71 



The people of the whole southwestern portion of this State to my per- 

 sonal knowledge are enthusiastic upon the question of sorghum sugar ; 

 a failure any season to grow good sorghum is not recorded. The es- 

 tablishing of sugar works would bring under cultivation lands now 

 considered of little value except for growing sorghum, and fortunately 

 will produce a sorghum of the very best quality for producing sugar. 



These facts are fully appreciated, and every town, many without 

 water, and others without railroads, aspires to the possession of a 

 sugar works. 



Daily during the working season committees, delegations, and indi- 

 viduals visited the sugar works, leaving full of confidence in the work- 



A number of factories could be erected in this section next season if 

 experienced men could be found to operate them. 



ABSTRACT OP MR. DEMING'S REPORT TO THE CONWAY SPRINGS 



SUGAR COMPANY. 



To President and Stockholders of Conicay Springs Sugar Company : 



I hereby submit for your consideration the following report of your works the past 

 season : 



I would especially call your attention to the following facts: A complete organiza- 

 tion was not effected until about April 20. Orders for machinery were placed about 

 June 1; very little machinery had arrived July 1; all the heavy machinery was on 

 the ground July 25, the strike pan and boilers only being placed. Boilers were first 

 tired August 15 ; cane-shed and cutters tested August 22 ; first chips taken to battery 

 August 26". On this latter date was completed drags and an arrangement for drying 

 chips to be used as fuel. The two following days they were tested, and removed 

 during the next two. Eleven cells of chips were diffused August 28 and 29 and con- 

 centrated in the strike-pan. Regular work began September 1 on early cane, pro- 

 ducing only molasses. September 12 began work on orange cane for sugar. 



From the foregoing you will observe the late date of organization, the necessarily 

 short time for selecting suitable machinery, and also for its manufacture. From 

 special designs most of it was manufactured in the East at increased cost. This, 

 in connection with the time and labor required for placing the same and making the 

 necessary pipe connections throughout the building with a class of mechanics and 

 laborers without previous experience with this line of machinery, accounts for start- 

 ing the factory two weeks after the cane was ready. 



For growing cane the season was unfavorable. Sod cane and late planting were 

 greatly injured by the drought. 



Fifty farmers contracted to grow 600 acres of cane. One hundred and five acres 

 of old ground were planted with amber seed represented as pure, but badly mixed 

 with orange, which was worked green, contained no sugar, and too immature to produce 

 good molasses. Fifty-four acres produced 8 tons per acre ; 51 acres remain nu worked, 

 of no value except as fodder. One hundred acres of sod were planted to orauge; 50 

 acres produced 5 tons per acre; the other 50, planted late, is only suitable for fodder. 

 Three hundred and ninety-five acres of old ground were planted to orauge; 220 acre 

 were worked, producing 10 tons per acre ; 175 acres remain mi worked ; of this, 100 

 acres, late planting, only fit for fodder, while 75 acres of most excellent cane yet re- 

 main in the field. 



A few acres of Link's Hybrid variety of cane were grown, making a satisfactory 

 growth, but inferior to the Orange both in sugar content and power of retaining its 

 sugar after the seed had matured. 



