The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-04-29
FRENCH WINES INDICATED.
Statement by the State Department
on the Subject.

statement from the department of state
touching the reports of the French wine
trade by United States Consul Chancel-
lor at Havre has been completed and
United States consular report. The
department briefly recalls the fact that
Mr.. Chancellor, in his report of July "a,
1895, alleged that much of the French
wine was not the product of the vim
yard, and that $4,000 casks of so-called
wine had been destroyed by the Paris
municipal laboratory, having not a drop
of grape juice in it at all. He also al
legged the great deficit in the wine crop
had been made up from a fluid made of
raisins, currants, leeks and such mate
rials. 1t is stated that NJ. Hanotaux last
December called the attention of our
United States ambassador to Paris to
the fact that the Bordeaux chamber of
commerce had protested against the
statements of the consuls and the in
vestigation had called forth denial from
the municipal laboratory that it had de-
stroyed any such quantity of wine. The
statements were referred back to Mr.
Chancellor, who replied that he had OBJ
tained his information as to the destruc-
ton of the $4,000 casks of wine from
reliable English journal, but the name
of the journal he was unable to recall.
While in Paris in 1887, under commits
sion from the governor of Maryland, he
had investigated the wine sheds and was
told that a large number of casks would
be destroyed. and this action was not un-
usual. In support of statement that
the large quantities of sugar used in the
preparation of wines from lees, Mr..
Chancellor referred to debates in the
chamber of deputies in the course of
which M. Viljean had protested against
| the manufacture of this kind of wine OH
| the ground that it caused the cOnsump-
| tion of no less 100000 barrels of sugar
yearly.
Having thus laid down the case. Mr..
| ChancellOr's defense of his statements,
the state department prints the follow
ing statement made by the French en-
bassy under date of March 8:
"The attention of the French wine mer-
chants has been called to report enti.
tied 'Wine-making in France published
in the consular reports. No. $50, Septem-
ber. 1895, by G. w. Chancellor, United
States consul at Havre, France, and
containing some incorrect statements
which might cause prejudice to French
commerce and which it seems desirable
to rectify.
"First-Mr. Chandler having probably
in mind the decrease of wine production
from which France suffered during q
long period after the appearance of the
phyllOxera. stated that large quantities
no grape juice. Statistical information
shows that over 100000 acres of vine
yards were practically infected by the
plague during the last twenty years, =,
100000 of which were already replanteC
up to 1885. On the other hand, the pro
duction of wine during the last two years
has been exceptionally abundant. as viii
be seen by the following official state
ment:
"Fort the year 1S95-Area of vine
yards, 4,153.000; total production. 713,
100000: total value, $162. $50. .000.22.
"FOr the year 1S96-Area of vineyards
not stated: total production, 1,1S3, 1888,
600; total value, $2SG, $3.50, ,000.19.
at is hardly creditable that when sucl
enormous quantities of natural wines are
produced French merchants would resort
to the fabrication of artificial wines con
| tanning no grape juice. such fabrication'
could be profitable only in countries pro
ducing no wine or but little.
"Second-Mr Chancellor, referring t.
information published in an English jour
nal and reproduced in American papers
added that the French government re
Gently destroyed $1,000 casks of adul
terated wines.
"FrOm an official inquiry it appears
that there is no record at the municpa
laboratory of Paris of such destruction
The occasional seizure and destruction
of small quantities of adulterated wines
are rather to the honor of the Frencl
government which thus protects thu
health of it's citizens. Measures have
besides been taken for the purpose of pro
hibiting adding alcohol to wines, and thu
addition thereto of water or any elemen
whatever of adulteration. 1t may b.
added that according to meritorious in
quiries made by highly competent au
thority, a moderate consumption of thu
French wines is beneficial to publi
health. The official statistics in this re
gard are worthy of attention. They SHOW
that drunkenness is less frequent in wine
consuming regions. Out of 100 cases o
lpublic drunkenness punishable by the Law
of 1873 twenty-nine cases were recorded
in the northwest of France and thirty
four in the north. where spirits are most
ly consumed, while nine cases were re
corded in the center. five in the south
east and four in the south, where the us
of wine among laboring classes is general
Prepared to Meet the Charges.
Washington, April 25.-The officers o