Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-08-01
Whisky Making in New York,
Strange Developments Of systematised
Rascality.
Immense Frauds on tie Revenue.
From the n, Y. Express

From the n, Y. Express,l
The recent seizureof distillers in this city,
was conducted with the utmost secrecy and
il was found exceedingly difficult TO obtain
any information from the officers who made
the descent on the establishments. Matters
have since come to light which show that
instead Of three distillers being seized there
ought 10 have been two hundred. 1t is
openly stated that certain officers are in col
fusion with distillers from whom they re-
ceive brides in order to prevent any posi-
bility oftheir detection. The salary of the
officers Is $3.50 per day; but some Of them
are said 10 live up to an income Of $1,000
per annum.
This, with other reported facts, Just trans
PRED furnishes the reason why the illicit
manufacture Of tens Of thousands Of barrels
Of whisky is permitted as alleged, before
the eyes Of the officers who are paid TO detect
such frauds.
There are known to be at present nearly
two hundred stills in operation up-toWn--au
Of various capacities. the majority Of the
establishments are located from Thirtieth to
Fortieth streets, on the western side Of the
city. The distillers employ men to watch
out for any strange officers anxious to obtain
the reward which would follow the seizure
of their liquor or their premises. When the
officer makes his appearance, however, the
proprietor cultvates his acquaintance, and
he is soon enabled 10 draw two salaries-one
from the manufacturer Of illicit whisky,
and the other from the government. In this
way the business is allowed 10 proceed with
out any interruption.
In all the distilleries, the business is con-
Quoted with ordinary caution; but as the
r. IA. i
have been bought of, the proprietors have
no apprehensions that they will be subjected
to any interference in the transaction Of
their business. They do not fear the reye-
nue. officers.
Their chief apprehension is that they may
be detected by needy and adventurous out
sideB who might hope to gain reward
from their conviction. In order to render
the efforts Of this class Of informers profit
less, the owners Of nearly all the distilleries
have large pipes and faucets connected with
their stills, so that when the anticipated
enemy appears, they can run off" all the
liquor into the sewer in less than five min
utes-thus leaving no direct evidence Of the
illicit manufacture Of whisky on the premi-
ses.
AN ORGANIZED BAND OF "nSFORAIERs"
Il is a significant fact, which illustrates
one Of the material defects of the Revenue
law, that while the distillers have been per-
mitted by portion Of the Revenue police
to manufacture Illicit whisky TO any extent,
they are subjected to the prying attentions Of
band Of unofficial informers, without any
delegated authority. A short time since, an
individual, whose name we omit, organized,
il is said, band Of twelve men, TO discover
new distilleries and apprize the owners Of
the knowledge they had acquired, in order
TO levy blacksmail upon them. This band,
il is also charged is now in full operation,
and the dishllers are said TO have them
under pay.
A SIGNIFICANT INCIDENT OF THE RECENT
SEIZURES.
II will be remembered that a few months
since a descent was made on a distillery up
town, and one hundred barrels Of Illicit
whisky seized by the Revenue officer The
liquor was duly sold BY auction, but the
purchaser, on tasting the article found that
forty Of the barrels had been filled with
water by the dextrous proprietor, the whis-
ky having been taken ont after the seizure
and removed from the premises.
The new Revenue law which will soon be
in operation, will materially increase the
difficulties Of illicit distillers. II provides
that an Inspector shall be placed in each
distillery and that each proprietor shall pay
him SIS per day for the privilege Of being
watched.