The New York herald., 1878-03-03


is believed to be fully 1000, oapabIs--as
they are run--at low estimate. based
ON the observation OF experienced persons, OF
making at least an average Of ten gallons OF
spirits per day throughout the winter months, which
constitute the favorable distng season. though
many OF them, usually tho largest, run perpetuslly.
The extent Of the loss TO the government there
fore DO readily calculated 1t has been stated TO be
So, SOC. 900 q year.
THx MAKING OF MOUNTAIN DEW.
A constant flow OF fresh, cool water being neces-
sary to condense the vapor rising from the still
when In operaton-and passing through the cap 10
the which the cool water, contained IN o wooden
stand, surrounds, tho distnlsries always butt
on q streamles which has fall enough
to admit oil the conduct o the water TO elevation
equal the top OF the stand through wooden rouens
hewn from long poles spIit through the middle. The
mountain gorges and ravincs containing small brooks
therefore avorte points Tor the location OF dstil
leres where sequesered and sale from observation.
the Illicit business is often extensively carried on
The structures are usually low one story log build
ings, rooted with largo split oak shingles or clap
boards lad the raers loose each successive tier
binding the below until the last is reached,
which 10 held down by poles laid lenRthwse
No halls are used In the construction, and windows
ars omitted. Ono door generally sufnces Tor all pur-
poses OF ingress and egrsss. foreground is eveled
inside and answers for floor. becoming hard
and smooth. II only one still Is used 1t Is usually
set up In the middle OF the floor, opposite
the door aud but few feet inside of IL, the furnace
substantially and otter neatly built Of stones and
mortar, opening toward the door TO Afford easy
access Tor Tho wood used IN generating the required
heat. The construction OF the furnace, though APP
parontly simple, is matter Of considerable impor
tance as the hre must not DC permitted to come In
direct contact with the copper The value OF sliil
Is usually dollar Tor each gallon Of capacity thus,
100 gallon still would cost $l00 including the requ
site Cap and worm. Properly cared for still will last
an Illicit dfs,ier lifetime. The walls OF the furnace
eno'1ss eS ns VS .ne nsSs
on Hat rocks covered with sand several inches deep
The direct contact Ut the fire below Is thus avoided
small lue issues from tho furnace just
in the rear OF the still, from which issues the
smoke OF the lre. An opening IN the roof immedi.
aeiy above permits Its escape alter II has travorsed
the apartment The mash tubs, in which the meal
used in disiling updergoes the preliminary prepara-
OF MASKING and fcrmenting, are proportonate In
number TO the producing capacity Of the STILL Fre-
quentIy thirty and iorty tubs are used. These are
ranged along tho walls OF tho apartment on all sides.
AsrapidIy as the reaches the proper degree OF
fermentation 1t IL taken from these tubs and put in
the sti under which strong wood lire s then built
The cap Is Lhcn inverted over the neck and uted
with clay, its tail entering tho top the coited
downward IN the cooling stand before described. Tho
tents OF the still. aud being conducted through
the cap enters the worm. there
densed and flows IN steady stream into a
placed receive II This product Is called low
vines Dr. singlings, and when the mash in the still
yields no more spirit II Is considered spent and con-
ducted through trough leading from the spout oil tho
still TO pens, where tho hogs kept vt all disteres
fattcncd on It Whom the still Is emptisd the singings
are pumped into IL, and the process OF doubling is
gone Through This is simply q rodstillalion OF the
nrst product, and results IN highwines, or spirits.
Tins is then put into proper casks and removed for
consumption. In Ireland The Illicit distillers USED
large proportions OF matted gran and produced the
famous 'pottcen" whlskey, but our American dis
made exclusively from raw grain Its quality when
new, and especially when It ls csreicssly made, Is
Mosca, Distilled IRON she liquid yielded by the
maguay plant. Somo good whskey Is, however, pro-
duced aud enough TO say In It's favor that tho de-
mand exceeds the supply.
THE 'BLoCXADKRs"
Large quantities OF this Illicit product are needed
for local consumption, but considerable OF the spirit
is haulod distant markets by unfrequcnted roads
aud delivered during tho night tlme q: rotal ostab-
in towns. The wagons used In It's convey
ance called .'bockaders, aud the laws
render The teams, spirit ana every thing used IN trAAs
porting IT liable 10 seizure and the person Ia whose
custody N found subject to severe penalties ''boc
adng"is risky business, and many devices and SUBJ
tcrtuyes adopted to screen the whskey from the
For this purpose often put into empty stamped
barrels, which had formerly been used to contain
dishonest dealers, who sell them 10 the bockadsrs
when emptiod OF tneif original contents, with the
stamps, marks and brands thereon unobiiterated
and unerased, although tho law imposes
severe penalties on those convicted OF doing so In
this way much OF the wiiskey escapes deteotiun but
woe unto the .'blockader" II he Is met with load on
The way market by "a officer WIKI tho proper In.
strument for testing the gravty Of the spirit
pared with that the original contents as Indicated
ry the gauge marks the tei-taIo ..proofn often ss
cures valuable Seizures. On one OCCASION Major
Wagner. who Is at the head Of the revenue forces
seized train of tour tw0-mue wagons noar Greens-
boro, N. o., loaded with Illicit whskey ana tobacco
They were all encamped In one place on The public
roadside the proof OF the spirit ranged high
six degrees above the gauge marks on tho barrels.
Often distillers' women bring the whiskey to tho
towns In stone Jugs and retail IT, TSsy Usually carry
and by adroit species OF thimble-rgging appear
bs seiling nothing but harmless mllk when danger
Of discovery. Women have Rlso frequently been found
owning and operating distilieries
HUNTING GoR 'sTILLs"
Secrcted as the dstilieries are, although
GUS in the moun,ans IL IL difficult to nnd them out
aud TO precisely locate them that the operator and
still may DO secured. Tho country is rugged Is
generally by roads almost
horseback. Tho local revenue officers insud-
cient in number to thoroughly patroi the mountains,
with the disiisrs Strangers travelling 10 ihc infested
sections arc watched, and many travelling agent ts
sauI.ed and driven OF the mountains on account
mons,raiions, however. tho distiers overrcach
their neighborhood will not bear scrutiny
Notwithstanding the large number OF stills sezed,
persons arrested and punished, and appliances en-
ployed for the suppression OF illicit distiug, the
evil constantly the Increase Each year creeps
lower down the slopes OF the mountains and en-
croaches the more thckly settled communities
In North Carolina stills are now found within
distance OF tidewater. and recently broken up
increase is the extreme ioncncy OF the local federal
Judges whose emporizlng - greatly 10 be depiorsd,
and be reversed before check be given II
interests OF the government and the
taxpayer and tho morals OF the community protected
The second cause Is that tho government has never
adopted any adequate system 0f operations. 1t has
rlttered away Its efforts In various experiments, IN
stead OF adopting something like the British plan
Ireland, Of organizing mounted civil patrol under
compstent and experienced head, SO stationed in de-
tachInents as reach the ustiiicries by rapid
marches and patrol the outlets for the Illicit product
For o long timc there, US III TINS country, IL
thought that the evil might be eradicatsd by the
officers aided by the system Of tempting and
severe penalties ior nracti0ns OF the law, admins
tered by determined and vigorous courts. Tho local
officers proved p0werless and were detod, rewards
proved nugatory and the severest sentences had no
effect, save perhaps on the recipients. For several
years the military was called IN, but the difficulty aud
expense OF procuring regular assistance from this
source proved almost insurmountabe and It's value
but temporary ana doubtful. rhe aniIorm
an advertisement; tho soldiers could not DO moved
with the necessary secrecy and ceIerity they
entered heartily into the work, which they regarded
as outsiae of soldiers DUTY; aud tho distillers