In Cuba the solution of the problem comes through the use of the steam turbine and quadruple and quintuple effects, electric drive being used for the mills and the auxiliaries. Bagasse is used almost exclusively as fuel. In any question of the application of these same methods to Louisiana conditions it must be borne in mind that the season in this state is very hort as compared with that in the islands, and they get there a quality of bagasse which is more mature and therefore dryer as compared with the local material.

The proper handling of a sugar house requires the services of an expert mechanical engineer, and, contrary to past practice in this state, his services should be retained in the off season, because that is the time when improvements may be made and changes effected as suggested by conditions arising during the grinding season. The planter in many cases is a non-technical man, and he is too much inclined to look askance at any new ideas or suggestions for improvement, specially if these involve the expenditure of additional capital. These remarks apply to the routine work of each individual factory. In addition there should be a provision of liberal funds and opportunity for experimentation along the lines pointed out above. This means co-operation along all lines; the organization already exists; it would appear that both the mechanical engineer and the chemical engineer should be given greater opportunities for the solution of the difficult problems inherent in the economical manufacture of cane sugar in this state.

Oil Burning. Published elsewhere in this issue is a very interesting and instructive paper on the subject of Oil Burning by Mr. B. S. Nelson, a member of this Society and associated with the firm of A. M. Lockett and Company. This paper has already appeared in the June issue of the Journal of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, as it was read originally before the local section of that Society. It is republished in the Proceedings for the reason that it will thus reach a number of men who may not be members of the A. S. M. E. This gives incidentally opportunity for calling attention to a matter which has been the subject of some informal discussion between members of our Society. Both the A. S. C. E. and the A. S. M. E.

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have local chapters in New Orleans, and papers which are preserted to these local chapters, of course, become the property of those organizations respectively and may be published in their respective journals. It has been felt by certain of our members that this would tend to reduce the efficiency and usefulness of the Louisiana Engineering Society in the fact that such papers would thus be unavailable for publication in the local journal. Such will not be the case, however, for both of the above societies have expressed a willingness and a desire to meet us in a hearty spirit of co-operation in this matter to the extent that such papers will be made available for publication in our journal or in the journals of the societies either simultaneously, if this is possible, or primarily in that journal which is in position to print it first after its presentation.

A very cordial letter to this effect has been received by the Editor from Mr. L. G. French, Editor of the Journal of the A. S. M. E., in which he says in part:

"One of the fundamental objects of our Society is to gather and distribute engineering information. We are glad to have such information published in other journals, as well as in our own, because of the greater publicity it will receive in consequence. Whenever you have a paper, therefore, which would be adapted for your use, as well as ours, please consider that you are privileged to use it, in so far as we are concerned, at any time after it has been presented at your meeting. If we find that we desire to use it, we will make room for it as soon after the meeting as possible, but from the fact that your Proceedings does not reach a large number of our members, we are quite willing that you should have the first publication, if the matter most conveniently works out that way. At any time, however, when we can arrange for simultaneous publication that, of course, would be very agreeable to us, but we do not insist upon it."

Boiler Code Commission. Governor Pleasant has recently appointed the following gentlemen on the Commission to Ex

amine the Uniform Boiler Code of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers:

This is in accordance with Act No. 276 of the General Assembly of the State of Louisiana for 1916, and the duties of the commission will be to examine the Uniform Boiler Code and report back to the General Assembly of 1918 whether the Code should be adopted by the State of Louisiana.

Personal Mention. Mr. A. M. Shaw has just recently received notification of his being commissioned a Major in the Engineer Corps, United States Army. Mr. Shaw's extensive experience in railway engineering as well as his experience in recent years with problems of irrigation and drainage will make him a valuable member of this corps, and in view of the extensive preparations for railway work on the part of the United States both in France and in Russia, Mr. Shaw will probably have an opportunity to see some active service abroad at an early date.

Mr. Walter B. Moses, who since his graduation from Tulane University has been in the employ of A. M. Lockett & Co., having proven himself to be one of their best and most efficient salesmen, has recently severed his connection with that firm in order to go with A. Marx & Sons of this city. He will be gencral manager of their machinery department and machine shop.

Prof. J. M. Robert is in charge of the School of Marine Engineering which is in operation at Tulane University during a portion of this summer. This school has been established by the United States Shipping Board and makes use of the facilities of the university for the purpose of instruction of the men. The purpose of the school is to train engineers for positions in the merchant marine, as it is recognized that there will be a great demand for such men in connection with the very extensive ship-building program of the Government.

Mr. Eugene Hawkins, a recent graduate in the Mechanical and Electrical Engineering Course at Tulane, has enlisted in the U. S. Navy and has been assigned to the local Navy Yard. Mr. Hawkins is at present engaged in instructing two classes of naval recruits in practical electricity and gas engines. The laboratories of Tulane have been placed at his disposal for this work, and the men come up every day from the Naval Station and put in a day's work on the subjects mentioned.

The Society Takes Liberty Bonds. At a recent meeting of the Board of Directors it was decided to invest a certain portion of the surplus funds of the Society in the Liberty Bond issue. This is a good move and will undoubtedly meet with the hearty approval of all members of the Society.

PAPERS AND DISCUSSIONS

THE MANUFACTURE OF CANE SUGAR.

By

E. L. STREAM,

Read Before the Society, March 12, 1917.

While the industry is very old it has only been brought to its present state of perfection within the past twenty years. This is due very largely to the present commercial demand for practically only one grade of sugar which can only be produced now by what is known as a sugar refinery. This condition has eliminated all factories making anything except raw sugar of 96 purity and factories that make a white sugar for local consumption, besides it has shut out all buyers except refineries who can now control the price paid for the product to such an extent that only the best equipped factories can afford to operate. The margin of profit in this industry under normal conditions is, therefore, small. The result is that while factories were formerly designed by thumb rule engineers and managers and owners who considered themselves born with the necessary talent, to-day necessity has caused capitalists who invest in the business to make the most diligent search for the best talent they can secure. They realize that the greatest economy must prevail and greatest possible recovery be secured.

Formerly the engineer met with many difficulties in his work; there was very little he desired to know that could be found in text-books or in bulletins issued by the various experiment stations or colleges. Each engineer had his own information secured at considerable cost of time and money, and it is needless to say that his storehouse was but scantily filled. We did not have much chance to exchange ideas. The result was disastrous to planters, as each new engineer would like to rebuild the sugar house according to his own fancy. This condition led to a lack of confidence in engineers on the part of planters and they, therefore, were not held in as much esteem as they are at present.