the
molasses from being shipped and keeps it
on the plantations.
These are but a few samples of the
propositions that are pouring in upon the
planters. Thirty years ago the cotton
planters found themselves confronted
with the same difficulty-how to get rid
of the cottonseed, which was of no value
to them but very bulky article. and,
therefore, a great nuisance The cotton
seed is raw material, whereas molasses
is manufactured product, yet the use of
the former article have gradually extend
ed until 1t is now one of the most i'm
portant outputs of the south. The plant
ers believe that molasses will yet prove
as valuable.
Magnetic Young Lady.
From the Augusta (Me.) Journal
A handsome brunette on the Peaks Is
land boat one day this week bewitched not !