SIXTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK — PART VIII. 



of the farm equipment on the farms of this state. The internal com- 

 bustion engine is only in Its infancy. It is the simplest and most eco- 

 nomical of prime movers, and is destined to an enormous growth. The 

 leading agricultural manufacturers are making extensive arrangements 

 to manufacture engines of this class on a large scale, and the promi- 

 nent thresher manufacturers are experimenting to produce the most 

 perfect internal combustion portable farm engines, and are only waiting 

 favorable motor fuel conditions to adopt this type of engine entirely. 



SOURCES OF SUPPLY. 



Alcohol is found everywhere. It is easily extracted from a great 

 number of plants and p.odacts containing sugar — fecule, beets, sugar 

 cane, molasses, wine, dregs of wine, grape, pulp, fruits, potatoes, rice, 

 yams, sorghum corn, manico, residue of breweries, roots, etc. It is in 

 this land of corn that the importance of the application appeals so 

 strong. The agriculturist should bear in mind that a greater demand 

 will be created for his corn in event the revenue is removed from alco- 

 hol, better prices must necessarily prevail, the off-products will have 

 a commercial value, and thus the results will be a larger profit. In the 

 sugar belt it is of equal importance. For these two agricultural indus- 

 tries besides, not to mention the other by-products, are an excellent food 

 for cattle, rich in ingredients easily assimilated. 



The following is taken from an official document: 



Corn is admittedly the best alcohol producer in the world, and corn, 

 alcohol can be produced in this country cheaper than any other in the 

 world. "With proper rules and regulations which would put our peo- 

 ple upon an equality in the matter of facilities for presenting their 

 product to the markets of the world, with our improved machinery 

 and appliances in use for the distillation of our alcohol our product 

 would practically control the world's market for alcohol. (Senate reports, 

 Vol. 2, No. -111. 55th congress, second session 1897-8, page 369). 



ALCOliOL IN CORN STALKS. 



Based upon figures furnished by the department of agriculture at 

 Washington, D. C, the humble cornstalk of the crop raised in Iowa the 

 past season would produce 1,500,000 gallons of alcohol. In a recent let- 

 ter to a friend bearing on this subject. Secretary Wilson said: 



During the past twenty-five years experiments have been frequently 

 made in this country which shows that the cornstalk at the time when 

 the grain is hardening contains from 12 to 15 per cent of sugars and 

 other fermentable matters. If these sugars could be fermented at this 

 time it is easy to see that they would produce an amount of alcohol 

 far in excess of all that is used in the world for technical purposes 

 and beverages. 



A ton of cornstalks at the period of growth mentioned will con- 

 tain about 240 pounds of fermentable substances. These substances 

 would yield about half their weight in absolute alcohol. In round 

 numbers we may say that a ton of cornstalks in the condition mentioned 

 will produce about 100 pounds of absolute alcohol, or 200 pounds of 



