n6  Internal  Revenue  Tax  on  Alcohol. 
effectually  prevents  its  use  for  this  purpose,  and  in  consequence 
none  of  this  material  is  manufactured  here.  I  am  informed  that  a 
French  company,  operating  under  the  Chardonnet  process  for  mak- 
ing artificial  silk,  is  ready  to  establish  a  factory  in  this  country  in 
which  at  least  1,000  workers  would  be  employed,  provided  they 
can  secure  untaxed  alcohol.  This  company  alone  would  consume 
more  than  1,000,000  gallons  of  alcohol  annually,  as  well  as  large 
quantities  of  raw  cotton,  from  which  the  nitro-cellulose  is  made. 
Another  purpose  for  which  alcohol  would  be  largely  used  would  be 
as  an  extractive  agent  for  the  separation  of  stearic  acid.  This  sub- 
stance, commonly  known  as  oleo-stearine,  is  extensively  used  in 
the  manufacture  of  lard  compounds,  and  for  various  other  purposes. 
At  present  it  is  extracted  in  this  country  by  hydraulic  presses,  but 
its  production  by  the  alcohol  process  gives  larger  results.  This  pro. 
cess  cannot,  however,  be  utilized  with  alcohol  at  its  present  price, 
but  with  untaxed  alcohol  it  would  be  generally  used  for  this  pur- 
pose. 
It  is,  however,  in  the  use  of  alcohol  as  a  motor  fuel,  and  for  light- 
ing, heating,  cleansing  and  similar  purposes  that  the  greatest  con- 
sumption of  alcohol  would  take  place.  The  possibilities  for  its  use 
for  all  these  purposes  are  very  great,  and  it  is  certain  that  with  the 
tax  removed  the  low  price  at  which  denaturized  alcohol  would  be 
sold  would  ensure  its  general  consumption  on  an  enormous  scale. 
Alcohol  is  not  only  a  decidedly  satisfactory  substitute  for  gaso- 
line as  a  motor  fuel,  but  it  is  superior  in  many  important  particu- 
lars. It  is  clean,  odorless  and  free  from  danger  of  accidental 
explosion.  There  is  absolutely  no  reason  why  it  could  not  be 
successfully  used  in  this  country  as  a  fuel  for  automobiles,  power- 
boats and  launches,  and  stationary  motors  for  running  farm-  and 
other  kinds  of  machinery.  The  removal  of  the  tax  would  therefore 
furnish  an  unlimited  supply  of  a  safe  and  economical  power  fuel,  and 
would  permit  the  consumption  for  this  purpose  alone  of  immense 
quantities. 
Alcohol  is  also  an  excellent  illuminating  material,  and  when 
burned  in  lamps  using  incandescent  burners,  furnishes  a  soft,  steady 
white  light  at  a  cost  per  candle-power  less  than  that  of  kerosene 
oil.  This  has  been  demonstrated  in  Germany,  millions  of  gallons 
being  annually  used  in  that  country  for  lighting  purposes.  In  addi- 
tion to  its  low  cost  other  advantages  of  alcohol  for  lighting  purposes 
