The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-08-02
ADUlTERATl0M OF SPIRITS
Subject for Special Meeting of
Chamber of Commerce
An Inspector to be Appointed Who
Will Prosecute All DistilIers Who
Ship Adulterated Spirits to This
Market.

der of commerce held yesterday af-
terhoon at 4 o'clock in the cham
Der rooms on Princess street, action
was taken which it is hoped will
have the effect of putting a stop to
the adulteration of spirits of tur-
pentine, a complaint to mis- effect
being voiced by all the naval stores
dealers in the city, all of whom as
sert that the adulteration of spirits
is doing a great deal Of damage to
Wilmington as a market.
The meeting was called at the re-
and it was presided over by Vice
President McNair, in the absence of
President J. A. Taylor, the following
members being in attendance:
Messrs. John S. McEachern, l..
NJ. Robinson, D.. McEachern, H. c.
Mcqueen, H. l.. Hunt, John Wilder,
H. NJ. North, Clayton Giles, Jr., leo
r. French, L.. E. Hall, w. H.. Brown,
j. K Williams, R. C. DeRosset and
Mr.. Moore.
After the call for the meeting had
been read Mr.. L. NJ. Robinson, rep
resentative Of the American naval
stores company in this city,
spoke of the necessity of the chamber
taking some action to have the adul-
formation of spirits stopped. He said
for a long time the Wilmington buy
1rC bod ho0r ~of+ior ol-I+o~o4oI
goods which is a violation of the
pure food law and also of a North
Carolina enactment. He suggested
that the chamber issued a circular to
each distiller who sells in this terri
tory notifying them of the violation
and warning them that if the prac-
t1ce was not stopped, they would be
vigorously prosecuted. He promised
on behalf of the company to assist
III any way in the prosecution of any
guilty man, The think is hurting the
market considerably.
Mr.. d. McEachern, a prominent
naval stores man, said some of his
customers a withdrawn their bust
S from him on account Of the
adulterated spirits and that some &C
ton should be taken that would COM
pei the distillers to ship pure spirits.
MI. H. G. Mcqueen referred to a
resolution adopted by the Chamber
of Commerce at a meeting held in
1904 Concerning the same subject,
and he thought if this was rigidly
enforced it would have the effect of
stopping the practice.
Several other members of the
chamber spoke of the necessity of
some action being AIKEN. Mr.. D.
McEachern then made a motion hat
the whole matter be referred to the
naval stores committee to formulate
some plan to remedy the evil and re-
port at a called meeting.
Mr.. French amended this resolu-
ton by making a motion that the
naval stores committee be author
iZed to appoint an inspector, whose
duty it shall be to prosecute any
party guilty o adulterating spirits
his was unanimously aQOpoQ anu
the details of the inspectors duties
will be arranged by the naval stores
committee.
An amendment to the resolution
of 1904, which provided for the in
Spection of suspected ad%ulterated
spirits was offered by Mr.. Robinson
and adopted as follows:
THAT this chamber If commerce
shall offer a reward of $50 for evil
dence sufficient to convict any party
or parties co%nsigning for sale or Of
fering to sell any adulterated spirits
of turpentine on this market"
A rule regarding quotations on
naval stores, recently decided on
by the naval stores committee was
formally adopted, it being as follows:
"QuOtatiOnS on naval stores are to
be made upon sales of not less than
% barrels of spirits and $50 barrels
rosin, it being understood that the
meaning of this rule is that there
must be sales of or offers Tor at least
the above quantities. Any question
arising must be decided by a ma
Jority of the quotations Committee
There being no further business
before the board the meeting was
adjourned.