Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1907-01-26
DENATURED ALCOHOL.
Interesting Article i'll Regard to This
New Product.

A good many people believe that
in denatured alcohol will be found a
product of untold value to the
people and that IN its manufacture
the farmers in all parts Of the
country will find market for their
vegetable products 1t a good profit.
Up to the present time the posi-
biIities Of denatured alcohol both
for the producer and the con
sumner, are to be determined, but
many believe that it is the coming
fuel, and we believe that it would
be wise for Lancaster to take steps
to provide plant for It's manufac-
ture.
From week to week We propose to
publish denatured alcohol items, so
that our readers may be somewhat
familiar with its product, it's manu-
facture and its uses.
When Mr.. Yerkes was in Europe,
to learn how to buncO his fellow
citizens out of the advantages that
industrial alcohol would give them,
he found that in England five per
cent of wood alcohol was used to
denature alcohol, and it was believed
there that even three per cent would
do as well. Profting by the know
ledge he came home and prescribed
ten per cent of wood alcohol as q
denaturing agent, whereat the wood
alcohol trust was rejOiced, of course.
Mr.. Yerkes is the commissioner of
internal revenue, and the foe to in
dustrial alcohol, whom the trainers
of the alcohol law maze the eX-
ecutnr of the law.
It seems that Mr.. Yerkes, who
had no faith IN the use of alcohol
for power, saw to his probable dis
gust, a large engine in a distillery
in England that had been operating
for six years with alcohol as the
propelling agent.
SAYS a u. S consular report: I'm
dustrial alcohol is now used In small
portable lamps, which give all the
effects of a mantle burner heated by
gas. The expense for alcohol is only
about two thirds as much per candle
power as kerosene. Even at % or.
80 cents gallon denatured alcohol
can be used as a means of ilghtE9ssaa
Think then, how cheap light it
would be if it could be made of the
waste products of the farm, at no
cost except that of distilling.
In the south cassava root grows
abundantly, yielding thirty to forty
tons to the acre. Nearly forty per
cent of it is dry matter, and so per
cent OF that matter is convertible
into alcohol. These figures are from
Prof. Wiley of the agricultural de-
partment, Washington Cassava
root is one of the best producers of
alcohol known; and see what a valu
able product it would be to the
south if it could be converted into
alcohol at nearby stills, where cost
of distilling and denaturing would
be the lightest conceivable. Cas-
sava can speedily solve the problem
of heat, light and power wherever
it can be grown.
A bushel of corn will make 81
gallons of alcohol. At 35 cents a
gallon for the alcOhOl-the pr1ce
talked of when made of sound corn
in big distilleries and sold by jobbers
and retailers-the bushel of corn
would weld 81 5 cents. Think of the
worth that soft or otherwise un-
merchantable corn would have, at
this rate, il it could be distilled near
home. and the profits of middlemen
cut out. Can't it be seen that an
exchange is after big game when it
is cunning for stills near home,
where waste products of the farm
may be converted into a source Of
light, heat and power?
All farm grams are generous pro
| ducers of alcohol, and so are corn
and sorghum stalks; in short, the
farm abounds in prolific sources of
alcohol, and largely in waste pro
ducts that cannot be shipped long
distances to large distilleries, and
would not be received if they were
shipped. The chief advantage Of in
dustrial alcohol will be realized by
way Of waste products, near-home
distillat1on and the absence OF
middlemen's profits. Without these
| there is nothing in it to the great
mass of our people who want to use
it for fuel purposes, and in no other
way.