Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-06
ALCOHOL UTILIZATION
REPORT BY CONSUL GENERAL
SKINNER ON THE SUBJECT.

Consul General Robert p. Skinner of
Marseilie says In a report TO the Depart
ment of Commerce and Labor that the
last word In regard to the industrial uses
OF alcohol has not yet been said. nor does
he anticipate that American expectations in
regard TO the general practicability OF this
fuel as a motive force are going to be at
once realized Mr.. Skinner continues
How far from perfect are the methods
now in use may be judged from the fact
that although the French government. by
decree dated June %. 1908, created COM
mission of analytical methods in regard TO
alcohol. 1t is at this time publicly offering
prizes for the person who shall discover
alcohol unfit for consumption than the one
now employed, and another prize for the
person who shall discover an improved
means of utilizing alcohol as an illuminant.
Report Two Years Ago.
in 1904, on the authority of a manu-
facturer of very well-known alcohol and
gasoline carbure.er. reported that of eo,oeo
such devices sold by him annually only
500 were intended for the use of alcohol;
and elsewhere 100 petroleum or gas motors
were being sold for one alcohol motor. For
this state of facts three reasons were
given: The high cost OF alcohol. excessive
consumption, oxidation. There are many
alcohol Illuminating lamps on the market
with which incandescent nantes are used,
but they make their way slowly into popu-
lar favor. In word. the whole field of
alcohol utilization ST one of great fascina-
ton to inventors and manufacturers. each
of which hopes TO be the first in conclusive
~ overcoming the several obstacles to COM
piete commercial success.
There is no important manufacture of
industrial alcohol in this region of France,
and my opportunities for obtaining infor-
nation are therefore not OF the best II
appears, however, that the manufacturers
in this country have combined into
Chambre Syndicate de fAlcool Denature,
of which en-. Seratzky of 81 Rue Jean Bart,
Lille, is secretary. | am indebted to
Messrs Georges fls of st. Menet near
Marseille, an important firm in the alco-
hoI business, for the following definite
facts on this subject:
Preparation and Cost.
.Denatured alcohol is composed, accord
Ing to French law. of one hundred parts
of ethylic industrial alcohol grading 80 de-
grees at temperature of Is degrees c., of
ten parts of methyltc alcohol industrially
denominated nethylene, and which itself
is composed of Is per cent of methylic al
cohol. % per cent of acetone, certain
quantity of impurities and finally one
half part OF heavy benzine.
"The price of alcohol at 90 degrees. which
serves as basis, is very variable. and
depends upon tine demand and supply in the
Paris market, which is held daily. This
price is actually about 43 francs $500
per hectoliter t26.41 gallons} naked, base
80 degrees, with a premium for quality
over 80 degrees and the tax on manufac-
ture-that is, 1.63 francs (31 cents) per
hectoliter (26.41 gallons)-of pure alcohol
taken at the distillery.
1.-The cost of transportation is to be added
to this price. For your information let me
say that we have seen the market reach
26 francs tS5.oil in 1901 and 81 francs fsI1p
In 1906. Thus you see how difficult 1t Is TO
establish an average. price for this article.
which is SO much speeulated upon. Methy-
lene responding to the requirements of the
law is worth from SO TO 100 francs (s15.4
to $40 30) per hectoIiter (2541 gallons), the
benzine from A. to IS francs (Ss.6S to
S125Q.
Uses of Denatured Alcohol
"As to the use of denatured alcohol, they
are multiple-l!ghting, heating BY CONVEX
sion into gas or by combustion, alimenta-
ton of explosive motors. which last utili-
cation tends to assume large proportions.
moving on parallel lines with the progress
of the automobile and automobile boat.
I'm general way the use of denatured
alcohol which has been properly treated by
means of substances suitable to each spe-
cial utilization seems likely in the future
to compete strongly with the rectified min
eral essences. It is necessary simply to
bring about this result to favor its pro-
duction by the payment of premiums to the
producers of the raw material, such
cereals, potatoes etc, and also to the dis
tillers and those who render it unfit for
human consumption. SO that this article
may be delivered in permanent way to
purchasers at price of from % to 80 CEN
times g to cents per liter Q.05 quarts),
thing which is now actually impossible.
Denatured alcohol cannot be sold at this
time, retail, at less than 30 confines III
cents per liter"