The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1871-06-09

From the Lewiston Joufhh'I
A week or two since, twill be remembered,
the Mayor found some liquor at the City
Agency in barrels which had been purchased
from the State Liquor Agent, which he pro-
nounced adulteIated. Gov. Perham, who
happened 10 be in the city, at once sent the
specimen TO Prof Goodaie of Bowdoin Col
leee, the State Assayer, Tor analysis. The
Prof has analysed the. specimen, and makes
return as follows:
Gov. Sidney Perham, Dear Sir: Upon ex.
animation find that the Two snecimeus of
liquor (wh'sky and siD) seat from Lewiston.
contain much suspended matter The houors
themselves, freed from this suspended miller
contain no deleterious or obiectional coatents.
Inc suspended matter Is very black in mass.
IL consists ch'ehy of minute flakes of glue to
winch PARTICLES of charcoal are attached.
~ Is not an unusual practice among distil-
ers TO protect the Interior OF alcohol casks by
thin layer Of glue. When the alcohol cask
IS used for liquors Of much lower PROOF, inc
glue, together with portions OF me charred
surface of tho wood. may become separated
| and remain as a sediment at the bottom OF the
| liquor.
The liquors sent, have every appearance of
| being remnants from such barrels.
| Truly yours, G. L GooDALE.
| Brunswick, June 1871.
II appears, therefore, that the liquor i self
| complained OF, was perfectly pule; but that it
| was the dregs of a barrel, and that in these
| dregs there were simply flakes of glue with
which distillers coat the inside OF alcohol
casks TO prevent evaporation, together with
| particles OF charcoal from the slaves which
| are charred by the cooperS in making. Ii a
| specimen OF the liquor had been sent from
the barrel before it had been drawn TO the
dless, even this inoffensive glue and charcoal
from the barrel would not have been found in
| it.
| 1t is but just to the State Agent to say that
every analysis of liquors purchased from him
has shown them TO be unadulterated and the
best TO be had. The recent examination into
his agency by a committee OF the.EXecutive
Council, showed that everything was conduct
cd fair and above board, and that he sold only
pure liquors which had been analysed, at a
price only 7 per cent. above the lowest whole
sale rates. Furthermore it appeared that the
age of the liquors sold by hm-so essential
an element in liquors to be used as a medi-
cne,-could be relied upon to be as repre-
sented
Before such tests, all complaints of the i'm.
purity of liquors furnished by the State Agent
ought to cease. Certainly the law throws
around the State Agency all necessary guards
to secure liquors for medicinal purposes, pure
aad at the lowest rates. All his liquors are
aualyzed by Prot. Goodae before being offer
ed tor sale, and he can, only charge per cent
above first COST But when the Stale Agency
is abar doned, persons having little experience
with liquors 60 into the general ma. ket Ia
buy them for our Agencies, there is absolute
| ~ no security for their purity. Besides, whe1
it is considered that every purchase OF liquors
for our town and city Agencies at anv Othel
place than the State Agency, is in violation 0
law, it seems as though such an example
should be set by municipal officers as will en-
courage persons to be law abiding rather thai
law breaking citizens.