The Socorro chieftain. [volume] (Socorro, N.M.) 1902-1959, 1906-06-02
GREAT NEW INDUSTRY
Passage Of Free Alcohol Bill Will
Put Millions Of Dollars to
New Work,
HARD BLOW TO STANDARD OIL
Alcohol VIII Compete With Kerosene
and 0asolene In Light, Heat,
and Power.

he IOllOWluk press uiSpatCn
gives an excellent idea of the re-
suits that NAV be expected to
follow upon the recent passage
of the free alcohol bill:
A new industry one involv-
ing millions of dollars is about
to spring into life.
The fruits of the earth
corn, potatoes, beetS. grain, etc.
are soon to be converted. in
hundreds uf distilleries, into
alcohol for use in the industrial
arts, for fuel, heat and light.
Every state in the union will
have its part in this new enter
prise. All this will result from
the passage of the free alcohol
bill.
ITO the alchemy of CONNER
cial chemistry all starch is sugar,
and sugar is alcohol. Nothing
is easier or cheaper than the
making OF alcohol.
But hitherto the government
has practically forbidden the
manufacture of this product eX-
cept for Intoxicating beverages.
Only Tor such purposes could
alcohol be used. and the tax was
$2.10 a gallon. Wood alcohol
was excepted because it is rank
poison.
Now congress has passed
law which amounts to reversal
of this embargo on alcohol. Be-
ginning January, 1907, practical
ly anybody who wants TO make
alcohol can do so.
Already hundreds of capital
lists are eagerly fastening to en-
ter this new field of commercial
activity. From every part of the
country inquiries for the latest
details as to the law are coming
in.
In every community distiller-
les will be started and many of
these distilleries will also have a
starch manufacturing annex. The
two industries go hand in hand.
Part of the potato or beet which
does not become alcohol will be-
come starch.
There was serious suspicion
for while that the Standard
Oil influence might cripple the
bill, and one or two amendments
which the senate tackled on were
looked upon with grave suspicion
But Commissioner Yerkes says
the law will operate to permit
the greatest freedom in the es-
tablishment of plants, large OF
small.
There will be no expense
. whatever to the manufacturer
, either for licensing the distillery
: bonding the warehouse, or pay,
} ing for the supervision or the in
: spection," declared Representa-
I tive Marshall of South Dakota
E who is author of the bill, afte
4 an extended interview with Com
4 missioner YerkeS. After a care
!. full reading of the bill as passed
1 and a full conference with Com
q missioner Yerkes, ! believe W,
d have a great law"
Commissioner Yerkes' regu
lations, | believe, will permi
manufacturers to place denaturiz
y ed alcohol on the market at tn
= very lowest prices.
i The real work we had i
= hand" continued Mr.. Marshall
II was to secure legislation whic
e would bring alcohol into compe
l. tition with kerosene and gasolin
IS to get it cheap enough so
IS would compete. So far as ! al
IS able to Judge now we have suG
st ceeded beyond our expectation:
'r This law, giving us tax-fre
p alcohol, is drawn along sue
81 lines that the manufacturers wi
le reap a benefit beyond anythin
l. which they could have hoped TO
S. while the producers of the ia
ie materials, the farmers, who wi
es also be consumers of the alcOh,
x for fuel, light. and power, Wi
Is receive as full a measure of ben
fit, as the legislation can gi'
them"
y. Representatives in Washing
&C. ton on Standard Oil interests r
or gard this free alcohol law as Il
heaviest blow that has yet be-
dealt the trust"
- n.e. o.&e oate Coz cala