The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1906-10-13
CAN PRODUCE CHEAP ALCOHOL
Green Corncobs Yield Eleven
Gallons of the Denatured
Product to the Ton

Tests which have been made for the
last two months in the experiment
station of the State Agricultural Col
lege at Ames, Iowa, have proven that
denatured alcohol. for use as fuel, light
and motive power, at a price that will
be considerably lower than that of gaso-
line, can be made from green corncobs.
Green corncobs to q great quantity
are thrown away every year by can.
neries all over the United States.
These were not only waste product. but
caused an expense. as they soon soured
and became so offensive it has been
necessary to haul them away.
The tests carried on here show that
there are eleven gallons OF alcohol in
in each ton of green corncobs. The
process of di~stillation is simple. A con-
veyer carries the cobs to a grinding ma
chine. where they are reduced to a
pulp. This pulp is mixed with water
and then brought to a boil. After be-
ing boiled a short time the yeast is put
into the pulp and the whole mass is al.
lowed to ferment. After that the usual
process of d%istillation is followed.
The cost of manufacture is shown to
be about 3 cents a gallon. Adding the
cost OF denaturization and q liberal pro-
ht for distiller and retailer. the product
can be sold for at least as low as 30
cents a gallon, and perhaps for Is to
IS cents.
The significance Of these experimental is
readily understood when it is known that
gasoline sells for at least 20 cents a gal
Ion. AS an article Of motive power alco.
hol would compete with gasoline. 1t has
been hitherto established that a gallon
of alcohol will produce at least 10 per
cent more power than a gallon Of gaso-
line. Therefore, with alcohol at 20
cents and gasoline at 90. it is manifest
the alcohol would be easily the cheaper.
In Germany a lamp is now made for
burning alcohol with a Welsbach bur-
ner which produces a very strong,
steady and ~high-grade light. Expert.
ments testing this lamp with the most
approved pattern kerosene lamps with
round wicks and an equal candle power
disclosed that a gallon Of alcohol would
keep the alcohol lamp burning twice
as long as kerosene. Therefore, with
kerosene at as low a price as 10 cents,
it would be so per cent more expensive
for lighting purposes than alcohol made
from corncobs. 1t has already been es.
timated that at 25. and even 30 cents a
gallon alcohol could compete with kero.
sene.
Comparison with results in foreign
countries shows that no where has alco-
hol been produced at SO low a price as this
In France the price has ranged from 80
to so cents, in Italy 80 to So cents, in
Cuba 20 cents. in Germany 81 to 30
cents.
Explanation of these higher prices is
found in the fact that in Germany po-
tatoes are used principally, in France
beets, in Italy grains and in Cuba
molasses. OF these various products,
molasses is far the cheapest. And yet
the Cubans. with the molasses right on
their plantations, have not been able to
bring the selling price below 30 cents.
In Germany. which has, perhaps. de-
veloped the denatured alcohol industry
to the greatest extent. potatoes costing
an average Of 81 cents per bushel are
used for manufacture. In the United
States the average cost Of potatoes has
been As cents. SO. If potatoes were to
be used. it is manifest the cost Of alco-
hol would be brought up to double
that in Germany. or over 80 cents. 1t
requires but 1.26 bushel Of potatoes to
produce agallon of alcohol, as compared
with almost 200 pounds of green corn
cobs. But the important fact is that
cobs will cost practically nothing. and
potatoes close to 90 cents.