Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-14
FACTSLEARNEDABROAD
STUDY OF THE UTILIZATION OF
DENATURED ALCOHOL.
Reports Received From Commissioner
Yerkes and Representa-
tive Hill.

Reports have been received from COM
missioner of Internal Revenue Yerkes and
Representative Hill of Connecticut, who re-
Gently went abroad to examine into the
conditions under which denatured alcohol
was used abroad. Their reports differ some
what from some of the other statements
on the subject that have been made, espe-
cially as to the relative fuel and power
values OF alcohol as compared with gaso-
line. Their investigation included England
as well as the continent, and the tendency
in all of these places seemed to be toward
the more liberal construction of the law
permitting the free use of alcohol in the
arts.
Use as Fuel.
The report says:
1.-The use of denatured alcohol as fuel
has yet to be fully developed. Although al
cohol has only about half the heating
power of kerosene or gasoline, gallon for
gallon, yet 1t has many valuable properties
which may enable it to compete success
fully in spite Of it's lower fuel value. In
the first place 1t is very much safer. Al
cohol has a tendency to simply heat the
surrounding vaporS and produce currents
of hot gases which are not usually brought
to high enough temperature to inf1ame
articles at a distance. 1t can be easily
diluted with water, and when it Is diluted
flamma BILE. Hence 1t may be readily ex-
tinguished; while burning gasoline, by
floating on the water, simply spreads It's
flame when water Is applied to 1t. Al
though alcohol has far less heating capac-
ity than gasoline, the best experts believe
that it will develop much higher percent
age OF efficiency in motors than does gaso-
line. Since gasoline represents only about
2 per cent of the petroleum which is re-
fined, it's supply is limited and its price
must constantly RISE in view of the enor-
nous demand made for it for automobiles
and gasoline engines in general This will
open new opportunity tor denatured alco-
hol. Industrial alcohol is now used in Ger
many in small portable lamps, which give
it all the effects of mantel burner heated
by gas. The expense for alcohol is only
about two-thirds as much per candlepower
as is the cost of kerosene. Even at % or
80 cents gallon, denatured alcohol can
successfully compete with kerosene as
means Of lighting"
Alleged Corrosion.
Mr.. Hill said one of the professors at
the institution in Germany, known as the
Institution of the Association of the Unit
ed Alcohol Manufacturers, which is oper-
ated and maintained for educational pur-
poses at the expense of the trust. refer
ring to the statement prevalent in America
that the use of alcohol in the internal
explosion engine resulted in the corro-
sion Of the metal, remarked that that was
nonsense. and Immediately took Mr.. Hill
into distillery where q large engine had
been in continuous use with alcohol for
the past six years. He admitted, however,
that they had not fully overcome the diff
ficulties with regard to the use of alco-
hol in the high-speed automobile, but ex-
pressed entire confidence that 1T would
only be short time before that would be
accomplished
The Cost Of Alcohol.
the United States is usually 95 per cent
alcohol. and the price varies. from $3.50
to $3.50 per gallon, showing that the
greater part of the cost is due to the
revenue levied by the government The
alcohol consumed in the United States is
used in\the manufacture of whisky and
other beverages. The revenue tax pre-
vents the use of alcohol to any great ex-
tent in the industries of the country The
bill passed at the last Congress, designed
to promote the use of untaxed alcohol in
the arts and as fuel. takes effect January
/, 1907.
The first effect of free alcohol will be,
1t is said. to supplant the 100000 gall
Ions of wood alcohol which are used in
the manufacture of paints, varnishes.
shellacs and other purposes Another use
that is expected Of denatured alcohol is in
the manufacture of certain products, such
as dyestufrs and chemicals, which cannot
now be manufactured commercially in
this country because Of the high cost OF
alcohol, and which are imported largely
from Europe. A very rapid DEVELOPMENT
of the industry Of manufacturing chemi-
calls as a result of free alcohol Is looked
for. In the production of alcohol there Is
always formed as by-product a certain
amount of fusel oil, which is very useful
in manufacturing lacquers which are
used on metallic substances, fine hard
ware, gas fixtures and similar articles
The industries manufacturing these
wares will undoubtedly receive a great
stimulus as a result Of cheaper fusel oil
caused by the increased production of al
cohoi.