The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1917-07-13

manufacture that should be
followed to improve the
refining value of Hawaiian raw
sugars, II. s. Norris, sugar technologist
of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Asso-
citation experiment station, rendered
yesterday to tho association directors q
report on his four months investigations
of the question on the mainland and in
Cuba. III. VI
The report of Mr.. Norris bears out
the action at the annual meeting of the
association last December, when it was
agreed that Island mills would strive to
produce raw sugar 90 of large and even
grain and of an ash content of not more
than one-half of one per cent? The
resolution, unanimously adopted at that
time, expressing this intention, also
carried provision for the scientific
study that Mr. Norris has made. a
The association members were n unit
in the plan to bend every effort to re-
move all cause of criticism against Ha-
waiinn raws. At that time confusing
and contradictory criticisms and only
meager scientific study were the bases
of the association 8 actions, but the re-
suit has already been noticeable in a
better quality Of sugar from the major.
ity of the mills-sugar of larger and
more even grain, less ash content and
higher polarization.
These are the qualities that Mr.. Nor,
ris, in his summarized report, recon-
mcnds that Hawaiian mills shall con
tinue to strive for in order that the de
mands of mainland rcfneries may be
satisfied. In his report Mr.. Norris rec
s,ttaNat AnH 10 aFau -
necessary to place Hawaiian raw sugar
above all criticism: -
Large Grain Sugar Needed
"1'he Improvement which can be nc
complished most readily, and which
will be of most advantage is the pro-
duction of sugar of large grain by all
plantations. ~"
"It is of most importance in this
connection to reduce the amount Of
grain which is less than three-quarters
of millimeter in diameter. This in
cludes grains which we have designat.
ed small, very small, and false. In con-
su!tation with the refinery manager at
Crockett we agreed that a sugar to be
satisfactory should contain not over
FIVE per cent by weight of grains Of
this size. The refinery laboratory has
been determining the percentage by
| weight of the different sized grains in
samples of all sugars received there
! for the past month. We shall be equip
ped in n short time for similar deter
limitations. The size of grain to strive
for is one OF millimeter or over in
diameter, WHICH we have designated as
large. 1t would be better, however, to
have it all medium, than half large and
half small.
"This is q higher standard than is
reached by Cuban sugars, but it will
be necessary, in order to compete with
these sugars, to outclass them in this
respect, as they have other inherent
' advantages over our sugars.
Reduce sulphate Content T'
"The thing of next iniportance to
do is to reduce the sulphate content
! Of those sugars in which it is over ten
per cent. This can be done most con
venientIy by increasing the polariza'
ton | would not, however, advise any
thing ovcr 97.5, under present prices.
This is of Importance not only because
the presence Of large amounts of sui
pilates in our sugars is a detriment in
refining, but also because it has up
parently made a deep impression on
the Eastern refinery men.
"The action of next importance to
take is to produce a grain of as high
purity H. possible under different polor-
izations, by starting all grains intend,
ed Immediately or ultimately for com
mcrcial suInr or syrup or mixture
of. syrup and first mOlasses, say ten
TAFT, ely, of not less than eighty purity
This is the practise almost universally
in the Cuban factories.
"Thc Improvement of our sugars
along these lines is, believe, of most
importance
vi .ited Many Refineries
| Mr. Norris left for the mainlan.
early in January and returned late II
Nav. During that time he studied th,
question Of the refining value Of fin
waiian raw sugars from every angle
dp,oting most of his attention TO the
conditions that prevail in the refnerle'
now recri> ing Hawaiian sugars, am
to getting the viewpoint of the mer
/ who operate these refneries. The re
Guing qualities of Hawaiian sugar
were discussed also with other refnerS
men who had had experience will
them. Th% investigation was pursue'
by Mr.. N6rris.in eight redneries-tw'
in Philadelphia and one each in New
York, Yonkers, Jersey City, Boston
San Francisco and Crockett.
SO that no stone would be left un
turned in tho work of placing Hawaii
an raws above criticism, Mr.. Norrl
also visited eleven centrals and one ="
Gncrv IN Cuba for the purpose prinri
pnIlv Of learning at first hand how thu
sugar, which is the chief competitor o
the Hawaiian sugar on the Atlant'
coast, is manufactured.
In summarizing the views of tn
eastern relners Mr.. Norris express"
the belief that the criticisms of lslar'
sugars by the two eastern refnere
that handled Hawaiian raws last sea
son were due "to the disappointment
over finding them of poorer refinln}
quality than was expected" He ndd
his belief that these criticisms w"r
made " for the purpose of bringing
| i ,kNNr -, h 80