The morning call., 1891-06-09
VITICULTURISTS.
Semi.Annual Meeting of the State
Commission.

The semi-annual meeting of the State
Vlticultural Commission was held yesterday
al the headquarters, where were assembled
Messrs. de Turk, West, Doyle, Prieber
Blanchard and Bundschu.
Chief Viticutural Officer Charles A. Wet
more submitted lengthy report on the
grape interests. especially on the question
OF sweet-Wine legislation. He maintains
lhat sweet wines should be manufactured
alone from grapes, and that where they do
not contain sugar enough in one locality the
Wlne-grOwers of that locality should be al
lowed to obtain their musts or brandies
from another part of the country. He de-
ciares this would subSerye every purpose OF
Inc law, which was framed to preclude the
use OF free spirits in the manufacture Of
bogus wines. He also proposes to increase
the price Of California grapes by drying, or
Dy making brandies on the cooperative plan
IN vineyard districts. The plan Is briefly
outlined as follows:
Let committee OF men in each district go i'm
medlately 10 wine-growers aud procure from
Inem contracts promising to deliver a certain
amount oil grapes TO trustee, who shall be au-
thollLed 10 proceed for them To organize COM
pany, the cost OF which shall be paid for by The
brandy which shall be distilled from the grapes
contributed. Let us suppose that contracts
amounting 10 1000 tons of grapes or more have
been procured III one locality; let there be a
u
tam standard OF sweetness, say $40 per ton Tor
grapes with % per cent or more OF sugar, price
TO be reduced Droportionately as the sugar shall
fall under % per cent, but no variation Ia price
Tor sugar contained above The standard.
AS soon as the grapes have been by these
trustees fermented, distilled and sold, lie dis
tuieIy buildings, cooperage aud other appurte-
hahcos which haV been created IN order 10 work
inns plan may then be out OF debt aud trans
Iefieu 10 The proposed company aud STOCK issued
TO those who furnished grapes III proportion TO
= II
Ieetye plant for dlstlllug can be created and paid
Tor within six months from tine time OF vintage,
ana there would probably be also profit out OF
winch dividend might be declared.
Roughly estimated, $15 5000 would be ample to
secure land, construct cheap buildings for fer
mentatlOn Ouly, tanks for fermentation, together
win an adjacent dlstl.ery OF the most improved
ana eHectlVo pattern, capable Of managing 1000
tons vi grapes IN one season. These 1000 tons
Oh grapes would realize when sold as brandy
within six months not less than $4,000, so
there would be a surplus for management and
expenses of operation. l. is more tnan probable
that there would be an incOm of at least $4,000
more, which could be used TO Increase the tacIlI-
Ties Of This winery and distillery Tor future use.
The resignation of G. a. WetmOre as
Chief Executive Officer was a cepted, and in
his place Clarence j. WetmOre was APP
pointed.
William C. Spencer, who has been en-
pl0yed making experiments with the clarl-
lying OF wine by electricity, submitted
report IN detail OF the process.
Charles j. Bundschu, Of j. Gundlach &
Co. ana Secretary Scott were appointed a
committee TO wait upon the Interstate Com
merce Commissioners in relation to the
rates on wine, brandy and return packages.
The following officers were elected to
serve for the ensuing six months: President,
j. de Barth Shorb of San Gabriel; Vice
President. George West, Stockton; Treas
urer, John I. Doyle, MEMO; Secretary, W.
Scott; CAlet Executive, Clarence j, Wet
more