The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-07-07
ARTICLE THIRTEEN
Do We Need Alcohol?

INDUSTRIAL alcohol has figured
l. large in the prohibition contro-
versy. Great quantities have been
diverted for making whisky and
gin. How much has been the sub
ject of bitter debate.
Prohibition, properly speaking,
has nothing to do with industrial
alcohol. The eighteenth amendment
forbids the use of alcohol for drink
ing. That, and nothing more.
I doubt whether the public has
the slightest conception of the
manifold uses of industrial alcohol,
or how impossible it would be to
operate the industry of the country
without it. 1t has more practical
uses in industry than any other
chemical.
1t exists in greater quantities than
any other liquid except water. In
deed, it's principle was referred to
by an eminent scientist as "the soul
of the vegetable world"
Yet in spite of the simplicity of
alcohol production and the wealth
of substances from which it can be
extracted, there is not today a suffi-
Gent quantity of alcohol produced
in the United States to meet our
scientific and industrial needs.
A research expert of the United
States Industrial Alcohol Company
has stated that one of the major
engineering and chemical problems
of this age is to find raw material,
abundant and cheap enough, to
produce the necessary supply.
Industrial alcohol is used by thou
sands of industries. But to prevent
it's use as beverage, the federal
government treats all its users as
potential criminals. 1t hedges them
in with all sorts of restrictive regu-
lations.
Spies sometimes have been put in
the plants of the industrial alcohol
manufacturers, and in establish
ments of its users. Their books and
records are examined regularly and
carefully. They are subject to Sc
we're penalties if a single gill goes
aStray.
ITO prevent further the use of in
i dustria1 alcohol as beverage,
the government puts deadly wood
alcohol into millions Of gallons.
Wood alcohol is such powerful
poison that small quantity of it
causes immediate and permanent
blindness, and large quantity,
death.
Industry has been handicapped
and harassed greatly by the restric-
tions on industrial alcohol thought
necessary to prevent its diversion
to beverage use.
Alcohol is used in the home every
day, for it is constituent Of all
metal, furniture and shoe polishes.
No woman could keep her home
clean enough to 1 in without it.
There could be no electric light in
the home without industrial alcohol.
1t is used in the r-anufacture of the
filaments in the electric globes. 1t
is also the principal constituent OF
canned heat.
All paints, lacquers. shellacs, var
nishes and enamels have alcohol as
their base. Alcohol is also the prin-
cipal constituent r all paint and
varnish removers.
Among the pyroxylin and nitro
cellulose products, in the manufac-
ture of which o-eat quantities of in
dustrial alcohol are used, are
brushes, buttons, mirrors, billiard
balls, hat stiffeners, dress orna-
ments. shoe caps, salt cellars, napkin
rings, pin trays, vanity boxes cellu-
loid collars, and millions Of other
articles Of everyday household use.
y = y
ELAVORING extracts, such as
Il vanilla, ginger and lemon. are
made with the use of alcohol. It
Is necessary ingredient in man