Evening star., 1909-08-28
DENATURED PRODUCT TEST
Substitution of the Fluid for Case.
line a Possibility.
USE IN INTERNAL COMBUSTION
Still Operated in Department Of
Agriculture for Manufacture Of
Innocent Brand.

OF dendtured alcOnOi started at the Ie-
partment of Agriculture this fall. The
experiment stations, which are closely
allied with the agricultural colleges OF
the various states. have arranged to
send representatives to Washington for
the purpose. Back of the bureau of
chemistry in the Department of Agricul-
ture there is big still for the making
Of alcohol. 1t is q strictly legalized plant,
for the Treasury Department had to 80
through all sorts OF formalities before 1t
was permitted to make even tho inno-
cent brand of alcohol that IL used in
internal combustion engines. The still
has been running little over year
and has made alcohol out of about every
thing, from passe boot legs to rose leaves.
1t has found about what alcohol can
really be made for from the various sub
stances and has learned enough about
the business to feel competent in start
ing the farmers out to work for them
selves.
The Department of Agriculture has
been very much interested In the manu-
facture OF denatured alcohol since the
passage Of the "free alcohol bill, and
has hoped for great things for the farm
erS.
Price Goes Up.
1t is a rather curious fact that the
Ing up ever since the passage Of the free
alcohol bill. 1t was found when the ex-
periments were first made with denatured
alcohol that it could be sold at profit
for 30 cents a gallon. This did not bring
it in competition with gasoline for auto
mobiles, for this was selling then at
about 15 cents gallon. But the price
of gasoline was going up all the time,
and it was supposed the price Of alcohol
would 70 down But this was not the
case. The price of alcohol went steadily
up. and it is now around SO cents gal
lon. with every prospect that 1t will 80
higher. Gasoline has gone up too, though
not as rapidly as alcohol.
The explanation OF this given by the
government chemists is that there ls
more free alcohol used in the arts and
the supply is not increasing. There IS
alcohol used in the manufacture of silk,
varnishes, felt and lot Of other sub
stances These arts had to have alcohol
even when it was subject to the Internal
revenue tax, and now that 1t is compare
lively cheap they are using much more
OF it. The manufacture of alcohol is
all practically in the hands of one big
company and it finds that so long as
there is market for its product 1t is
cheaper to raise the price than to in
crease the output of the plants
Owned by Standard, Probably.
1t is generally understood through
brokers. though this is not asserted by
government officials that the big alcohol
plants are owned by the Standard Oil
Company-of course not under that name.
This is merely a little business precau-
ton so that when the time comes, as 1t
ultimately will. that alcohol is cheaper
than gasoline for internal explosion en-
gines, the Standard will be in position
to catch the consumer going and COM
ing.
supposed to come in. Naturally there are
some parts OF the country where gasoline
is more expensive than others-also some
sections where alcohol can be made
cheaper. from waste farm products than
in others. 1t is pointed out that If big
farmer or an aggregation of small farm
ers could put up free alcohol plant they
could make the fuel for their internal
combustion engines just about as cheaply.
and in some localities cheaper, than they
are now paying for gasoline.
The department has made a long series
of experiments, not only In making al
cohol. but in its use in gasoline engines.
There are no strictly alcohol engines on
the American market now. and while
American manufacturers are quite willing
to sell more gasoline engines to be used
with alcohol. they are very slow about
giving any help in developing an alco-
hol engine. 1t has been found, however.
any gasoline engine now on the market.
Cost Reduced by Changes.
Without any changes at all the alcohol
costs a good deal more as fuel than gas
oline. It takes about two gallons of al
cohol to develop as much brake horse
poWer per hour as gasoline does, but
this can be cut down somewhat by alter
ing the adjustment Of the engine without
any structural changes.
Alcohol will stand great deal more
compression than gasoline will, being
quite safe from auto explosion at 12O
pounds. while gasoline cannot be used
at over 50 pounds. There are some ad-
justments of the carburetter that are
desira BILE with alcohol, but the fuel az it
is put on the market today cannot COM
pete with gasoline
1t is expected, however, that with the
extension OF the farmers plants and
cheapening of manufacture. alcohol will
soon compete with gasoline as an engine
fuel In a great many localities. That at
least is the object of the alcohol class
that Is to be started.