The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1906-01-24
THE FLORIDA AGRICULTURIST.


use to which the alcohol is to be sub
sequently applied. They include pyra-
din, picolin, benzine, wood vinegar,
wood alcohol, gasoline, and acetOne
oil derived from the grease of the
wool of Sheep, as well as other SINH
lar products.
For several controlling reasons the
subject of the technical use of alcohol
has reached in Germany an advanced
stage of development, which if fol
lowed by the United States will mean
a great change in our agricultural and
industrial development. Germany has
no natural gas wells nor native petrO-
leum supply. When some years ago
the question of adopting motor car
riages for military purposes was under
discussion, it was remarked by the
officials of the war department that
kerosene and gasoline engines could
be operated only with one or the other
of the products of petroleum, which
is not found in Germany and the sup
ply of which may in case of war be
wholly cut off. But the broad sandy
plains of northern and central Ger
many produce in ordinary years cheap
and abundant crops of potatoes, from
which is easily manufactured, by pro-
cess so simple as to be within the
reach of every farm, vast quantity
of raw alcohol. Under these cOndi-
tons spiritus, as it is known in Ger
many, became one of the standard
and important products of agriculture,
and every effort has been made by
the imperial and state governments to
re
mestic and industrial purposes. A law
was passed in Germany which main
tains very high tax OH alcohol in
tended for drinking, but eXempts from
taxation such alcOhols as are de-
naturated and used for Industrial pur-
poses. Since the passage of the above
law, inventors and scientists have
been busy in the Improvement of
processes and the manufacture of dis
tillerieS. New perfected mOterS,
lamps, and cooking and heating ap-
paratus have been devised and put
i'll use until crude alcohol is becoming
one of the most widely utilized pro-
ducts of German industry.
For lighting purposes, as alcohol
gives a non-luminouS flame a chemical
mantle is used similar to the Wells
bach burner, which produces a very
bright, intense and economical light,
costing but L per cent. per burner
per hour for Il candle power. For
the production Of heat generally it is
simply perfection, and nothing has
yet been found to equal the alcohol
for this purpose, owing to the fact
that it produces perfect and complete
combustion.
Alcohol once denaturated is made
not only repugnant to the taste but
is being used as an incandeScent light.
Instead of being drunk it is burned.
1t prOpelS the farm motor, the auto
mobile and the launch, and the simple
fact of obtaining denaturatiOn permits
each private citizen to light his farm
or factory, to heat his home, do farm
work or transport himself. One of
the neatest of the many new devices
used i'll Germany is an alcohol fiat |
iron with small reservoir, which be-
ing filled with alcohol and Lit meats
the iron for two hours work at a
cost of less than 2 cents. The clean
illness and economy of these fixtures
to the hOuSekeeperS are obvious. For
farm motors alcohol is a perfect fuel
because of its complete combustion,
the absence of nOXiOus Odors, it's uni |
form quality and its unlimited and uni |
verSal sources. While it is true that |
hn Of oe oil I,oI tel