Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1899-11-24
The Relative Value of Beet and Cane
Sugars.

During the last few months the state
Dairy and Food Department has received
frequent letters asking about the rela-
tiye value of beet and cane sugars. Inc
roque sted is, whether the
sugars now being manufactured III
Michigan factories from sugar beets
grown in this state are as valuable Tor
general consumption as the so-calleu
cane sugars sold III our market ana not
produced III Michigan:
It's clearly shown that some hlddeh
influences are at work 70 depreclate III
the popular mind the value OF Mich
ipan products For the purpose OF cor
recting any false understanding Whlch
may be produced through the EFFORTS re-
ferred to, the Department requested Dr
q KedZie, at the head OF the Chemlcal
Department of the State Agricultural
College, TO furnish for publication the
facts concerning beet sugar distinction
from cane sugar. DIR. kedzle 5 long ana
honorable service in his college position,
reinforced by his extraordinary expert
ence III an investigation OF the sugar
question, certainly makes him the equal
of any authority upon this subject.
Below will be found DIR. kedzle 5
statement. This report shows conclus-
ively that the Michigan beet sugar Is the
equal of any sugar manufactured, re-
CARELESS of the substance from which IL
is taken
The Michigan beet sugar industry
seems destined to be one OF great
states greatest interests, and the truth
concerning the value of this product
needs no further demonstration than
that given il by the report found below ;
Michisan Agricultural College,
Chemical Department,
October 30, 1899.
! Hon. ELLIOT O. GRoSvENoR, Dairy and
Food Com missioner:
SIR In reply to your note asking Tor
a statement in regard 60 the differences
| between beet sugar as made IL Mlchl-
gan and the so.called cane sugar OF COM
merce, answer that in chemical com
position and III dietetlc value, they are
| the same. The chemical composition Is
| the same and all their chemical reactions
are the same.
Their physiological properties and di-
etetic uses are identical for both sugars
! the same sweetening power, and the
value for food is the same 1t Is the
same sugar, though derived from differ
ent plants
Many ladies have visited my labora-
tory in months past, and it has been a
pleasure TO show them Michigan beet
sugar. The conversation often fell into
this line This is sugar made III Mich
igan: Yes. Is il sweet can We sweeten
things with it use ii on the table: Ger
taiuly Well it does taste sweet, and II
seems like the sugar we buy at the store.
How long have you used graduated sug'
ar: Oh, IA year or more. Well, IN al
that time YOU have undoubtedly used
no other white sugar except that made
from beets Cane sugar can only be
made i'll tropical countries. Before
commerce was disturbed by the Spanish
war. only two-fifths of the worlds sup
ply of sugar was made from sugar cane
the other three ffths came from
sugar beets. But after war arose
between Spain and the L nited States, uC
more sugar came from the West Indies
and none from the Philippines. All The
sugar made in Louisiana Is req ulred tC
supply the demand in that region, whit
the sugar made in the Sandwich Islands
never crossed the Rocky Mountains
Such being the case, where Will yol
look for cane sugar In commerce: Ou
people have got their sugar FROM Ger
many, France and other European
countries this was all beet sugar, and yOl
have used beet sugar right along
The most marked difference between
the beet sugar made III this country frou
the European sugar is that our manu-
facturers are so skillful that they max
sugar so pure that it Is ready for use o.
the table Just as it comes from the fac
+ tory, requiring no refining process
while the foreign sugars must be refine
! before fit for use. Our sklllful suga
makers dispense with the retiner an,
escape the grasp of the sugar trust.
our sugar was so impure as 10 requlr
refining, and thus pay tribute TO tn
sugar trust, perhaps there would be les
whispering about the poor quality of I'll
beet sugar as compared with the cane
u Beet sugar and cane sugar are ldent
+ caly the same, and the sugar l hay
seen made in Michigan is fit 10 go on ii
u table of king e , a Michigan farm
. er. Yours faithfully,
o h. q. KEDZIE.