170 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



gold suppl}' of the world to pa}' for our sugars. "We have expended 

 as much for our sugars since 1848, when gold was discovered in 

 California, as all the mines of gold and silver of the West have 

 ever produced. Now, along with that, I say we are throwing away 

 ever}- vear ten times as much sugar as we import ; that is, while we 

 are importing over a hundred million dollars' worth a year, we are 

 throwing away annuall}' the possibilit}' of making, and I believe 

 economically making, over a billion dollars' worth of sugar. These 

 are the conclusions which these facts fully substantiate. These are 

 no laborator}- experiments. 1 have worked with success by the ton, 

 and made a great man}' experiments in the manufacture of sugar. 

 Deducting fifty per cent, from the results which I have secured in 

 sugar, and then it will be clear that we throw away annually an 

 amount in sugar equal in value to the entire agricultural productions 

 of the United States, and that is a billion nine hundred million of 

 dollars. Now, those are startling facts ; but as I say, they are 

 unquestionable. If any one does not so regard them I courteously 

 but deliberately defy their contradiction. I will go briefly through, 

 and allow you an opportunity to cross-question me, with the results 

 of our experiments. 



Two or three years ago I prepared about two or three hundred 

 pounds of sugars from corn stalks by processes which did not forbid 

 its being applied to thousands of tons, and I was satisfied that the 

 method by which that was prepared, if followed out continiously, 

 would give identical results. I know, as you all do, doubtless, that 

 during the past twenty-five years there has hardly been an agricul- 

 tural fair, in the "West especially, where samples of sorghum sugar 

 have not been shown on exhibition. I know, too, as you all do, that 

 during the past twenty-five or thirty years there was almost one con- 

 tinuous failure to make sugar, but here and there were those who 

 succeeded.. Now, of course it is obvious that if some one could 

 discover the method, the conditions of success by which sugar was 

 made once in a thousand times or once in a million times, they could 

 make it a thousand times in succession — and I tliink we have done 

 that. Now I am aware that a good many, whose authority we res- 

 pect are committed against this matter ; notably is Professor Goess- 

 man ; he has given a good deal of attention to it, certainly, for one 

 absorbed as he is in his other work ; but I feel that my testimony 

 should by all means outweigh his. You recollect the story of a 

 Pennsylvania justice, who had a person brought before him for steal- 



