The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1907-02-20


Mr.. Yerkes sent a letter of explana.
ton to Mr.. Jones and enclosed q
more exhaustive letter on the same
subject, which he had written in an
swer to complaints that came from
Minneapolis. The two letters are
self-explanatory. That to Mr.. Jones
is as follows:
will Pay Farmer to Distill.
The newspaper clipping is an ag-
gregation of error and misstatement.
There is no reason, in view of the
law or the regulations, why the farm
er should not build his distillery and
engage in the production of alcohol
for denaturing purposes. 1t simply
is question of whether it will pay.
That he must determine. / believe
it will.
The article states that the produc-
ton of alcohol by any but a large
plant is virtually impossible.
The law Of June z, 1906, changed
In no respect whatever the internal
revenue system that has been in
force for 40 years controlling the
production of distilled spirits. It
takes that product, when completed
In the form of alcohol and allows It
to be withdrawn free Of government
al tax when there is added to It
material which destroys its beverage
qualities and its use for liquid medic
nal purposes.
A large plant is not necessary.
There are today hundreds Of distil-
leries in operation in the United
States whose total cost, for the dis
tillery itself and the warehouse, does
not exceed $500. Some cost less.
Cooperative plants can be construct
ed today by the farmers, just as they
could have been constructed for a
half century.
No Minimum Capacity.
The article states that the plant
must have capacity Of 500 gallons
Of alcohol per day. That is abso-
lutely error. A plant can be con-
structed that will produce ten gallons
day or 10000 gallons day. The
question of output is a matter to be
determined absolutely by the dis
tiller.
AS to inspection and governmental
surveillance of these plants, this is
required and is absolutely necessary
to protect the government against
fraud. Alcohol when denatured
pays a tax of about 50 per wine
gallon. Naturally the government
must exercise the strictest SUPER
vision to prevent the fraudulent
withdrawal of alcohol from the dis
tillery and its being placed upon the
market without the payment of tax.
AS to inspection by the government
of these plants and surveillance of
them, that is matter Of no finan-
cial import to the distiller. The gov
eminent pays the salary of the in
spector, whether he remains at the
distillery every hour that 1t is in
operation or whether he visits it
once week.
So far as the denaturing agents
are concerned and their cost, every
effort has been made to reduce that
to a minimum.
In another letter sent to Mr..
Jones, in speaking of the charge that
the Standard Oil company would
have a monopoly in the matter, Mr..
Yerkes said the charge was without
a just basis. He said:
Benzine will be produced by many
other companies than the standard
Oil company. The latter company
does not produce pyridin base. there
being only one plant in the United
States now that does produce 1t, and
that being in the state Of New York.
Probably at first some Of 1t will be
imported. There seems to be an un.
founded belief on the part of some
good people that this nation, even in
its governmental operations. is alb.
solutely under the control of the
Standard DOLL company. For one, I
do not believe it, nor do I for q mo-
ment concur in the thought that this
government cannot protect itself
against the effort of the Standard
OIL company. or any other company,
to unduly interfere with the opera
lions Of this denatured alcohol leg
islation. a
The commissioner further says
that the French government has a
standing offer Of two prizes. one OF
10000 francs, the other 10000
francs. to the chemist or individual
who would furnish that government
with denaturing agent cheaper and