The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-12-28
The whisky Trade.

From additional advance sheets of the annual
report ,f Col. Sidney D. Maxwell. Superintendent
of the Chamber OF Commerce, we clip the follow
ing:
The past year in the whisky business of the city
has had some unfavOrable aspects, and vet, in the
main, it has had general features which are of
encouraging importance to the trade. With the
recollection of badly and inequiably collected
taxes in certain sections of the country, and of
combinations and rings for the corruption of Off
GERS and the defeat of the revenue all operating
TO demoralze prices, discourage legitimate opera
tions and impair the interests of honest producers
the impression which prevailed in the previous
year, that the Government had its hand on the
throats of offenders aud that it had the determ-
inatiOn and capacity TO fully inaugurate period
Hf honest administration i'll the collection of the
revenue, did not bear its best fruit early 1t re-
suired il to Tipen into a conviction before the
trade should fully feel that it was resting
upon foundat ons which, while honest men
hept, were not being honey-combcd by corruption
or mined by robbers 1t was reserved to the past
year for the trade here to fully feel that the strong
arm of the Government was being effectively used
for the conservation of its own interests. and the
permanent protection OF the business of the coun-
try Certainly such ground gained is of great i'm
pOrtance, for, With the heavy taxes now imposed
on the production. the general good of the trade,
after all which it can do for itself has been DONE
is largely lodged with the Government. Another
favorable feature has been the feeling of fxedness
with reference to rates OF taxation.
The action of the Government in extending the
bonded period from one to three years was pro-
vision which saved the trade in some directions
from great loss, and helped to bridge over the
damages which had come from the agitation of a
change in the revenue laws, as well as from UNI
due production.
The total production of distilled spirits, includ-
ing both continuously distilled goods and high,
wines, for the past year. in Cincinnati (Hamilton
County, according TO the figures of Amor Smith,
Jr.. ESQ.,, Collie tor OF Internal Revenue in the
First Collection District of Ohio, S,59s s6S. II
gallons, in comparison with S,453 Gil .6S gallons in
the previous year. showing gain of l45,-
$50. gallons. In the Sixth Kentucky Dis
trict tCoyingtoE. Newport. etc.) the 6g
ures which have been furnished by W. s.
Holden, Esq.,. Collector for that District show the
total production TO have been 2319, ,T23 IS gallons
compared with 1881 1888 gallons in lST6-77, q
falling of that side Of the river OF 57l 5l7 "a
gallons. But these figures embrace the entire dis
tit, which comprise also the Bourbon distilleries
which may, with less propriety, be embraced in
Cincinnati business. The production of Covng
ton. Newport and Petersburg however, legitimate
~ belong 10 this city. and this aggregated 1,793
65l IS gall ns pared with 2272 80 gallons
In the prtceuing year, a reduct on Of 478. $40 "A
gallons, which, relatively, was slightly great
than that experienced in the whole district The