Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-13

acknowledged. however. that the skilfull-
eat cooper IL he who confines his attention
10 tight or wet work of the largest
description. The architect OF hogsheads
and other gigantic receptacles for ferTnsntss
ed liquors is esteemed 10 be at the head OF
his profession. and such an architect, an
industrious German, constructed IN 1901
the mammoth barrel known as the treat
Tun If Heidelberg, which Is said to be the
largest wine cask in the world. being 30
feet long and q feet high. and being eapa-
bic Of holding 800 hogsheads, or 2s5.WO bot
ties If Rhine wine. In former days, wren
the Iun was annually filed with the pro-
duce Of the vintage. 10 was usual Tor ths
swaius and maidens 20 dance on the pat
form at the top, but the monster cask mas
remained empty since 1863.
We have not heard Of any balls havlng
taker place in the pumped-out watts OF our
gigantic metropolitan breweries, stu u IS
worth while remembering that the yats OF
the establishment Of Nessrs. Barclay
Perkins ~ Bauks;de are nearly 200 IN mum;
her. the smallest containing sou parreis Oh
beer and the largest B. 200 barrels. measuring
30 feet IN diameter NJ the top, 40 feet 30 the
bottom. Is feet IN circumference, ana 80
feet in height. Altogether they must hold
more than coo barrels. Where are
Robert de Todcni and Tho Marquis OK
CRANKY" and Lords John and George,
and even the Great Iun OF Heidelberg, IN
view Of these formidable statistics OF beer!
Let il bee remembered also that Bankslde
has held for many centuries "A reputation
for the brewing Of strong beer. centuries
before there was Barclay or a Perkins
CHANGER sang Of the ale of Southwark; and
readers Of the father of English poetry Will
not have forgotten "the miller that tor
dr0nken was an pale. so that unethes upon
hi. hors be SAT- Not only in Southwark.
but all over London. mammoth breweries
have arisen. the watts Of which may proud
is vie i'm dimensions with those IN Heidel-
borq's Great Iun 20 say nothing OF Bel
voir's hauished barrels. Rigid sticklers TOT
accuracy may pOlnt out that caSk II not
q vat. any more than tumbler Is a bottle;
A cask strictly speaking, IS close yessel
for holding liquors. formed by slaves, head;
ing. and hoops. and the term IL "A general
one. comprehending the pipe, hogshead,
butt. and barrel: whereas the vat IS large
tub. vessel, or cistern, open at the Top;
Still Tennyson has spoken Of " the SPIRITED
purple If the vats.n Thus wlne-yat or a
ieer-vat may pardonably be used az con-
ycrtible expression for a barrel. II we
cross the channel, indeed, we snail
find the casks assuming almost az
many different names as the depart
ments in which vines are grown. Inc
piece" at Marseillcs differs from the
"demi-Qucue" Of Languedoc ana inc
"demi-muidp Of Rousillon, while in other
departments wine is harelled or waited IN
quarts" %" poincons," and feuillettes.
The Americans. inventive in everything,
are said 10 have patented nj least two pro,
cosses for manufacturing hOgsheads and
other casks in paper, that made from straw
being preferred which il glued sheet upon
sheet and subjected 10 exceedingly strong
pressure until The requisite thickness Is OBJ
tained. The straw-paper hogshead Is. IN
fact. only o species of papier-mache, and,
seeing that furniture. and even houses,
can be made from that material,
there seems 10 be no substantial reG-
son why IL should not be used for making
barrels. There is, however, one particular
form Of cask Of which England IN general.
and London in particular, may be said TO
possess monopoly. 1t IA a monopoly OF
winch. perhaps. we have no great reason 10
be proud. In no other country save this
are there 10 be seen the towering tuus,
bright in color. highly vanished. and with
gilled hoops, which, full 20 the bung with
spirits. form the principal cmbelhshment
Of our gin-palaces. Could his Grace OF
Rutland exercise control over these mighty
receptacles of alcohol, he might perchance
make short work of them, as It IS said that
he has done with the big barrels Of Belyoir.