o 
SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 
that with the advent of higher’ prices for fuel oils a kind of 
economic survival will be brought about. The more essential 
use of oil, that is the use of oil where it servés the greatest end, will 
survive; and business practice and public opinion, and even, if needed, 
governmental regulations, will work together to enforce obedience to this 
rule of greatest good to the greatest number. 
In Great Britain, leaders of science and of industry are not in 
ignorance of the Here threatening. The British Government has 
established a Fuel Research Station, at a cost of nearly £150,000; to 
thoroughly investigate the economic and commercial possibilities of 
obtaining liquid fuels by destructive distillation of coal. Another 
Government Board has been established to investigate the whole problem 
of power-alcohol, while various large industrial corporations, such as 
the London General Omnibus Company, are vigorously prosecuting 
inquiries*into one or other branches of the subject. 
Tn Australia, where the position is more grave, the future is regarded 
‘with the utmost complacency. The Commonwealth is at the mercy of 
the United States of America, and receives only such quantities of liquid 
fuel. as that country permits. It is true that the situation may be 
slightly alleviated when effect is given to the proposed operations of the 
Anglo-Persian Oil Company, but even to that limited extent Australia 
will still be-dependent on outside sources-for her supplies of the-crude 
oil. : dps Pag | . 
’ There appear to be four possible ways in which Australia can make 
herself independent of outside contributors, and dev ta her own pee 
of liquid fuels. These are— ; 
(a) Power-aleohol;  _ 
(b) Distillation of coal; 
(c) Production of shale oils; and 
(d) The discovery of local oil-fields. 
In regard to the last of these, the Commonwealth Government has. 
taken up the matter, and is offering large rewards for the discovery of 
oil deposits. In regard to the development of the first three problems, 
however, it is proposed by the Institute of Science and Industry to 
make fresh efforts to bring about a satisfactory solution. 
The main sources of alcohol are vegetable materials containing starch 
or sugar, and practically all the alcohol for potable and industrial pur- 
poses is now made from grain and molasses. Before the war, large 
quantities of alcohol were made in Germany from potatoes specially 
grown for the purpose. Alcohol can also be made from the fermentable 
sugars formed by the hydrolysis of wood cellulose, and can -be. made 
synthetically from calcium carbide or from the ethylene contained in 
coke ovens and coal gas. From results obtained in America it does not 
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