21,1 Cole: Manufacture of Industrial Alcohol 31 
Estimated cost of alcohol motor fuel plant producing 1,000 gallons 
per day—Continued. 
ETHER Room: Dollars. 
1 modern sulphuric ether generator 3,500.00 
1 1,000-gallon supply tank 57.50 
1 ether storage tank, metal, 1,000 gallons 144.00 
FINISHED MoToR FUEL STORAGE Room: 
2 6,000-gallon tanks 368.00 
1 1,500-gallon mixing tank 58.00 
1 pump 200.00 
GENERAL: ; 
All piping throughout plant 2,000.00 
Miscellaneous expense 1,815.25 
BUILDINGS: 
Greatly varying as to type of construction, 
preparation of site, location, materials, etc., 
estimated at 12,500.00 
Grand total 35,000.00 
These figures are evolved from the result of practical experience in the 
erection and operation of numerous distilling plants and the particular 
experience of the erection of one motor fuel plant. The equipment figures 
and supply costs are based on current prices at San Francisco, California; 
plus freight charges delivered to Manila, P. I. 
While the technical and engineering side of * * * [these] figures 
have been very carefully worked out allowance must be made in the items 
of labor, insurance, overhead, depreciation, etc. [see pp. 32 and 33]. Those 
items being governed by local conditions will vary somewhat. The figures 
used are reasonable and conservative. In the item of buildings also there 
can be some variance; however, the figure used is great enough to take care 
of the general type of buildings that would be called for in this kind of 
plant. Under favorable conditions this sum would be somewhat less, where- 
as under conditions where there would be much excavation or grading to be 
done, the estimated figure would be exceeded. No allowance has been made 
for ground site, it being assumed that such a plant would be erected on plan- 
tation premises so that this would not be an item of expense. The item of 
Molasses also is not charged for two reasons, first because molasses at 
the raw sugar mill is generally considered a practical waste, and second, 
because of the fertilizing value of the spent slop. This alone is generally 
conceded to be great enough to more than offset any reasonable costs for 
molasses. Inasmuch as an alcohol motor fuel plant would best be placed 
immediately contiguous to a raw sugar mill, there should not even be 
transportation costs in getting molasses into the motor fuel plant. 
The ether can be made for less than 10 per cent over the cost 
of alcohol.* There are, however, two more-recent methods for 
manufacturing ether from alcohol which utilize the alcohol in 
the vapor phase. A purer product and higher yield are obtained 
at a lower cost than by the lead-still method. 
* Humboldt, E., Power 50 (1919) 420. 
