The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-04-03
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Tho Manufacture and Consumptieu Of Lager
Beer in the City and Vicinity-Tho Amount
Of Capital Investcd-A Hint 60 Excise Law
Makers.
The manufacture and consumption OF the pre-emi-
nently Teuton beverage, beer, known now among US
by the generic term lager beer, has assumed gtgan-
tic proportions In this country and city within the
last few years. That 1t is purely OF German origin
Is generally admitted for already Tacitus, In his
history OF the Roman wars In Germany, speaks OF the
use by the people OF beverage made OF grain, evil
IDENTITY q rude species OF beer made from barley In
more northern chimes, as In England, 1t was changed
to q stronger potion, such a. ale and porter; In
Northern Germany to the BrGunsch,oetger Aungnae;
but in the central and southern portions OF the land
OF the Teutons 1t retained its original mild charac
ter, though its manufacture improved as the pro-
gress of science and OF mechanical appliances lent it
helping hand.
With the Germans 1t came to this country and its
manufacture increased and improved with the in
creased number Of German settlers. Its use, how
ever, was not long confined to the German national
ity among u.s. Its mild efervescence pleasant taste
and exhilarating effects, possessing intoxicating
qualities to an almost infnitesimal degree, and es
pecialiy its acknowledged nutrltive properties,
gradually brought 1t into favor with nearly all classes
of our citizens Even physicians had their attention
turned to this beverage, and the relieving effects Of
lager beer in the incpient stages OF consumption and
in some other pulmonary diseases began to be noted
from the fact that brewers, known to be great con-
sumers OF the article are never troubled with serious
affections OF the throat or lungs and are known
never to be subject to c0nsumptive ailments. Hence
the use OF ager-leavmg out the word beer" for the
sake Of brevity-grew more and more in popularity
from year to year, and trenched upon the field
heretofore monopOlized by the fiery STUFF known as
whskey aud rum. this German beverage
OF malt and hops and water shall continue to in
In popular favor for the next twenty years as
1t has for the last two decades tine distilled spirits
may altogether to be used as beverages and be
consigned to their proper province OF medicinal and
mechanical purposes. In this view the enthusiastic
German panegyrist. who claimed for his favorite
''lager" civilizing mission in America by limit
ing and gradually aboshing the daily use Of ardent
spirits beverages. may not only be pardOned but
justified as true prophet. 1t is, indeed an incon-
testable truth that the apostles Of the temperance
cause, as crystallized in the attempted enforce
ment by stringent statutory law Of the doctrine Of
total abstinence do at present admit that their work
was much easier 80 long as whiskey and rum were
the beverages in most general use, but that now
they have much more obstinate and nearly irwin
chile enemy to encounter in the unexpected popu-
larty OF the mild and healthful lager, which they
say has done more to oppose their pr0selytlsm and
prevent their success than the combined efforts of
distilers and spirit vendors could do heretofore.
This distinction already KIN own in the days OF
Hogarth, whose capital representation Of the squa-
lor, misery and death in "Gin Lane'' contrasts with
the nealth vigor activity and enterprise as wildly
Civ en- in his cartoon of "Beer Lane' like the cold
desolation OF winter with the teemng fruitfulness
OF harvest time. 1t is this very contrast which the
total abstinence and 'Maine Liquor law" advocates
say hurts their most And 1t Is this very same
distinction which brings all the trouble among the
originators and advocates OF the Metropolitan Ex-
cise law in force in this citya distinction which
the fanatical Will not comprehend and which the
more reasonable cannot deny yet dare not act upon
for fear Of the party whip.
THE CAPITAL INVESTED IN IT'S MANUFACTURE.
But the subject of lager beer merits the attention
of the public and Of legislators not only on account
OF its be nefcial effects upon the moral and social
habits of the people and for essening the deeterious
use of pure alcoholic substances Tor beverages, but
also ON ground OF the magnitude OF the monetary
interest engaged In Its manufacture and OF the large
number OF people dependent upon 1t. The extent
OF this interest is known TO but very rev. and the
general public will be quite astonished when they
peruse the figures below. 1t should be promised
that breweres in the city OF New York proper do
not begin TO supply the demand; which Is daily on
cries in Morrsania, six large ones on Staten Island
about nine distributed between Union Hill, Gutten
berg and Hudson City, n. j., and still larger num-
Der in Newark, N j., which all send nine-t OF
their manufacture to this market IL should further
be remarked in order that the table below should be
fully understood, that under the heading of "Capi
tal Invested Is meant solely the amount represented
by the buildings OF the brewery the yaulted cellars,
many OF which are hewn out OF solid rock; the ma
chnery and brewing apparatus, the coaches and the
casks, while the amount OF ready cash necessary to
carry on the business OF brewing, for the
purchase OF malt and hops for fuel, for feed
and for the wages or employees not
included but will be referred to hereafter. In re-
gard TO the number OF barrels OF lager beer given in
the following table 1t must be explained that the fig
ures only refer to the number brewed for summer
consumption or lager beer proper, known among
what Ia called winter beer, o0er0dehrt0, for i'm
mediate consumption during winter within q week
or ten DAYS after made. Ii Is safe to assume that
each brewer makes equal quantity OF this winter
beer as OF lager. The contents or q barrel are
usually thrty-two gallons and will be rated in
subsequent calculations.
BKEwERIEs IN MORRIsANIA.