Evening star., 1933-05-21
%HE opinion Of Frederick G. Rus
sell, noted motoring authority
on the subject Of the proposed
II IL NTH

sell, noted motoring authority
On the subject of the proposed
blending of alcohol with gaso-
line is Of interest. Mr.. Russell's
.evndicated articles have appeared In
The automobile section Of The Star Tor
many years and 1t is known that he
has q wide following. Mr.. Russell puts
the case as follows
Substitutes may come and substitutes
may 20, but gasoline appears to 60 on
undaunted as the most efficient fuel fof
the motor car engine. History mas
demonstrated this for the past. Its
present popularity is unquestioned. The
best thought on the subject forecasts
its continued popularity for the future.
Some facts about gasolines supremacy
are appropriate at this time by reason
of agitation for governmental legisla-
tion to compel the mixing Of 10 per cent
Of Grain alcohol with each gallon OF
Gssoline. Quite aside from the fact
that this would benefit the farmer at
the expense Of those citizens who nave
invested heavily in petroleum enter
prises, the technical angles to the ques-
ton seem to leave gasoline still stand
ing towering above its nearest rivals
There are many disadvantages in the
use OF fuel containing alcohol, not the
least of which is the fact that 1t would
retard the present trend toward more
highly efieient motors.
Makes Most Of Fuel
The modern motor Is able to perform
capebly over a wide range OF speed,
and In zero weather as well as In
desert heat. because 1t has been de-
signed to make the most OF its fuel.
A change In fuel now would be a handi-
cap to thousands of cars and would
necessitate changes in design that might
add to the expense of car manufac-
ture or lower the performance stand
ard. or perhaps both. Brazil tried to
force the use of grain alcohol FOR
motor fuel purposes, but the law has
been repealed.
II is believed that If American motor
lists were forced to use alcohol the
farmers would not necessarily beneft,
since there are opportunities for boot
lerring. Alcohol can be made out OF
moiasses cheaper than out OF grain;
Ten years ago there was much dis
cussion Of "synthol," form Of wood
alcohol made synthetically fre~n water
gas by the projection Of jet Of steam
on coal. Predictions then wer that the
process would be brought over from
Germany where it originated. News
was dispatched to the papers to the
effect that one of the American explo-
sive manufacturers was negotiating with
the German patent holders for the
American rights and that one OF the
leading car makers was planning spe-
cal high compression motor to mt It,
None of this came true. 1t Is almost
invariably the case with substitutes for
gasoline.
Many of the substitutes threatened to
IA. l,,, -
knock qualities. But since the Nation
wide marketing of fuel mixti with tetra-
ethyl lead the anti-knock advantage no
longer figures. Merely by increasing
the percentage Of tetraethyl lead in cur
rent brands Of gasoline. 1t Is possible to
make today's fuel meet the require
ments Of still higher compression.
Anti-Knock Experiments.
Several years ago the lumber indus
try strained itself to find IN anti-knock
fuel that would outclass GASOLINE. Max
ing anti-knock motor fuel from wood
tar was the chief goal. Seventy-six per
cent of a standing tree Is wasted, and
about 81 per cent of the wood used for
making lumber based on the log Is
available for carbonization for the pro-
duction Of charcoal, tar and other pro-
ducts. Seventy million gallons Of
tar will produce, through cracking,
about %, ,300,0 900 gallons Of motor fuel.
This is said to be eqSal in anti-knock
properties to benzine.
Any use Of grain aeohol, or Of any
thing else devised for economic reasons,
would be certain to stimulate interest
in the great variety of fuels which are
being used with varying degrees Of sue
cess throughout the world. Benzol,
which Ia rather widely used, would be