The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1892-03-22
ALCOHOL.

rlne prlnclple contained III any Suu-
stance, vegetable or other, in which
there is sugar. This decomposition
yields the spirit in dilute state,
but it is readily separated from the
water with which it is mixed, IVY pro-
cesses of distillation. The amount
of alcohol which may he obtained
from the different unfermcntcd sub
stances which yield it varies con-
siderably, depending entirely upon
the quantity of sugar which they
contain.
Alcohol is termed absolute" when
il has been deprived Of every trace
of water, and when its composition
is exactly exp essed by its chemical
formula. To obtain it in this state
it must be subjected TO series of
delicate operations in the laboratory,
which it would be impossible TO per-
form on an industrial scale. In
commerce, 1T is known only in state
of greater or less dilution, the
strongest spirit being known as spirit
of wine, and containing about 80
percent of alcohol.
Alcohol has become substance
of such prime necessity, in the
arts and manufactures that its
manufacture must, of necessity, rank
among the most important industries
of the world. This fact alone gives
TO alcohol value that cannot be as
sailed from any sentimental stand
point. But in reviewing its CONNER
cial value we cannot ignore the fact
that, in one form or other, alcohol
enters so largely into the composition
of the common beverages consumed
by all classes of people all over the
world. This consumption is largely
on the increase, and further enhances
the commercial value of alcohol, and
augmenJs the requirement for its
production which cannot be sup
pressed.
Our Hawaiian statutes contain
eDac' ments prohibiting the distilla-
ton of spirits. These were devised
and have been maintained through a
mistaken zeal of our early "fathers,
their SONS and disciples. A promi-
nent representative of this class here
once said, 81 would sooner burn a
hole in my pocket than allow spirits
to be distilled on our plantations.
This sentiment was conceived in the
same spirit of blind prejudice and
intolerance that used to burn social
ed witches at the stake in Connecti-
cut.
But the time has come when the
senseless sentiments of an effete re-
gime must not be allowed to prevail
and our statutes must he revised in
order to permit, our producers to
take advantage of every source of
: wealth.
Considerable value is going To
, waste annually on our plantations by
allowing the nolasses TO run away
into the sea, instead of securing the
alcohol out of it, And millions OF
r money could be profitably made out
t of the distlllation of our tropical pro.
ducts into alcohol. A great source
, of Legitimate wealth is prohibited
and is being neglected. The spirit
VI plOSICSos uCCCSoluD
and enterprise, and competition in
production requires that every re.
source for creating wealth should be
utilized, and not be hampered by
+ sentimental laws. Our sugar plant
ers could add considerable to theil
= revenues by saving the alcohol they
now throw away. Our fruit grower:
could turn their produce into an ar
ticle of staple value, when foreign
markets become unfavorable, and oul
fertile soil can produce other crop,
rich in sugar and starch that, if un
profitable for foreign shipment, coulC
y be profitably distilled into alcohol, a
/ is done in other countries. The grea
t. markets Of the United States, Cana
o Ola and Australia are right at on
u door, and we could still continue Il
sympaLhize with temperance reform
ers, while assisting to supply the i'm
portant and almost unlimited demant
of the arts and sciences for raw al
cohol, and thus add largely to GU
own wealth. Surely this is not .
:. case where science should come il
= conflict with religion.
q The uses Of alcohol in the arts ar,
: numerous. But for most purpose.
e methylated spirit is employed insteat
of pure alcohol in the United States
This substance is mixture of 81
" percent of spirit of wine, and 10 per
= cent of purified "wood spirit" Sucl
a mixture is unfit for human con
sumption, and the wood spirit canno
: again be separated from the spirit o
d wine by any commercial process. Ii
e the United States the heavy excis
duty on alcohol, and the strict super
vision attending its manufacture, il
order to limit and control its human
consumption, have heretofore i'm
peded many branches of manufacture
ing industry and scientific investiga
}. tions. But the government nov
grants permission for the manufac
ture of methylated spirit, which i
m sold by licensed dealers free of duty
"The following are some of tn
most important sources of alcoho
which have been employed in Europe