New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-07
CHEAP ALCOHOL FOR INDUSTRY.


In discussing the future of the horseless car
riage for Casters Magazine" Mr.. Winthrop
E. Scarritt president Of the Automobile Club
Of America, declares that the fuel question will
soon become a serious one There has been
steady and enormous increase In the price of
gasoene in the last ten years. which is largely
the result of a remarkable growth in demand
but is in some measure due to another cause
This particular distillate cannot be obtained
from the oil produced In Texas and California
The amount obtainable does not, therefore in
crease in proportion TO the enlargement of the
total output of crude petroleum. In five years.
Mr.. Scarritt estimates, the supply will be made
quate and the price prohibitive. He believes
that it will be necessary to use alcohol in its
place, provided that the government tax be re-
moved from so much of that article as is en-
ployed in the industries.
AS TO the suitability of alcohol for use In
internal combustion motors there is longer
any doubt Gas engine builders in this country
vouch for the fact and their opinions are doubt
less based the practical demonstration af
fOrded in Europe. Its advocates allege that it
has qualities which make 1t superior to gasolene
but if they are only on par the consumer will
be satisfied If he can get them for the same
price. To the buyer in the United States alcohol
is at present far more expensive than gasolene
because there is a heavy internal revenue tax on
spirits 1t has been repeatedly asserted, how
ever that If this were taken Off the two COM
modities would compete on about even terms.
Alcohol can be derived from potatoes as well
from grain, and there is positive assurance of
an inexhaustble supply Obviously. then, cheap
alcohol would be a boon TO the farmer, since it
would give him better market than ever for
some of his crops. Indeed, 1t was to confer
| Just that benefit on the German agriculturist
that the German government determined four
or five years ago that tax should be levied ON
domestic alcohol which had been so treated as
to make the drinking of it dangerous. Still
other great advantage would be derived by the
| American farmer from the adoption Of such
policy here, for Mr. Scarritt says that far more
gasolene is consumed to-day for the operation of
small agricultural motors than is used by the
owners of automobiles
| At almost every session of Congress for sew
eral years the proposition to exempt from tax
alton domestic alcohol used in the arts has come
| up for consideration in the committee room if
| not before the whole House Senate. Hearings
in regard to it have been given again this win
| ter. In the past the chief support has come
| from manufacturers of varnishes and medi-
cines, and from men who think that alcohol
| could be utilized for household illumination If
| burned under incandescent gas nantes Other
strong interests-among them certain agricult-
| ural organizations and the makers Of gas en-
| gines-are now advocating the enactment In
| view Of Mr.. ScarTitts statements the proposal
| ought to appeal also to the builders of auto
| mobiles and those who use them. Finally
| though the public at large will probably not
| organize for the purpose of making its senti-
ments known at Washington, 1t would unques-
| uonably prefer the fumes of alcohol to those
| now emitted by the great majority Of automo-
| biles
The one great objection to making the pro-
posed concession springs from the possibility that
| alcohol which had been "denaturized" or chem
| ically treated as to make 1t unfit for use as
a beverage. would be purified again and the gov
ernment would thus be defraudsd Mr. YerksS