New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-12

eight kettles with cast-iron bottoms and wood
on sides. The juice was run into these kettles,
lined and boiled: no altering and little skim
ming When sufficiently boiled 1t was poured
into earthen jar shaped like an inverted
haystack. and holding about one hundred and
thirty three pounds Of sugar In the bottom
was an orifice two inches in diameter. over
which i straw filter was placed before the syrup
was poured in These Jars are called phones, and
they rest upon earthen crock holding twelve
quarts, which receives the mOlasSes.
After the sugar has stood in the phones for
some weeks it is empted onto mats and di
vided into three parts. according to color, de-
pending drainage The top third is fairly
light. the middle third is quite dark and the
bottom third looks like tar The top and mid
die thirds sun dried and packed in mats for
shipping the lower third is stored in a mat
and redrained. Such sugars are worth from
N to ~ cents a pound, according to grade
Tie mOlaSses is sold TO be manufactured into
rum While there they were empty
ing the molasSes into an immense tank in
boat. to be transported TO the distillery. With
such primitive methods would not be possible
to do much in the United States but here they
can work at a crop Of cane for six month"; The
cane is twelve to eighteen months old when
grinding begins, and Is very rich In saccharins
matter.
We noted three other sugar factories In San
Fernando on the same plan. and were congratu-
lating ourselves that we had seen the crude.t
method Of manufacturing sugar on the islands.
but upon inquiry We found most Of the sugar
factories did not even the phones, but
dumped the product into pits In the ground
The cane harvest generally begins In Deem
ber and planting for the next crop takes place
simultaneously upon some adjacent field which
has previously been prepared by plOughing and
narrowing The cane Is cut into pieces about
eighteen inches long. tied in bundles, and kept
in damp place till required for planting. which
is done by dropping closely in burrows four feet
apart made by plough The cane ls covered
by coC'e following the dropper with a hoe. or
bJ the dropper kicking little dirt over Il As
socn as the cane Is up 1t Is lightly ploughed by
turning the furrow toward the cane In most
cases little cultivatng Is done
As a rule. only one crop Of cane Is obtained
from a planting. This appeared so contrary TO
our knowledge Of cane in the United States and
Cuba that made caref inquiry among own
ers u sugar estates in Manila and the state
mcnt was confirmed. except upon new and rich
land. where the cane is allowed 10 RATION for
several year'.
IN DIRTY SAN FERNANDO.
After examining the sugar estates We wan
l,rad about the city Of San Fernando Tho
streets were filthy. and all the people apparently
idle. One principal street through which we
passed. though lincd with stores, WAS covered
with straw. manure and offensive litter from
one 20 six inches deep. Little burches OF pigs.
goats and cattle were resting quietly In the
middle Of the street, and alternating with them
were groups Of men. women and children gossip
ng or eating. never at work. Later,we returned
TO the station. purchased our tickets and
boarded the train for Manila At Maoloe the
seat OF Agunado's government insorgent
uarda undertook to search ua ana reuaoHa -