ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 



ly in a single apparatus with little more 

 outlay for fuel and labor than would be 

 required to subject the same volume of 

 Tjeer to a single distillation in the pot 

 still shown in Fig. 2. Such a complex 



Fig. 2. FHre-pot Stil 

 «, Kettle of still ; h. head of still : c, di-aw-off 

 cock : d, srate ; c, masonry support ; f, flue ; 

 p, condensing worm ; h, worm tub. 



apparatus, known as a column still, costs 

 much more to build than does a simple 

 still of the same beer capacity, but its 

 almost automatic action and the saving 

 which it affords with regard to labor, fuel, 

 and water, make it a necessary invest- 

 ment for any distillery which is designed 

 to produce industrial alcohol. 



Although the details may seem some- 

 what complicated, the actual man- 

 agement of a continuous still is* in 

 fact quite simple. When its operation is 

 once well under way a condition of equi- 

 librium is established in the working of 

 its various parts, and as long as the sup- 

 plies of water, steam, and beer are kept 

 Tmiform it is possible to maintain a steady 

 flow of distillate of practically constant 

 proof for hours at a time, with compara- 

 tively little attention from the distiller. 



OoTernmental Control of a Small 

 Denatured Alcohol Distillery 



Certain important features of the regu- 

 lations of the Bureau of Internal Revenue 

 are of special interest to those to whom 

 the subject is new. 



First of all, the mere possession of any 

 still or distilling apparatus set up, even 

 though the same is not employed in distill- 

 ing alcohol, subjects its possessor or cus- 

 todian to heavy penalties unless he has 

 registered it in writing with the collector 

 of internal revenue for the district in 

 -which it is located. The distillation of 



alcohol is forbidden by law, except when 

 conducted in accordance with the regula- 

 tions issued by the Bureau of Internal 

 Revenue and under the supervision of a 

 designated officer, no matter how much 

 the alcohol may be mixed or diluted with 

 other substances. These facts are em- 

 phasized because they directly contradict 

 the statements sometimes made that ap- 

 paratus and processes can be furnished by 

 which denatured alcohol can be made 

 without Government supervision. 



Other points worthy of mention in this 

 connection are as follows: 



Distilleries are to be constructed and 

 their machinery is to be arranged in com- 

 pliance with the regulations. (Sees. 14-24, 

 pp. 45-50. [1]) 



The distiller must own or control the 

 land on which the distillery is erected. 

 In case that he does not own it or that 

 it is mortgaged he must file the written 

 consent of the owner or mortgagor to its 

 use for distillery purposes. (Sec. 4, p. 41.) 



The distiller must give written notice 

 of his intention to engage or continue in 

 the distilling business, stating what kinds 

 of material he intends to use. (Sees. 5 and 

 13, pp. 41-42 and 45.) 



The distillery, when ready for operation, 

 must be "surveyed" by a designated Gov- 

 ernment official. (Sees. 25 and 6-12, pp. 

 50 and 42-45.) 



Before beginning operations, the distill- 

 er must file a bond, signed by himself and 

 two sufficient sureties, for an amount not 

 less than the tax on all the spirit that 

 the distillery could produce in a month. 

 (Sees. 26-27, pp. 50-52.) 



The survey having been made and the 

 bond filed, the distiller must give notice 

 of the day on which he will begin opera- 

 tions. (Sec. 29, p. 52.) 



Records must be kept by the distiller, 

 for inspection by the revenue officers, of 

 the amounts and kinds of material re- 

 ceived and used and of the amount of al- 

 cohol produced. (Sees. 34-37, pp. 54-57.) 



No kind of spirit save alcohol for de- 

 naturing purposes can be produced at an 

 industrial distillery. (Sec. 38, p. 57.) 



( 1 1 t'. S. Internal Revenue Reg. No. 30, rev. 



