The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-06-15
Secretary Wilson Explains
What Law Promises
to Do.
MUCH Y is NEEDED
Experiments Will ss Made Of Various
Methods for Producing Great Sub.
stituts for FusI-Germany's
Experience.

Roosevelt today signed the denatured
alcohol bill.
Extensive experiments are planned
by Secretary Wilson OF the agricultural
department., to determine how best the
s.armers and manufacturers of the
United States are to take advantage Of
The new free alcohol legislation.
In my opinion" said the secretary,
this investigation should be thorough
md include. for instance, a study of the
potatoes grown in Maine, Colorado and
sther states where white potatoes grow
sbundantly. a study of the sweet potato
md the yam. the cassava and the COON
lie in, the south. the study Of the sorg-
aum plant in through the central por-
:ions OF our country, a study OF the
stalk OF the Indian corn in practically
al parts OF the country. and a study
of the possibilities of producing alcohol
directly from the sugar beets in Califor-
eia, Michigan and other parts of the
country where sugar beets grow in
abundance.
detrimental work should be done
toward adapting a small still to the
use OF localities. Many farmers seem
to think that the alcohol can be made
UPON TIE IafIn . IhlS Is not practicable.
Wonderful Things Predicted.
Wonderful things are predicted from
the new free alcohol legislation. In
Germany h consumption of denatured
alcohol in 1903 n 1904 amounted to
73,635,249 proof gallons. 1t has beer
growing there by leaps and bounds,
Five years ago 1t was only 5000. GIT
gallons.
Denatured alcohol will be used IN
- fhio onJVnfrN in <1o
following:
Analine colors and dyes, hats, stiff,
silk n straw; electrical apparatus.
transparent oap furniture, picture
mouldings. burial caskets. cabinet
work. passenger cars, pianos, organs,
brushes, wagons, boots and shoes.
smokeless powder, illuminate of mer-
curry, brass beds, gas and electric light
fixtures, various kinds of metal hard
ware. incandescent mantels, photo
graphic materials, celluloid and similar
compounds.
Cotton growers Of the south are taxi
ing q lively interest in the promise of
certain foreign experts, who say they
san with h free alcohol, make cotton
Into sflk-or convert it into something
that SO nearly resembles silk that they
cannot be told apart. Senator Tillman
has in his committee room q sample
Of the new silk made of cotton, and
those who have seen it have only words
Of admiration for it's soft texture and
beautiful gloss.
Germany Uses It for Fuel.
The bulk Of denatured alcohol made
IN Germany Is used for fuel, light and
heat. A lamp is made with a Wells
bach mantle which produces a very
by the use Of alcohol. Experiments
have been made testing this lamp
against the most improved pattern Of
kerosene lamps with round wicks and
equal candle power. It was found that
q gallon Of alcohol would keep the all
Sohol lamp burning twice as man.
hours as Would a gallon Of kerosene
burning In the most approved patterns
Df kerosene lamp.
Here is where John d. is likely to
come in for a Jolt.
Alcohol a been used successfully
IN Germany as a substitute for gaso-
line In motors ard power engines.
Sometimes 1t Is used pure, and again
It is mixed with a quarter part gaso-
line to aid ignition. Experiments have
shown that the operation Of the engine
with this mixture is perfect. 1t was,
estimated by experts who testified be-
fore the congressional committee that
100000 gasoline motors are now used
An h United States, with the number
rapidly on the increase, the last year
seeing an addition Of no less than
100, 900.
These engines are adapted to farm
use for pumping water. cutting feed,
filling silps. threshing grain, and many
other purposes. The principal objec-
ton to gasoline is the danger from Are.
"A gasoline fire cannot be quenched by
water. n fact, water scatters it. But
an alcohol fire Is easily put out with
water.
It Is figured by the experts in wash
1ngton that the cost Of the denatured
alcohol, v 9 If made from corn at -
cents Q. bushel, will not be higher than
10 cents q gallon. Other experts say
that denatured alcohol can be made
1or Q little over IA cents a gallon.