BAGASSE AS FUEL. 397 



In (Irving the bagasse in the sun, it loses about half its weight, and the 

 dried bagasse is found, from many experiraents, to possess about half 

 the value of coal ; so that oue pound of coal is about equal, in evapo- 

 rating power, to four pounds of fresh bagasse. A mill giving sixty 

 per cent of juice would then give, for each ton of cane worked, 1,200 

 pounds juice and 800 pounds of fi-esh bagasse, equal to 200 pounds 

 of ct^al. This is ample for the evaporation of the juice, and it is so esti- 

 mated upon the sugar-cane plantations. The following results, re- 

 ported bv those who have used the bagasse as fuel, with the discussion 

 thereupon at one of the recent conventions of sorghum growers, held at 

 St. Louis, Missouri, will be read with interest in this connection : 



The President. — I would like to hearfrom members on the use of the bagasse, 

 in short, pointed remarks. Who has had success in usir.g bagasse as fuel? 



Mr. Clements, of Kansas: We started our works with the expectation of 

 burning coarse fuel — hay, bagasse, or something of that kind for fuel — as we had 

 seen it used on a small scale — and with other fuels, to make up fuel for running 

 the factorr. We arranged our boilers and every thing with large furnaces — 

 furnaces seven feet long, grates three feet in length. Back of the grates is the 

 furnace : the draft has all to go in the first three feet. The depth of the furnace, 

 from the boiler grates, is thirty inches. We carry 100 pounds of steam. We 

 found, by drying the bagasse in the sun, giving it one day to dry, it makes better 

 fire than by letting it lay a week in the sun. After it is treated, we stack it up. 

 This season, after we got started, bagasse made all the fuel we could use for 

 evaporation. We started in. and used 100 tons of hay, and the balance of other 

 fuel: and all the fuel we had was used in the hot dry spell about the first of Sep- 

 tember. From that we started in with bagasse — bought a few tons of hay. 

 When we clo.«ed up, we had about .^00 tons of bagasse left over. In connection 

 with that, during the wet spell, we had 2G0 gallons of semi-syrup in the tanks. 

 We obtained coal to finish the syrup. We could not get steam over 70 pounds. 

 I am satisfied that bagasse will make all the fuel that is required to evaporate 

 where steam is economically used. 



The President — What do you have to pay for hay a ton ? 



Mr. CltmenU. — A dollar and a half a ton delivered at the factory. A ton of 

 bagasse ^ill make as much steam as a ton and a half of hay. and as much as 

 two tons of straw. I prefer bagasse for fuel to the best wood that could be ob- 

 tained, delivered at the factory; and it is much better than coal: you can get 

 up steam quicker. With a boiler filled with cold water, yon can get steam in thirty 

 minutes, where coal will require an hour and a half. 



A Member. — Is your boiler a flue boiler? 



Mr. CUmenU. — Tubular; one is .^?. the other is 31: the latter makes steam 

 easier than the other. I think a 4 inch flue is the best size. The less juice you 

 express from the bagasse, the better fuel it makes. It requires a fireman to each 

 boiler. We have a feeder, with a trap door to it; it is very necessary to keep it 

 closed, except when putting fuel in. 



Prof. Culberison, of Nebaska. — I have had a little experience in the bagasse, 

 and coal, and straw business as a fuel ; and the experience comes pretty close. 



