The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1906-07-26

Cru6l luUuStIldl IyIduuy'
The alcohol which, in a few months,
is to be untaxed, must be "denatur-
ized," or rendered undrinkable, by
being mixed with some noxious SUBJ
stance-probably poisonous wood
alcohol-in the presence and under
the direction of government inspectors.
1t has been shown in France and
Germany that alcohol, used in lamps
with a durable and cheap incandes-
cent mantle and burner that allows
air to mix with the induced alcohol
fumes, is superior to kerosene oil.
A gallon of "denaturized," alcohol
will cost nearly as much as two gal
Ions of kerosene oil, but it has been
proven by actual tests, made for the
information of Congress, that a gallon
of alcohol will last as long as two
gallons of kerosene, while giving a
somewhat better light.
1t will cost no more to burn alcohol
than to burn kerosene, and one gets
rid of the offensive smoke and smell
of kerosene; not to speak OF the ire
mendous fact that an alcohol fire can
be instantly extinguished by dash
of water.
There are more than eight hundred
thousand portable gasolene cooking
stoves in use in the United States.
The fire insurance underwriters Of
Ohio report that more than fifteen
hundred CONGREGATIONS were caused in
that one state last year by the use OF
this perilous fuel for cooking and
heating purposes. Alcohol can now
be substituted for gasolene in kitchens.
Another use for free alcohol is to be
found in small Observation-Disclosures
power engines now operated by gaso'
lene. There are more than three hum
dred thousand of them in the country
already, mostly on farms, where they
are used for threshing, churning, saw
ing wood, baling hay, pumping water,
and other labor saving purposes. q
The application of free alcohol to
automobiles and motor boats alone
would be sufficient to justify the
earnest attention OF the nation. Z
1t is almost impossible to. estimate
the advantages to be derived from free
alcohol in the industries. 1t is an
absolute essential in the production
of chemicals. 1t enters largely into
the making of hats, furniture, picture
frames, coal tar dyes, polished metal
goods, smokeless powder, celluloid,
Photographic supplies, lead pencils,
paints, and scores OF other industries.
The more one contemplates the
widespread and benefcent conse-
quences which must follow free in.
dustrial alcohol, the harder it is to
understand how such a great and
vital reform should have been SO long
delayed. It is true that the eight
hundred thousand farmers of the
National Grange were finally united
with three or four thousand manufac'
turers, the members of the painters
unions and other organizations di.
rectly interested in free alcohol for in.
dustrial purposes; but that the nation
generally was not long ago awakened
to the overwhelming importance OF
the question, is, in the light Of present
evidence, absolutely astounding.
Nearly all our great rivals in in,
dustry, agriculture and commerce
have free industrial alcohol. Even
nations whose expensive armies and
navies have put upon them burdens
calling for large revenues have not
attempted to hinder or paralyse their
farmers or manufacturers by taxing
this cheap, safe and convenient
source of light, heat and power. Ger.
many alone uses more than seventy
million proof gallons OF alcohol an,
nually in her industries, while less
than five million gallons are used fol
the same purposes in the United
States. This advantage OF low-priced
alcohol has given Germany control Of
the worlds trade in many articles.
But the most striking fact that
stands out above all controversy il
that the farms of the country can
grow more heat, light and power than
can be furnished by all it's mines,
forests and oil wells. re- 5;
It is estimated that the average
potato acre will furnish. two hundred
and fifty.five gallons Of alcohol. ~
An average acre OF corn will yield
about hundred and thirty gallons ol
alcohol. That is the product of the
grain. But experiments have shown
that the green cornstalks contain
enough sugar and starch to furnish !
hundred gallons OF alcohol an acre,
Taking the grain and the stalks to.
gether, an acre of corn will produces
100 b,vrIrod onA tb;.kx, cro1lors ~