Evening star., 1942-03-27
Wheeler
Continued From First Page.

aborning right now. They are the
industries Of the future.
First, the alcohols; second, the
plastics, and third, light metals" ="
He assured the committee that
alcohol could be produced from
grain more cheaply than from any
other source and declared this coun-
try must have a billion gallons on
hand by the end of this year If we
are to win the war. The Govern
ment's announced schedule calls for
300.000,000 gallons. ="
The farmer never can over-pro-
duce If industry wakes up and makes
bilities," DR.. Hale said, but every
thing that touches the farm is re-
pressed at Washington. You hand
him money to curtail his production.
That is not the way to build a
chemical nation"
Outlays for Politics" Hit.
mo" Senator Wheeler remarked,
"but it's the way to build a politi-
cal country
Later, Senator Wheeler expressed
hope that the Agriculture Depart
ment would devote more of it's time
and funds to developing industrial
uses for farm crops, instead of
spending it on politics, as we have
been spending it."
DR.. Henry G. Knight, chief of the
departments Bureau of Agricul-
tural Chemistry and Engineering,
supported DR. Hale's contention that
grain alcohol could be produced at
a cost which would be reasonably
competitive with other sources"
Chairman Gillette read into the
Record correspondence which indi-
Gated that the Carbide & Carbon
Chemicals Corp. had received Gov
ernment financing and priorities for
construction of petroleum alcohol
plant.
Thumping the table vigorously,
DR.. Hale, former college professor,
declared the chemical development
of agriculture was the answer to the
need for war materials.
Germany, Japan and Russia have
learned this lesson" he said, "and
they're going to lick hell out of us
If we don't learn it."
Urges Faith in Farmers"
Under questioning by Senator Gill
lette, the witness conceded that the
oil industry might be able to pro-
duce batadiene, the basis of syn
thetic rubber, more cheaply from
petroleum at present, but, he said:
I'VE never got a start. Give us a
chance and we'll beat hell out of
them. Have faith in the farmer"
Senator Gillette remarked at one
point that DR.. Hale had made an
interesting prophesy," but the pic
ture would have to be developed.
He asked what initial steps should
be taken.
I'VE should start by building small
plants here and there" the witness
replied. Then watch them grow,
as you watched the automobile in
dustry grow"
He said alcohol could be produced
from farm products at less than 10
cents a gallon within two years. and
he added, 1T could be converted
into thousands of industries"
Ethyl alcohol made from petrol
cum, he said, costs 13 to IS cents a
gallon to produce.
Oil Firm Claims Disputed.
The oil companies have always
claimed they could do everything
cheaper and better than anybody
else" he continued. Those are not
the facts
Dr. Hale declared the machine
age had passed and that this is the
era of erSatz.
He said a billion gallons of alcohol
would be needed for the following
Fifty million gallons for the man.
ufacture of smokeless powder.
One hundred million gallons for
storage.
One hundred million gallons for
anti-freeze solutions.
Two hundred million gallons for
solvents. lacquers and plastics.
Fifty million gallons for airplane