Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1916-07-29
Europe's Great Demand.

position that the total output of all
distilleries running overtime is de-
voted solely 10 the production Of alco-
hOl for powder No calculation is
made for the great percentage Of loss
by evaporation in SO volatile a sub
stance as alcohol Even in stress of
war not all the alcohol produced could
be devoted to munitions The indus
trial and medical demand must con-
, tinue to be supplied. While it Is i'm
possible to estimate the amount that is
now being used in the great war it
is quite certain that the consumption
Is far in excess OF these figures AS
is well known the Naval Advisory
Board has sent out blanks for secur-
/ ing an industrial inventory for the
! army and navy. These blanks ask the
name and character Of the establish
ment and a detailed description Of the
plant, manufacture. production, etc.
In addition, these two significant Dues
| lions are asked:
Would you consider bidding upon
regular United States Army and Navy
contracts in time Of peace?
Would you consider accepting Uni
ted States Army and Navy business
in time of war on a cost plus reason
able profit basis?
In addition to the regular blanks for
inventory sent to manufac curing
plants, supplemental sheet to dis
tilleres has been furnished asking
many detailed questions as to their
capacity for producing alcohol. In
other words. the Naval Advisory
Board, recognizing it's dependence
upon the big dlstilleries of the coun-
try, asks for detailed information (the
same to be held as strictly confden-
tial, non-partisan, non-politioal and
wholly patriOtic") as an essentitl fac
tor in preparedness for the future.
The questions asked make 1t perfectly
plain that the Naval Advisory Board
has no thought or intention of pur-
chase or ownership, but Is simply anx-
1ous to secure accurate information.
upon which 1t can count In any emer-
gency, not only in time Of war, but in
time OF peace as well
DistlIleries a Necessity.
1t is even more evident from every
question asked in this Industrial in
ventory that the Naval Advisory Board
presupposes the continued existence
of these distilIeries. If these dis
tilleries are destroyed, how will the
government supply the necessary
amount Of alcohol essential to the
manufacture Of smokeless powder? Is
the government to maintain it's own
dlst1lleries or one great central plant
AS for single colossal plant, or even
several plants capable Of turning out
over six hundred thousand gallons of
alcohol per day, the mere suggestion
IN itself is impractical To concen-
trate this great factor in the produc-
ton OF snokeless powder into one or
lew plants would mean the running
OF tremendous risk In the matter OF
IRE, accident, etc, even In times of
peace.
In case Of war few plants would be
1eopardized in q far greater degree by
efforts of the enemy to destroy those
essential factories and the production
OF munitions. Or is the government
70 MAINTAIN its own distjlleries, every.
where recognized as the most perish
able form OF property when not reg.
ularly operated? Such a proposition
would entail an enormous additional
expense throughout times Of peace
for the possible contingency Of war,
even providing the same were prac.
teal
Inc annual internal revenue to the
Federal Government from liquors now
amounts to some $250,O00,O0O, repre-
senting more than one-third of the to-
tai revenue received by the United
States If the statesmen of this coun
try are as forehanded as those con.
trolIlng the destinies Of the Central
poWers OF Europe, and If they are to
learn anything from the experience of
the Allies in the present war, is not
the conservation Of the nations
sources Of alcohol subject demanding
the deepest study and most careful
consideration? ]