Rensselaer Republican, Volume 21, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 October 1888 — REFINING SUGAR. [ARTICLE]

REFINING SUGAR.

A New Process Which it Successful Will Revolutionize the Trade. From time to time the sugar trade here, says a New York letter tirthe Philadelphia Ledger, has heard of experiments with a new process of refining sugar, which was being kept a profound secret, but which it was promised would when brought to perfection work wonders. The only thing known about the prqqeaswas that it was an electrical one. The trade has never taken more than a passing interest in the experiment, and never possessed any confidence in its success. Indeed, as year has followed year without a demonstration of absolute practicability, the trade has generally regarded the whole thing with suspicion and incredulity, much as the world regards the pretensions of Mr. Keely. * Lately, however, there seemed to be a change of sentiment in regard to the process. Sugar men are beginning to fear that there may be something in it, after all. Actual sugar, of the most beautiful crystals, manufactured by this process, has been exhibited on the “street.” Last week there were two tests, to which several skeptical sugar merchants were invited, and according to all accounts they came away greatly puzzled. A refinery has been put up in Brooklyn. The machinery has been manufactured in different parts of the world in order that the secret might not je disclosed, and this has been put together. lam told that a final test must be made on or before October 10. If on or before that date one thousand tons of sugar are refined by this process in a given time it is said that English capitalists are willing to invest $15,000,00C in the enterprise. I have no means of knowing how true this is, but it is evident that the trade is now awaiting with much interest this final and conclusive test. IL, successful according ■‘to the measure expected by its projectors, this process will be one of the greatest commercial sensations of the century. It would revolutionize the sugar trade. It would close the existing refineries and drive millions of capital out of the business, and break the great trust. The cost of refining by this process as compared with that of the existing method, would be as 70 cents to sl4, and the time consumed in the refining as ten,minutes to twenty-six hours. The inventor of the alleged new process was a German, who, after laboring eight yeans on the invention, died some time ago, leaving his secret with his wife and one other person. ______