The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-02-27

bttIS W pItN'hN heVSihS "hu ~ ''''f
about nifty cents u gallon.
"plcnty of reasons are mentioned to
show why industrial alcohol making
hasn't been developed-cost Of equip
mcnt. difficulties of Federal supervi-
sion and the like. but no one has told
us just why some Of these obstacles
to the business were not discovered
while tile boom was on.
III a cheap fuel made from by
products is ever to appear the time
Is now certainly propitious."
Not one of the reasons above mem
toned is the real reason why indus
trial alcohol has not developed. and w
will tell why. as the farmers claim.
the real obstacles were not discovered
when the boom was on.
II ever there was "a time when cheap
dcnature0 alcohol was needed 1t Ia
now. Farm labor is scarce and grow
ing scarcer. Labor costs farmers SO
much that power machinery IS abso-
lutely necessary To- do what formerly
was donc by hand labor. Then, to-. as
n simple matter of preparedness in
case Of war. farm made denatured
alcohol IL a necessity. War would call
men and make farm labor even scarccr
and higher priced than It Is now.
Without the support Of the farmer and
the crops he raises, this country or
any other would be defeated the mo-
ment war was declared. With cheap
alcohol to operate their stationary and
traction engines and automobiles farm
era could cut their labor item consid-
crahly n cheap stills can be made
that every farmer can afford, for they
were made and sold here until farmers.
10 their surprise. learned that they
were not permitted TO use them.
h farmers claim that they were
either sold out or defeated by stupid
politicians, It matters little which. as
the result has been the same.
The matter was explained in THE
/ New York SuS, December rs. 1913.
Denatured alcohol. before the war.
sold in Germany for 10 to Is cents u
gallon and largely took the place of
more expensive gasolene for operating
gas engines. automobiles and for fuel
: and lighting. German farms. encour-
, aged by the Government. run small
: stills by which their surplus crops. de-
: cayed fruit and vegetables, parings,
, tops. &c. are converted into low grade
, alcohol.
: Tons and tons OF fruits and vege-
tables 20 to waste in the United States
. every year which could he made into
, alcohol and the energy thu stored and
profltably utilized in engines for
Z threshing. pioughlng. pumping and
: other purposes.
The law was passed which seeming
II, ,nat: an fhn f.yn. at, lan,tv.J al
, cohol and the new law was taken tc
mean "A new era in farming. bur /,
q was found to be full. OF jokers. Who
Is responsible the public may Judge
a some farmers credit the work TO III.
% whiskey trust. some to the oil trusi
$ and some to both.
r Farmers who purchased small still,
after this bill passed learned that frs
they were required TO put up n tont
Of $1,000. which not every farmer /,
> able to do. Then the farmer must In,
! stal! m equipment sufficient TO pro,
Z duce 100 gallons a day. which is IN,
minimum moun allowed by the law
The expense Of this apparatus is To-,
}! great In the first place for the ordi,
nary farmer. and In the second plac,
10 farmer can use loo gallons "A day
% clearly the law was no. made fol
IA" farmers.
The above are two OF the jokers, bu'
here are more. The alcohol must n,
" such proof that II can only h.
made in an expensive plant and tn.
"A ienaturing materials the farmer Won,
L hc obliged TO use cos, as much a. III,
+, tlcohol is worth after it is made.
II nNpv thor. urns a nl.ln.. 80,
.e stupid hill enacted, this denaturize,
ia Icohol bill Is a masterpiece.
1, The farmers worthy Concrcssme,
e h pass such bills send the farmer
.r packages Of seeds every wear. whicl
re not wanted. and hope To keeI
Nom satisfied.
Every farmer can distll his owl
y tlcohol and supply a cheap product &
" others at a profit when the call 1
i made loud and long enough. but 9TH
y interests can be counted on 10 op
n pose such measures and possibly. no
Il n the open.
y Rcior" the war German farmer
ii grew potatoes exclusively FOR alcuho
sweet potatoes, corn. cornstalks, Vegc
10 table tops, beats and almost all Kind
|, OF fruits and farm crops will produc
(. alcohol,
At Is /. n hint that IL given in tho las
paragraph OF Il bulletin sent ont n
p the United States Department Of Ayr.
h culture?
II However, vast deposits OF pctru
a leum Will also Offer competition ind.
III recily TO the potato, a. At present ther
VI Is not the need in this country the
there is in Germany for potato alec
hol. Nevertheless We are using ~
our great petroleum %esourcc ANA tn
tim" may not be Tar distant when tn
dIstlilins of alcohol from potatoes ma.
n become an important industry"
Id The tine has arrived fos d~enaturc
alcohol. In fact II was time long az,
but the farmer vas hoodwinked, I'll
time il now. ana for every farmcI
ne not a bill framed ~ hat only lare
al capitalists can undertake his wort
hut every farmer with a mod,rat
" priced still that hundreds Of manufaC
49, turers are ready to turn out in quar-
rs titles AS o as farmers are permitte
sd to operate them, Not only are farm
, crs Interested in the Use of dentturc
w. alcohol, but every automobile uwre
IN and the owner of avery kerosene ,
in naphtha ~engine-an army OF hundred
OF thousands Of people.