St. Paul daily globe., 1891-06-12
TEMPORARILY SHUT DOWN.
High Price of Corn Shuts Up the
South ST. Paul DistiIIery.

High Price of Corn Shuts Up the
South St. Paul DistilIery.
The South st. Paul distillery yester-
day closed down operations for the
season. which will be till September
next. This is probably the third or
fourth largest plant of its kind in the
country, having capacity of $500 BUSH
els per day, which can be almost doubled
if necessity demanded it and they were
pushed to fill orders. The cause of this
close down Is three fold. the primary
one being the repairing of the plant, it
being customary in all distilleries to
close down from one month to six weeks
during the summer season, and while
the new crop is being grown and har-
vested, i'll order 10 put the machinery
in good condition. The second cause is
the stock on hand, at present in the
bonded warehouse of the government.
amounting to 1910 barrels of as good
whisky as is manufactured in any part
of the United States. The third, and
probably the most important cause, is
the high price which the ruling
markets of the country are at
present asking for corn. The scare
lty OF corn at present and the
anticipation of large crop this fall
makes it almost an imperative necessity
TO shut down. Two years ago corn was
plenty and cheap, and the South ST.
Paul distiilery was kept running all the
year round at its full capacity. Last
year they simply shut down long enough
to make the necessary changes and re-
construction of machinery.
Through the courtesy of MeSSrs. John
Weigle, ex-Ald. John Blom, George E..
Lewis and L.C. Allen GLOBE reporter
was permitted to inspect the last ''pour-
ing of beer" as it is commonly called
by distillers, and make a general in
spectiOn of the plant. Its immenSity
cannot be conceived from casual
glance or outside view of the building.
The immense large watts, which contain
thousands of gallons of what is known
as ''mash," are sight to see and would
drive mathematician wild to figure
out the number of drunkS they contain.
From these, through all its stages
of heating and cooling, high wines
and low wines. so much per
cent proof, and passing through
what is known as 1.-THE goose" (from
which, undoubtedly, originated the ex-
preston full as a goose'') down to the
rectifier is a bewilderiug labyrinth and
would amaze the teacher of prohibition
~ ~
ness is employed to produce that which,
moderately used, is beneficial to man
kind, though if immoderately used will
become curse and prove the old say
ing that every rose has its thorn. The
motive power of the Institution consists
of ten large boilers. crude petroleum
being used tor fuel. which is pumped
into the furnace direct from their own
tanks, located Oh the tracks near by. A
275 horse power engine, besides baby
engine for emergencies and small runs
drives the machinery used in pumping
the liquid in its various stages. They
have their own electric light plant, and
also furnish it to the various other in
dustries located in and about what will
probably ere long be the manufac
of the state of Minnesota.
The diStillery at present belongs to the
whisky trust, and it is rumored in out
side circles that they will merely run
for two years, that being the time stipu
lated in the contract, when they became
owners, that it must be run, but the
plant is of such magnitude that even if
this were true and the trust should de-
eide to close it up or remove it else
where there would be sufficient local
capital in immediate readiness to be
brought forward and continue it, with
good show of making money on the in
vestment. At any rate, by that time
the surrounding flats will he covered by
manufactures, many of whom are at
present corresponding with the Indus
trial union, which will cause the trust
to change its mind in regard to removal.
This industry has come to stay, and
stay it will. whether operated by trust
OF private capital.