Evening star., 1925-08-09
Special Dispatch to The star.

Special Dispatch TO The star -..
NEW YORK, August s.-Investiga.
tion of reports that a marvellous new
motor fuel had been discovered re-
vealed today romantic story of how
patents under which it can be made
value once figured at $50 and now
estimated at 100000, undiscovered
until a minor Government employe
stumbled on the key to the secrets
they contained. The patents. 13 Of
4,500 seized during the war by the
alien property custodian and turned
over to the Government formed Chem.
ical Foundation, Inc. for licensing to
American manufacturers. now are be-
ueved actually to contain secrets
which forecast a revolution of manu-
featuring processes among American
industries capitalized at billions of
dollars.
Fifty Miles to Gallon.
The proposed fuel, synthol, can be
made under the seized German pat.
ents covering processes for manufac-
ture of metha anol--synthetic wood al
cohol.
1t Is represented by DIR. 7. A. Boyd
of the General Motors Corporation re.
search department as o carbonless,
knockless fuel, giving so miles to the
gallon when used in a new type Of
light engine he said had been per-
fected by his corporation. Officials
have formally denied that General
Motors. the du Points and Standard
Oil Of New Jersey planned to produce
1t was learned today that the
du Points have obtained a license to
use the patents from the Chemical
Foundation, Inc, and are rushing
work on Clinchfield, w. Va, plant.
While this plant can be used in
making synthol, it is described by
some as part of series OF revolu'
tionary developments planned by nu'
merous American industries as re-
suit of discovery of chemical secrets
which remained hidden in the maze
Of chemical terms in the patents until
Thomas Delehanty, Department OF
Commerce chemist, saw their poten-
tial value.
Germany Floods Market.
1t was only last March when Ger
many began flooding world markets
with synthetic wood alcohol made at
half the cost Of the American distilled
brand, that the patents were care.
fully inspected.
Delehanty was merely seeking In
formation on which to base Depart
ment Of Commerce circular about
methan6l.
Now, with his discovery as a start
err research chemists have found that,
aside from furnishing the key to
methanol. the patents cover manufac-
ture of the motor fuel and of a steel
that is lighter, stronger, rustless and
manufactured more cheaply than any
steel made.
Thus the automobile industry. with
$1,000 900, 900 capitalization and
$50, 600 900 900 public investment, and
the steel industry, capitalized at
about $4,000. 900 900 and annually
turning out products worth more than
that. is placed alongside the 800 ,ooo,-
900 wood alcohol industry In facing
manufacturing turnover through
chemical advancement.
While no immediate changes are
contemplated, it is admitted by ON
cials that these American industries
are looking forward and believe that
in time the hidden secrets Of the Ger
man patents will revolutioniZe their
business. Dozens of allied lines prob
ably will be affected, and chemists in
sist that almost undreamed-of pos
sibilities lie in completely solving the
patents. With these research discov.
cries as a basis the possibilities OF
simply a new motor fuel. a synthetic
alcohol or a type Of steel have been
virtually forgotten by American In
dustrialists such as the du Points, the
United States Steel Corporation and
the Standard Oil groups in plunging
ahead to furnish discoveries they hope
to make through use of the German
patents.
West Virginia Plant Available.
II "a
West Virginia plant to make motor
fuel or only synthetic alcohol is not
definitely known, but it is established
that Ii could be used for either. Eight
American concerns, including the
du Points, already have obtained
licenses from the Chemical Founda-
ton, Inc. TO use the valuable key pat
ent and its collateral patents and now
are experimenting on motor fuels,
steel ammonia, nitrate, alcohols, alco-
hol products and such chemical in
dustrial products.
In the meantime, on the fuel angle,
it is reliably reported that the Ethyl
Gas Corporation, whose Jetraethyl
fuel has been taken from the market
pending Government investigation
into safety of its use, actually has
about abandoned plans of any re-
sumption of sale even IL the allegedly
poisonous qualities of its fuel later
are repudiated.
In trade circles the statement is
made that When Standard Oil IN. j.,
the du Points and General Motors
seemingly laid their cards on the ta-
BILE by withdrawing loaded gasoline,
they held up their sleeves the synthol
ace and the solution of the German
patents.
The patent, which is considered the
key to the chemical industrial situa
ton is known simply as Patent No.
1201S50, producing compounds OF
carbon and nitrogen" It's language
was so veiled and its secrets so cum
ningiy hidden by the German patent
ees that 1t was looked on for a long
time as simply the pet of some Ger
man chemist and of no importance.
Filed by German Chemists.
1t was filed with the Patent ONCE
at Washington February II, 1914,
by Alvin Mittasch and Christian
Schneider. representing the Badische