Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1893-07-08

YlSeI.
The state dispensary, from which
the county dispensaries are to be sup
piled, is in Columbia ia the famous
old agricultural hail." one block from
the state house, The building was
erected by the notorious Niles G. Par
ker, state treasurer in the carpet-bag
days, who fell from grace and skipped,
no one knows where. 1t was first
known Us 'Parker's hail." and was
used as an aH-round sporting place,
probably the host elegant in the SOUTH
combining theater, gambling slioon,
arly known as the third house"
The building finally passed into the
hands Of the state, and was used by
the department Of agriculture until
three years ago, when the Tillman
regime abolished that department.
The big cellars Of the dispensary
are now stored with some six carloads
Of bottles and TASKS, wnich fill the rear,
while at the front are the wine rooms.
also literally stocked.
On the first floor is an immense pile
Of barrels filed with whisky. Near
these are three mammoth casks of a
capacity of 225,OOO gallons each. When
the work of bOttling begins the barrels
are taken upstairs on an elevator,
placed over tank, the bungs taken
out and the whisky allowed to flow
through pipes into the casks. After
this the bottles and TASKS are filed
therefrOm by machinery, corked by
machinery, and sealed and labeled by
girls and boys. Twenty women and
fifty or sixty boys are employed in this
work
This dispensary is amply provided
with apparatus for washing, drying
and corldng bottles, the machinery be-
ing run by a twelye-horse power en-
CINE.
The dispensary began operations with
stock valued at 100000 The ap-
preparation is only one-sixth that
amount, but there is no trouble in pro
curing credit This amount is appor-
toned as follows,
Rye and bourbon, 100000; corn $780,
600; beer, $4,000; wines, S27 900; gin,
rum, champagne, $4,000; equipment,
$4,000; brandies, $4,000; older grades
Of whisky TO mix in blending with the
commOner grades Of rye and bourbon,
$4,000, All the liquor received is of
the most tender age, not a barrel of
it being made prior to May /.
The state commissioner is d. II.
TraNler of Timmonsville, a successful
merchant whose wife is one Of the fore
most workers in the prohibition cause.
Governor Tillman declares that the
state win clear half n million dollars
by the experiment the first year. 1t
is possible, however, that for some
time there will be very few dispen-
salies in operation The law requires
that in order for a county dispenser
to be appointed he must have his APP
plication indorsed by a majority of the
freeholders Of the town. Thus far very
few applicants have secured the neces-
sary Endorsement, the first being r. u.
Hill of Abbeville county, There are
indications, however, that dispensaries
win ultimately be established in the
counties of Sumter, Barnweu, Orange
burg, Abbeyille. Newberry, Edgefeld,
Aiken and Spartasburg Thus far few
other county boards have taken amy
action toward the appointment of dis
pensers. They have to give notice of
such meeting by publication ten days
previous thereto.
The prohibitonists of the state are,
as a rule, against the dispensaly
scheme, regarding it as a means Of ex-
tracing blood money" They win try
to secure absolute prohibition by with
holding the necessary signatures from
the applications for the position of dis
penser. They claim that the preventive
clauses can easily be eyaded and that
the design Of the bin is to raise a
revenue that viii almost run the state
government, by which means the adj
minist.ation hopes to make itself popu-
lar with those who are always glad
to escape taxation no matter how.
Whatever opposition is made to the
enforcement Of the law viii be made
through the courts. No lawless oppo-
SiiOn on the part of the dealers is eX-
pectcd, but it is certain that every
loophole the law permits viii be taken
advantage of. To say nothing Of blind
tigers there win probably be much
open drinking of other than dispensary
liquors.
When the next state campaign opens
the dispensary law viii be the lead
ing issue. 1t has already brought about
The revolt of some of Governor Till
mans supporters, and the indications
are that 1t win result in a union of all
the elements of opposition to the adj
mnistraton, The unique spectacle viii
then be presented of prohibitionists
and saloon-keepers joining hands to
fight a law obnoxious to both
The dispensary law viii put the
state in the bar business with the
governor as head barkeeper 1t pro-
yides that within thirty days from its
approval the governor shah appoint n
state commissioner, believed by him
to be an abstainer who shall, under
rules made by the state board of con