In 1883, Prof.  H.W.  Wiley, chief chemist of the Department of Agriculture, made an exhaustive series of practical experiments in the laboratories of the department on the extraction of the sugars from sorghum by the diffusion process, by which the extraction of at least 85 per cent. of the total sugars present was secured.

The Kansas delegation in Congress became interested.  Senator Plumb made a thorough study of the entire subject, and, with the foresight of statesmanship, gave his energies to the work of securing an appropriation of $50,000 for the development of the sugar industry, which was granted in 1884, and fifty thousand dollars more was added in 1885 to the agricultural appropriation bill.  This was expended at Ottawa, Kansas, and in Louisiana.

In that year Judge Parkinson, at Fort Scott, organized the Parkinson Sugar Company.  Taking up the work when all others had failed, this company has taken a full share of the responsibilities and losses, until it has at last seen the Northern sugar industry made a financial success.

The report of 1895 showed such favorable results that in 1886 the House made an appropriation of $90,000, to be used in Louisiana, New Jersey, and Kansas.  A new battery and complete carbonatation apparatus were erected at Fort Scott.  About $60,000 of the appropriation was expended here in experiments in diffusion and carbonatation.

Last year (1887) the Fort Scott management made careful selection of essential parts of the processes already used, omitted non-essential and cumbrous processes, availed themselves of all the experience of the past in this country, and secured a fresh infusion of experience from the beet sugar factories of Germany, and attained the success which finally places sorghum sugar making among the profitable industries of the country.

The success has been due, first, to the almost complete extraction of the sugars from the cane by the diffusion process; second, the prompt and proper treatment of the juice in defecating and evaporating; third, the efficient manner in which the sugar was boiled to grain in the strike pan.

Total number tons of cane bought 3,840
" " " seed tops bought 437
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Total number tons of field cane 4,277

There was something over 500 acres planted.  Some of it failed to come at all, some “fell upon the rocky places, where they had not much earth, and when the sun was risen they were scorched;” so that, as nearly as we can estimate, about 450 acres of cane were actually harvested and delivered at the works.  This would make the average yield of cane 91/2 tons per acre, or $19 per acre in dollars and cents.

TOTAL PRODUCT OF THE SEASON, 1887.

Sugar, 235,826 lb., @ 53/4c $13,559 98
" State bounty, @ 2c 4,716 53
--------- $17,276 50
Sirups, 51,000 gals,(estimated) @ 20c. 10,200 00
Seed (estimated) 7,000 00
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Value of total product $34,476 50