The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-06-27
DENATURED
A Dream That Won't Como True for the
Farmer for . Whilo Yet.

Farmer for . Whilo Yet.
OMAHA. Neb.. June 2e.-The plan O
using denatured alcohol from vast
products as a cheap fuel to furnish pove
on the farm-one OF the objects OF tn
law permitting it's manufacturers pro
nounoed a failure by the chemists OF tn
| Department Of Agriculture after expert
ments covering almost a year. Prof
Harris l.. Sawyer, chief Of the bureau o
chemistry. says II Is impossible becaus
of the fuel cost TO operate the still. to "a.
nothing about the original cost Of tn,
plant.
Mountainous make moonshine whiske g,
in small stills and realize a good prof
until they get caught" says the chief Of
the bureau; -but while moonshine whis-
key, which costs so cents a gallon tc
manufacture, is cheap for whiskey.
alcohol at so cents a gallon would ncv oil
compete with gasolene. So far in 9
good sized still it has been impossible II
produce alcohol at as low a price al
gasolene is PRODUCED
As a commercial product denatured
alcohol may some day compete with
gasoleno: hut as for each farmers having
a small still and making a fuel with which
he can secure power to thresh, shell corn.
grind fee1. churn or light his farm. the
day is not in sight. Yet this was the
dream OF Congressman and some enthu.
siasts in the agricultural schools when the
bill was before Congress permitting the
manufacture Of the great 'civilizing drug
denatured alcohol
Greeley. Col. is thought to be tho
greatest potato market in the country.
situated as 1t is in the centre Of a great
irrigated potato region. Greeley pro-
poses to put in an alcohol still and make
the denntured product from culled po-
tatoes. The chemists Of the Department
Of Agriculture are hopeful for this enter
prise. 1t may save tho u Of the
alcohol the amount OF the freight rate
OF gasolone, but II it saves anything now
the margin will be small.
In good faith the Department Of Agr-
culture secured an appropriation OF
$4,000 to demonstrate the process for
still OF small capacity RAJ secured and
placed In the Government exhibit at the
national corn exposition held in Omaha
last December.
Uncle Sans travelling alcohol plant
proved a good attraction and some 100. 400
farmers saw it in operation; but with
material from which to mako alcohol
almost FREQ and little or no fuel cost
the alcohol cost almost as much as it costs
to make moonshinc whiskey. The lowest
cost at which 1t has been produced in the
stills with which the Department has ex-
perimented has been about II cents a
gallon. and a gallon Of alcohol will
scarcely produce more horsepower than
a gallon Of gasolcne.
II was when the National Corn expoei.
ton took up the question Of having the
still placed on exhibition AT Omaha next
December. when the third oorn show will
be held. that Dr.. Sawyer Of tho bureau
Of chemistry said kindly but firmly,
we 40 not believe it is a good thing TO
convince us that the hope OF farmers
making the alcohol eoonomi cally. to be
used for fuel is useless. Glad to lot Won
have the still IL you pay the expense Of
installing and operating, It. Our appro-
%priations are exhausted Accordingly
the Department of Agriculture is plnnnins
a new and entirely different display for
The travelling still Is now in Washing.
ton. A still similar 10 il ia Attempting 10
make alcohol from cactIs at FL Pnso,
Tex. while another is working near
Hattiesburg, Miss. whore IL is making
alcohol from sawdust.
The approximate cost oi a still to do good
work is $4,000. II farmers ever not tho
benefit OF depatured alcohol It will bo
ny organizing n cooperative COMPANY
II, regions where coal can be secures
with small cost.
While these conditions exist regarding
tho use OF alcohol for power the ,lso OF
alcohol for commercial purposes Ia in
cieasing. and the law permitting the
'~poisoning'. Of pure grain alcohol il
making a big saving In cost TO manu-