274 The Potato 



The manufacture of alcohol from potatoes 



The first essential in manufacturing alcohol from potatoes is that 

 the distillery should be centrally located in a potato-raising country ; 

 and seconflly, the railroad facilities should be such tliat delivery of raw 

 materials and feed, and the marketing of the finished product, can 

 be done at a minimum expense. An abundant supply of cold soft 

 water is of almost equal importance. It is desirable that the plant 

 be near a creek or stream from wliich water may be obtained and into 

 which it may be drained after serving its purpose in the distillery. 



As the distillery cannot be run tliroughout the entire year, the 

 machinery should be simple, practical and economical. Advantage 

 should be taken of the laws of gravity to save pumping whenever 

 possible. This can be done by arranging the apparatus so that each 

 operation will be on a lower level than the preceding one; thus 

 by elevating the raw material to a height suitable for the first opera- 

 tion, it will flow from one apparatus to another by its own weight. 

 All machinery requiring steam should be placed close to the boiler 

 so as to avoid condensation caused by long pipe connections. Ex- 

 haust steam from the engines and pimips should be used in the dis- 

 tillery apparatus and the hot water from the condenser should be 

 utilized as feed water for the boiler. Each piece of apparatus should 

 have a capacity equal to the exact amount of work it is expected to 

 do, the only exception to this being the boiler, upon the efficiency of 

 which depends the proper working of each piece of apparatus. The 

 boiler should be of a slightly larger capacity than is actually required. 



This following data on the cost of a distillery are of a supposed 

 plant which has a capacity for handling 8000 poimds of potatoes 

 in one working day of 10 hours. The building is one story high, 

 with a ground space of 1000 square feet. The walls are constructed 

 of any available material. In many cases farm buildings, such as 

 barns and the like, could be used. Such a building will not cost 

 more than $1500. Total cost of machinery and equipment not 

 inclusive of motor power is about $9000. One 75-horsepower 

 boiler and a 25-horsepower engine will be required and will cost about 

 S1500. This would make a total investment of about $12,000. 



A day's expenses will include the cost of potatoes, barley, fuel 

 and labor. Cull potatoes can be delivered at a distillery in some 

 potato-growing districts at 2.5 cents for 100 pounds. At this rate 

 the raw material for a day's run of 8000 pounds will cost $20. To 



