New-York tribune., 1903-07-12
UNCLE SANS SYRUP MILL
Il Pet Project of Secretary Wilson
To Be Carried ont.
[FRoM IHE rR1Rr-NE RrnEArl

Washington July u.-Uncle Sam is just about
indulge his sweet tooth the extent OF a SIS coo
table syrup plant Secretary Wilson has noticed
through the numerous reports OF his experts in
the field" that the infant industry OF table syrup
making from the sugar cane of the Southern States
has iangUished in swaddling clothes which are ex-
actly one hundred years Old and has determined
TO rejuvenate the industry, if possible by a good
example and a practical illustration OF how the
trick should be turned.
This model syrup factory has been planned by
Dr. H W. Wiley, chief OF the chemistry bureau
OF the Department of Agriculture. assisted by Dr.
G. L. Spencer the highest salaried sugar expert in
America. Contracts for it's construction are now
being executed and work on it is expected to begin
at once The plant is 10 be located at Way Cross,
Ga, small in the southeastern corner OF the
State. and when completed is to become the syrup
school Of the whole South
Great expectations are INDUCED in by Secretary
Wilson and his official family as to the result Of
this experimental factory. Since the introduction
of sugar into the United States its cultivation
for the purpose OF manufacturing table syrups has
been extended until it is practsed over large
areas of Southern Texas, nearly the whole Of the
State of Louisiana portions of Southern Mississippi
and Alabama, the southern part of Georgia and
South Carolina and throughout Florida
Nearly all of the methods which have been en-
poyed for this purpose have been of crude nature
and involve no accurate knowledge of the char
acter Of the cane employed, the amount OF sugar
which it contains or the chemical composition of
the product secured Notwithstanding this, the
product obtained has been Of a high character and
the appreciation of its value for the breakfast table
and for cooking purposes has grown until it is
now recognized food product throughout the
whole OF the region mentioned and in many other
parts of the country TO which it has been sent.
DR.. Wiley keeps bottle of the syrup the
mantel in his Office at the department, and refers
TO it with pride as the best syrup manufactured
When he presented the cause of the syrup to Con-
gress and obtained the $4,000 appropriation, he car
rted this bottle with him and it around the
committee table. The result was magical, and if
the first experimental mill proves the success pre-
dicted there is doubt that the syrup bottle will
form permanent fixture in the argUmentative
paraphernala Of the department before Congress
in the future
Although the industry has heretofore been car
ried by of the old-fashioned mule mill
and iron kettle the demand for the syrup has in
creased so rapidly within the last year two that
manufacturers are equipping themselves with more
modern machinery II is for the purpose of secur-
ing uniformity in the quality of the output well
for studying methods TO prevent fermentation
in warm weather. in order that the market for the
product may be extended that the experiments are
TO be made. 1t is expected that the plant will be
equipped in time to handle the fall crop.