The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-26
CHEAPER TO SELL PURE oooDs.
A View OF Disputed Question which Upsets
Mnny Theories.

one Of tho witnesses summoned before tho
Industrial Committee In Washington made
what was regarded az surprising decla-
ration that "all whiskey Is good whis-
key" and one Of tho beer experts, sum-
monsd before tho Senate Committee In Now
York. made the equally surprising declaration
that any beer which could bc manufactured profit
ably for sale wes good beer TO drink These
views are entirely contrary 70 those accepted
generally by theorists In the limo Of tho manu-
fac,ure Of spirituous and fcrmentcd liquors These
theorists. REINFORCED by many radical ood-water
advocates. have insstcd for years that chemicals.
adultcrants, poisonous and pernicious substances
entered so largely into the manufacture Of whis-
key and beer that the injurious effects Of such
ndmixtures counted In part at least for tho evils
Of the drink habit
Thus il has been pointed out that fusel oil,
alum. ncetic acid, niire. cinnamon, creosote,
hllspico, vinegar and kerosene entered into tho
composition oi whiskey; that cassie buds, cloves,
eapsicun, ether, bitter almonds and oak bark
entered into the composition OF brandy; carraway
seeds ground and inferior molnsscs were utilized
IN the making Of rum. and turpentine, Juniper
oil and corihnder in the manufacture Of gin Gu
COsr, sAllcylic acid, cOrnmcnl, burnt sugar, are
somc ~ the ingredients supposed to enter into
the manufacture Of beer. and repetition Of tho
names Of these ingredients with a few details
added, account, perhaps for the general opinion
that few wholesome liquors are sold view which
some years ago obtained some strong medical
support, but was attacked about the same timo
Ivy one of the officials OF the Board Of Health
the official Rnaly sist-who advanced the some
what extraordinary proposition that cheap Bow
cry whiSkey was n more wholesome beverage
than the expensive brands OF purest Kentucky
manufacture.
The facts Of the CASA however, as all detailed
examinations conducted without resort TO sem
sauonalisn scem to have disclosed. appears TO
hc this: All lager beer without any exception
whatever, and all or nearly all standard whiskey.
brandy, rum or gin IN sold under the name Of the
manufacturer hs its trade mark and the sale Of
either beverage so adulterAted to be drlotcrious
tcrcst " the individual firm corporation respon.
shlc for such adultcration. The ingredients
of beer and whiskey are obtained chcaply and no
commercial reason exists for the Wholesale use Of
IN the nitcd States Is practically unlimited
Barley an hops are to be obtained In abundance
and there has been marked decrease In the prices
81 both during the past twenty wears
In 1850 the production Of barley IN tho United
States wAg $1,000 900 bushels In 1897 II was
t1upbONp bushels, but the value of the crop In
ia" former year WINS $40, 900 900 whereas In tho
latter year n HHS only S2BUOU,U 900. Tho decrease
~ the rr!,r - hops IN central New York counties
isS been such that many farmers have abandoned
hoi ratsInG and hops ore now brought Fast in
latr" quantities from Oregon No business
reason exists, except to conform tO the tn4tc II
patrons and 10 act az n preservativc, for the use
az chemicals which everybody who has ever had
occasion ~ patrpnisc a drug store knows are very
expensive There rs a heavy tax collected bv
tne Government on whiskey, and II is no unusual
iulrs tot retailers TO dilute for their own benefit
t-unl whisky with water. hut this practice IL IN
mo- -'qtr'rt different from the one adopted nv their
customers who drink water after taking whis ,cy,
an sometimes dilute the whlskey taken
he truth seems &" be that IL Is cheaper In sell
pur" wnl,kCv and purr beer than to adultcrat,
munv recently given before Government COM
mttces tends to corrUboratc that view Of tho case