REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 201 



DENATURED ALCOHOL. 



In 1906 Congress passed a law providing that domestic alcohol 

 may be withdrawn from bond without the payment of an internal- 

 revenue tax, for use in the arts and industries and for fuel, light, and 

 power, on condition that it shall have been denatured by the admix- 

 ture of some material which unfits it for use medicinally or as a 

 beverage. In 1908 the Bureau of Chemistry began an investigation 

 for the purpose of demonstrating the manufacture of denatured 

 alcohol on a scale suitable for utilization by the farmer or associations 

 of farmers. A model distillery was erected and operated. Various 

 waste farm products were used in an experimental way to determine 

 the manufacturing process to be used in each and to find out what 

 wastes could be profitably used. A number of State experiment 

 stations sent men to be instructed in the operation of the plant and 

 in the processes of distillation, in order that they would be in a 

 position to assist the farmers in their respective States to equip and 

 operate distilling plants. Valuable data as to the yield of alcohol 

 from various farm products were secured. The results of this exten- 

 sive investigation have been published and will be useful in the 

 development of the industry. 



TESTING CONTRACT SUPPLIES. 



On July 1, 1903, a contracts laboratory was organized in the 

 Bureau of Chemistry for the purpose of applying chemical and phys- 

 ical tests to supplies furnished by contractors to this and other Gov- 

 ernment departments. 



Large quantities of inferior goods have been rejected and the con- 

 tractor required to furnish others of standard quality. Large quanti- 

 ties of supplies are tested for the Isthmian Canal Commission, the 

 Post Ofl&ce Department, the Government Printing Office, and in 

 smaller quantities for other departments. In one instance tests made 

 by this bureau showing that supplies below standard had been fur- 

 nished by a contractor resulted in the return to the Government of 

 $100,000 which had already been paid on one order alone. 



WORK FOR OTHER DEPARTMENTS. 



In addition to the testing of contract supplies, the Bureau of Chem- 

 istry tests a large number of other samples, conducts chemical investi- 

 gations, and makes sanitary studies for other departments of the Gov- 

 ernment. Congress has specifically authorized this bureau to make 

 chemical investigations for other departments when requested to do 

 so by the heads thereof. Life preservers have been inspected at the 

 request of the Department of Commerce and Labor to determine their 



