MOTIVE POWER FOR THE FARMS.

Timaru Herald, Volume XC, Issue 13298, 29 May 1907, Page 6

MOTIVE POWER FOR THE FARMS.

" Bruni," in the "Australasian," writes in his weekly notes on alcohol as a motive power. This is receiving much attention just now, although any movement is strenuously opposed to those having interests in mineral oils . The future fuel of engines is of 'the utmost importance. It is only a matter, of time when coal will be too , valuable to use, and mineral oils may become scarcer. '"Bruni" says:—"Alcohol can be stored with isafety in a highly-con-centrated form, and, what is of great importance, it can be produced in large quantities in almost any part of the countiy, and thus will give a stimulus to agriculture. Its employment in farm work i;; steadily spreading all over the world, for nearly every Government lias found it necessary to remove the restrictions that hav.e hampered " its employment hitherto. This has been done in most European countries and in the United States. In the la<stnamed country there was a bitter opposition to free alcohol on the part- of those interested in the oil trusts, but Die farm en; were for once united and determined, and thay gained the day. The bill establishing free alcohol came into force on the Ist January last, and in a short t:me we may expect to ,seu home extrenu-lv interesting developments in the employmr.t of alcohol for producing po\r t r. Germany was the firstnation to perceive the advantage of alcolin' in the production of power, and for so:."/ years • it has been - largely employed ami the production of spirit is increasing at a rapid rate. France is following the exampi.' set by Germany, but, in England this

-aiatter does not appear to excite the attention which its importance deserves. Alcohol has many advantages over the mineral oils; it is batter to handle, not being nearly so explosive, and it is cheaper. Its great advantage is that each country can produce its own supply, and this will prove an encouragement to agriculture. Not only each country, but most districts can produce their own supply, and where that is not :tiie case, as in semi-desert regions, its concentrated form, renders it easily portable. The manufacture of alcohol from farm products is extremely simple, and from the reports on the subject from Germany it calls for no skilled operators in its production."