The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-11
ALCOHOL BILL WILL 81: 81.
BENEFIT THE FARMER
North Dakota Congressman En-.
phasizes Needs of Measure as
Aid to Agricultuuists.
BY w. w. Jermane.

50 Washington, March 49, Because
She manufacturers are better organized
than the formers, and therefore better
able to look after their interests close
~, 1t is possible that an impression has
been created In congress that the manu-
factureTs' interests are the largest Of
any that are involved in this proposed
free alcohol legislation. That is not the
case. Under the right kind of legis-
lation, the farmers will be the largest
benefciaries.
. So says Representative 7. F. Marshall
Of North Dakota, who Is favoring the
passage Of bill which will remove the
internal revenue tax Of $2.07 a gallon
from alcohol which has been denatu-
rized for use in the arts and industries.
81 believe that the manufacture
have made showing before the ways
and means committee which entitled
them to consideration, says Mr.. Mar
shall. "But any legislation. that may
be enacted must consider the farmer as
well as the manufacturer. This can be
easily arranged by a provision that will
not radically increase the price of de-
naturized alcohol by demanding an I'M
necessary amount of denaturizing mate
rial. The percentage of this material
used in foreign countries is around 5
per cent, and we should begin where
these countries have left off, rather
than where they began; otherwise we
get no benefit from their experience.
Cost of Corn Alcohol
"It has been shown in the hearings
recently had before the ways and means
committee that 211a gallons Of alcohol
can be made from bushel of corn, and
that the by-product from the still is
worth enough for stock food to pay for
the distillation. It is therefore undis-
puted that the market price Of bushe]
of corn would be the price Of 2h gal
Ions Of alcohol, and it naturally follows
that the cost of alcohol would be prac
tically the same made from other farm
products. 1t must be borne in mind, how
ever, that the corn and other raw ma
/ terial used need not be of merchandise
quality, and so it would be possible te
radically reduce the cost. The price OF
the raw material should be figured at tn,
local markets where it is produced, and
taking corn as the example, 80 cents ;
bushe1 is the fair price, and that woult
mean alcohol costing II cents gallon
to manufacture. - ~
"I have recently received lette
from DIR. Wiley, the government chem
list, in response to some correspondence
addressed to him relative to the prac
ticability of making alcohol from tn
whole of the plant Of the corn, that is
the fodder, the grain and the cobs to
gether DR.. Wiley advises me that it
entirely practicable to do this, and say
that by using the entire plant Of tn
corn, stalk and grain, the yield of alec
hol per acre can be doubled.
ssThe most discouraging thing to tn
agricultural classes brought out in tn
hearings before the ways and mean
committee, was the statement of tn
wood alcohol manufacturers that tn
cost of denaturized alcohol would b
so great as to prevent its use TO
fuel, light and power. Their est
mates are very. unfair, being base
upon the price Of corn and potatoes a
the great market centers. They seer
to forget that the distilleries provide
| forsbx the bills now before congress
| would be located where the raw me-
terials is produced. Their prices ais
/ are u sed upon a high quality of mel
/ charitable raw material, whereas cheaT
I er grades would in fact be used, a
the product need not be. pure.
4 In their estimates, the wood a