The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-08
What Distillers Say.

IT have collected the figures from an
alcohol distillery at Peoria, which has
been in operation almost continuously
from January, 1896, to December, 1905.
During all this time it has been idle but
thirteen months, and for short periods
i'll each year, so that the operations
cover substantially all the varying mar
The cost during this period has been as
low as $40 cents per proof gallon,
which at 100 proof would be 9.SS cents
per wine gallon Of alcohol, and the high
est point reached during all these years
was 1909 cents per proof gallon, which
at 100 proof would equal 3437 cents for
a wine gallon of. alcohol. This highest
cost, however, occurred only during one
month, July, 1902, when the average
price Of corn used was 66:56 cents a
bushel, which, of course, was abnormal
to October, 1902, corn cost above 60
cents a bushel, but in spite of that fact
the cost per wine gallon of alcohol at
100 proof never exceeded 80 cents, ex-
cept in the months of June, July and
August, 1902, the highest point being
reached in July, as previously stated.
In all. of the ten years. there was no
other period when the cost of produc-
ton was not under 80 cents per wine
average for the ten years was 1918
cents a gallon, equal to 2O.4S cents for
| wine gallon of alcohol.
"For the ten years above alluded to,
! the average price of corn was 1876
| cents, which is just about the price at
which corn is selling today, so it is fair
to assume that about 20 cents is the
average price for which alcohol could be
| produced from sound corn. AS the
| profit on this article is usually as small
as the fractional part Of a cent a gallon
even under existing conditions, it is evi.
dent that there has been no misrepre.
sentation as to the availability of this
article for all purposes to which gaso
lene and petroleum are now put, as well
as to many other uses.' H..
| " Basis of Manufacture.
! The writer of the foregoing communi
cation adds that the alcohol which he
discusses was solely for beverage pur
poses, and therefore: made from mer
charitable grain Of high grade, nc
matter what its price Denaturized al
cohol, on the other hand, can be pro
duced from any substance WELDING
starch or sugar in sufficient degree tc
make Its use profitable, and unquestion
ably many substances would be useG
/ oGACu Gudu my u-SIduo COFu. AIC6r No
uring on these cheaper substances, sucf
as frosted corn, beets, potatoes, corr
stalks, ETC.. it has been estimated thai
denaturized alcohol can be made for :
price ranging from IL to 15 cents gal
! Ion. Such a cost price would make 4
!. possible for the product to compete
successfully with gasolene and kerosent
for all lighting, heat and power pur
/ poses. =
r Representative Marshall of North Da
: kota, who, with Representative Hill O
) Connecticut, has been taking the lea
: in the campaign of education that i
now going forward in congress, is pre-
pairing data for an elaborate address, oi
4 the subject of denaturized alcohol a
soon as the committee bill is properl
before the house for consideration. Mi
Marshall has introduced bill whic
seeks to carry out his views. There ar
/. perhaps a score Of similar bills in TIL
/. possession of the ways and means con
mittee. It is the understanding tina
none of these bills will be reported, bu
: that the committee, as has just bee
!. suggested, thru the subcommittee mel
toned at the beginning Of this articl
! will draft it's own bill, which it wi
r be in position to do with great INTEL
gence after the hearings it has ha,