El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-12-28
MLGUEY PLENTY
FOR DI5TILLERS
Utilizing MeHco's Plant
Would Save Foodstuffs
for the PeOnle.

The utilization Of the famous ma
suey" plant OF Mexico. also known
as the American aloe. or century
plant, may be sought by the Ameri-
can and allied governments for the
manufacture OF industrial alcohol for
use in explosives manufacture. thus
saving large amounts Of American
food materials now being used.
In case Investigations now being
made by a chemist OF a local cactus
disulIery plant, now not operating.
are successful. the company exDects
10 receive contracts for from U0O1
70 100000 gallons Of Industrial alco-
hol within a. short time from the
United States government it was
stated
The maguey plant. from which vino
mesca- or tequila, is distilled. is very
rich in sugar forming elements. When
the bulblke body Of the plant is
roasted In a great pit, heated with hot
stones. sugar is developed and later
. the residue is transferred TO great
watts. where the sugar is changed 10
alcohol by fermentation and after
wards distilled
Difficult Plant 70 Handle.
Industrial alcohol desired bs the
government for use in explosives
manufacture and other uses is wanted
a. $50 and 100 proof 90 and IS per
cent alcohOsic strength This re-
quirement presents a problem TO local
research workers, as Il is stated thar
the disullaton OF extremely high
proof alcohol from the maguev plant
presents difficult problems due to the
peculiar volatile elements in the
plant
Industrial alcohol differs from de-
l--tured alcohol. il IS said. in that il
contains no deuaruriuE agents.
Bring Material From sonora.
The product used in FL Paso for
olstillarlOn does not come from about
NE city, but from Sonora. Mexico. [
where a very superior quality grows. .
The fact that the plant is rich in
sugar forming constituents makes il
very valuable at present. when the I
government is doing everything Dos
sible to conserve sugar sources. /
sugar is the basis OF all alcohol man
nIacture. and if the sugar used is T
taken from ordinary foOdstuffs. as
at present the result Is q loss in food I
supplies Hence comes the desire TO .
1ind other sources OF alcohol
Cactus Low in Starch.
me Iacr that the cactus plant GOES I
not contain much starch makes II in I
ferior TO the maguey plant as an al
cohol source, il is claimed- There /
are MANY other sources Of alcohol.
but anything containing sugar or
sugar forming constituents is cheaper
Tor use. For instance. wood fiber.
slTdusU. peat and many other things
containing cellulose may be con
verified into glucose, which in turn
may be ferueuted and distilled. prO-
ducing almost pure alcohol. but the
process enr7ils considerable EXPENSE.
The possibility Of utilizing the ma
suey plant for alcohol has induced
eastern manufacturers 10 look to Fl
Paso as a supply center. with q wide
territory 10 draw supplies from over
northern Mexico Negotiations have
been going on for several GAYS be-
tween a group OF local men and the
" eZican authorities for the acuuisi-
hon OF the old Juarez distillerv for
the making of industrial alcohol. It
vas said Thursday. however. that
hus far no agreement had been
cached
Many distiIleries over the United
States. which were manufacturing
whisky Up 70 the time Of prohibition
II distIlation, are now engaged in
he distillation Of Industrial alcohol / ,
rom corn, but the government is
anxious to save in foodstuffs as far