New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-23
FINDS NEW MOTOR FUEL
Benzo|ized Alcohol May Offer
Relief from High Prices.
CAN BE CHEAPLY PRODUCED
Potatoes and Maize Furnish
Principal Ingredient, Which
Is Then Denatured.

The humble potato may come to the
rescue of English motorists in the fight
against the interests which have steadily
raised the price of gasolene until il has
reached a point where a prohibitive price
for that type OF fuel is in sight. Since
the offer of a prize OF $1,000 a few months
ago for the discovery OF fuel that would
render motorists independent of the Brit
sh oil trust, whatever It's name, much
research in this direction has been con-
Quoted
The man who holds out hope of relief
TO tine automobilist Is DR.. W. r. Or
mandy. lie declares that the avenue OF
escape from the gasoenc combine lies In
the use Of alcohol. which can be produced
cheaply from potatoes or maize, and
which, in combination with benzol. will
afford satisfactory substitute Benzol
was one OF the types Of fuel suggested
as a substitute for gasolene, but II Of
fered little hope of relief, since its pro-
duction could not be made large enough
10 begin filling a market that demands
annually more than 100000 gallons OF
gasolene.
According to DR.. Ormandy. the proper
mixture for benZolized alcohol Ia 80 per
cent alcohol and 20 per cent OF benzol.
He estimates that the production Of ben
zol can be brought up to 10000. 900 gallons
year. while alcohol can be produced In
any quantity demanded. The mixture
he says would be az satisfactory as
heavy-grade gasolene. but not quite SO
economical. weight for weight 1t would
call for no alteration in engine design
and no special form OF carburetor.
The possible drawback In producing al
cohol cheaply from potatoes would be the
price OF the latter but II can be produced
even more cheaply from maize in the
British coonies-at half the price-it Is
asserted. The suggestion is made tha'
the government recognize the addition Of
benzol to alcohol as a form OF denaturing
thus rendering the mixture subject 10 {
low duty. or impose a low special fue
tax in order to assist the motoring move
ment I'm Great Britain. II is believed th'
authorities will accept the suggestion
since oil fuel for army and navy purposes
| is almost wholly sea-borne, and the SUB
stitutlon OF a denatured alcohol for gas
olene. even in part, would render les
likely shortage In time OF extreme
need
! German industrial alcohol, produced
/ from potatoes, Is sold around % cents
gallon-bclow cost. II is asserted-thi
situation being the outcome OF the Ger
man governments policy OF fostering TN
utilization OF all available land 20 az 4
maintain as large a population as pos
sibo on the land. The loss on industrial
alcohol is compensated for by the prom
on that sold by the same distillers 10
human consumption
REPORTS reached this country some tim
| ago OF the results obtained from the us
of denatured alcohol as an automooil
fuel on cars I'm the Emperor's string. on
Of the drivers In the royal garage report
ed. unofficially. that the fuel proved fair
| IL satisfactory except for high deposit
Of carbon. which rendered imperative
cleaning OF the cylinders at the end o
every thousand miles.