New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-08-19
CLOSED BY THE NEW TARIFF
WOOD ALCOHOL REFINERIES SHUT
DOWN.
CLAUSE IN THE WILSON BILL CONTAINS A
PROVISION WHICH MEANS THE PRACTICAL
RUIN OF AN IMPORTANT INDUSTRY
rsY ryrZonAPH tn TIE rsrRrXS.,

fRY TEfHGRAPH tn TIE r7RrNV.'
Blnghamtoh n. Y. Aug. B-The Blnghamton
branch OF the Manhattan Spirit Company. Of New
York one OF the largest wood alcohol refneries in
the world with a hundred or more acid works scat
tered about Southern New-York and Northeastern
Pennsylvania, has shut down indefinitely. awaiting
the disposal Of the Tariff bill. over 1000 men are
thrown out OF work. $25C0OOO OF Blnghamton capital
left idle and many owners Of timber lands and wood
choppers deprived of almost their only source OF rev.
for the winter. Among the heaviest stock
holders here F. f. Ross, prominent banker,
and W. 5. Brandt. The reasons for the shutdown
explained by the stockholders. are as follows:
The Tariff bill. 1t finally passed House and SEN
ate. leaves wood alcohol without duty. Grain al
cohol pays a before. but there has been In
serted in the bill provision rebatng this duty. on
the sworn statement of consumers that the aIcohol
Is to be used for medicinal purposes or In the me-
chancal arts. This rebate OF the duty will cause
the ruin Of the wood alcohol Industry. Wood al
cohol costs more than the grain product to manu-
facture,. but with duty on II the manufacturers
here able to sell their product at profit How
ever II this duty Is rebated on the stun when used
for medicine In the arts the wood alcohol people
will find themselves compelled to sell at loss as
their product used extensively for these very pur-
poses.
The Manhattan Spirit Company Is now using
every endsavor to get an amendment to the bill
through Congress- on Thursday the House. Yield
ing to the influence brought TO bear passed such an
amendment by an enormous majority. The matter
is now before the Senate. and the action OF that
body will decide the life or death OF the Industry
The Internal Revenue authorities at Washington are
also exerting themselves to have the rebate pro-
vision killed. for 1t would lay open field Tor ex-
tensve frauds by its loose definition OF what Is
meant by the clause for medicinal purposes
barrel OF whlskey for instance under TINS rs
with a dash Of btters In II. could be passed OH as
medicine and the internal revenue tax avoided
Another result OF the shutting down OF the cruue
works and the reineries Is the practical rum or the
trade In charcoal and acetate OF lime, whch PROD
ucts are taken from the residue left In the retorts
after the distillng Of the alcohol A good share OF
the charcoal used In this part OF the country comes
from here and surrounding towns. The acetate OF
lime is also extensively used as a fertilizer. Inc
hope OF these industries is that the Senate VIII
agree TO this annuling OF the rebate clause regard
ing the grain alcohol tax this done ana me WORKS ,k
and refneries will start up again III killed. the
business ruined. The first ACID works IN THIS
country were built at Corbettsvie: about ten Ines
from here by a Scotchman, VINO brought over 'ne
idea from Scotland. Nearly every little hafniet IN
Rroome Delaware and Sullivan counties IN New
York state and In Susquehanna County Penn. mas
tie factory This city has naturally become he sreat
centre OF the industry The rehneres mere nave
large stock OF alcohol on hand which VIII nave 70
be sold at a loss II the rebate clause stands.