New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-01-27

be found there Is equal in all respects to that at
Magnolia Owing to the high price Of coal only
two or three Cuban plantations have introduced
the diffusion method Of extracting sugar from
cane, and with these exceptions the milling pro-
cess Is employed In the island. At Magnolia cane
chips are treated like beet cuttings. and the most
complex mechanism devised for the European
beet industry is applied to Louisiana cane. All
that mechanical and chemical science has done in
Germany for the sugar beet Is available here for
sugar cane. With these improved processes and
with thoroughly good management sugar can be
made more economically at Magnolia than any
where In the Southwest without diffusion batter
les.
The cane when cut is collected on the planta-
ton by railway cars and carried TO the works.
where 1t is dumped upon the travellers 1t is cut
and shredded into chips by revolving knives one
set being known as cutters and the other as
commnutors, making 1880 revolutions to the
minute. The chips are carried to the diffusion
battery, consisting Of fourteen great cells. each
holding three tons Of chips. and the cane juice is
stepped out Of them. very much as tea Is made.
volume Of water passing from one cell 10 another
until the circuit Is completed. 1t Is the beet diff
fusion method applied without change to cane.
Then follow the ordinary methods Of Qualification
and flter-pressng, the mechanism being Of the
most approved pattern. The sap must now be
concentrated, and this is done by steaming and
boiling at temperatures corresponding to the
vacuum, with quadruple effect produced by i'm
proved evaporators OF the highest efficiency.
When the right consistency Is reached to favor
capitalization the concentrated Juice passes into
the vacuum pan to be boiled into sugar. and
finally into the centrifugals in which sugar Is
separated from molasses This rapid summary
conveys very adequate iles OF the various stages
OF sugar-fnaking and Of the perfection OF the
mechanical appliances now employed at Mag
nolia; but able to illustrate the efficiency Of
the processes by comparing the results OF the old
and the new methods.
In 1890. with the mill and old machinery. between
500 and 600 acres were cultivated; between 5000
and 10000 tons of cane were ground during the
season; from 125 to $50 pounds of all sugars were
made from a ton Of cane; and from 100000 10
12500 900 pounds of sugar were produced. With the
improved diffusion lltering. evaporating and boil
ing plant 1000 acres are in cane and contracts
are made for the product OF great acreage out
side 35,0 600 tons of cane are cut up and STEPPED
In the battery; from $50 TO 200 pounds OF sugar
are extracted from ton OF cane; and maxi
mum Of from 60O0O 900 to 7,000,009 pounds x sugar
can be produced in a season. with 4.5Oo0o0 pounds
as the probable output Of the season OF 1894 with
the mill in use in 1890 about Is per cent Of sugar
was extracted from the cane With improved MILL
ing machinery this percentage can be increased
TO so: but with the diffusion process IS per cent
is extracted. This gain IL so large that 1t COM
pensates for the increased expense OF burning coal
in place OF refuse cane. This is rendered neces-
sary by the employment Of the diffusion method.
The product per ton OF cane Is from 81 10 %
mounds greater With the new plant than It was
with the old machinery.
The advantages Of the diffusion method are %
a much larger extraction Of juice; () superior
quality OF sugar: go less wear and tear OF ma
chinery and less liability 10 break down at critical
periods the battery being exceedingly simple In
,ts operaton The only disadvantage is the cost
Of fuel but this is largely offset By the Increased
percentage of extraction and by the quadruple
effect in the evaporating process. by which one
quarter of a ton OF coal will do the work Of ton.
By improved machinery the capacity OF the WORKS
at Magnolia has been quadrupled. In ike man.
ner the product Of the Louisiana industry through
betterment OF the mechanical processes has been
more than doubled under the operation OF the
Bounty laws.
Now the man who does not believe in raising
lemons under glass when apples Will grow In the
open air will not be influenced by these evidences
Of a magnificent development OF an American
Industry. he VIII say mat the investment VA
$50 900 900 In an unnatural, forced industry was
unwise notwithstanding the marked Improvement
in the processes and the increase in the product.
The Louisiana planters" he will insist. VIII
have to suffer the consequences Of their credulity
in supposng that there equity in a fifteen
years contract assumed by the United States Gov
eminent, or that the whole country would be Will
ing to pay the cost Of keeping up a dollhouse in
dustry. The cane planters may be ruined. but 1t
Is a matter OF indifference 10 the remainder Of the
country" In order TO show that the cane indus
try In Louisiana cannot be destroyed by Demo
cratic tariff-makers without loss TO the other
States / give below partial list OF the sources
from which the new plant at Magnolia
drawn:
MAGNOLIA PLANT.
Diffusion battery, Cleveland, Ohio .......... 10000
Clevelend NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 5000
re- csn,yis,po, Ros, ON NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
r. Vi,rrisburr Observation-Disclosures. 300
1,a,,,rn n,,nns Now- YORK Observation-Disclosures.
teiia,s cleveland Ohio 1900
Six litter presses. Cleveland. Ohio 6Wn
-Four hundred sugar wagons. New iork.'..'.... 1000
-. .,,,ars Ohio 1000
~ossn,,nr,.r Homiton Ohio 5000
Knyes and chains Worcester Mass. ............. 700
Vacuum nan NeW-Ofleans. bUp