21,1 Cole: Manufacture of Industrial Alcohol 33 
Estimated daily operating cost of alcohol motor fuel plant producing 
1,000 gallons per day—Continued. 
Dollars. 
Interest at 8% on $35,000 over 312 working days, per 
day 8.97 
Insurance on 4 plant value, premium 38.00 per 100 
per year, per day re 
Depreciation at 10% per year, $3,500; per day 11.21 
Office expense, general overhead, etc., per day 10.00 
Grand total 138.75 
The above estimate shows that the cost of producing one gallon 
of alcohol from molasses, exclusively of the cost of molasses, 
is 13.87 cents (27.74 centavos). Mr. Foster computes the cost 
of operation to be 14 to 20 centavos, exclusive of molasses and 
steam. The fertilizer recovered from the lees practically covers 
the cost of the molasses. In the Philippines alcohol-ether motor 
fuel can undoubtedly be made to yield a handsome profit when 
sold at 50 to 70 centavos a gallon. 
In Natal the original Natalite company showed a profit of 
38 per cent in 1920. The original 5-pound shares of the parent 
company are now quoted at 105 pounds Sterling. When Natalite 
was placed on the market in Natal at 52 cents, gasoline was 
selling for 1.50 dollars. To-day there are several centers where 
gasoline is entirely off the market.** , 
In the Philippines, during the World War gasoline reached as 
high as 3 pesos a gallon. The present price is 1.15 pesos in 
Manila. At a price considerably lower than this, alcohol motor 
fuel can more than successfully compete with gasoline. 
The present annual supply of molasses in the Philippines is 
a potential source of some 7,800,000 gallons of alcohol. The con- 
sumption of gasoline for 1920 was 9,160,000 gallons. Therefore, 
the Philippine Islands could almost supply its own needs for 
motor fuel by simply utilizing its present supply of molasses 
for such production. Since the nipa sap available is many times 
as great as the molasses supply, and is an even cheaper source 
of alcohol, the country is in a position not only to supply its own 
needs, but to export as well. 
SUMMARY 
The nipa palm and molasses offer cheap and easily manipu- 
lated sources of alcohol for use as a motor fuel. 
8 Wilson, Sugar News 2 (1921) 228. 
1876683——3 
