Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-02-22

high cost was supported by the fact
that it was a well-paying concern, with
an illimitable field for its product. and |
situated on the Chagres, with easy
communication by water and by rail.
A distillery on the hands Of canal !
building commission develops features
classically attributed to the white ele-
plant Doubtless there were men on
the government forces who were capa-
bic OF operating the distillery, and
many who would willingly have receiv-
ed the perquisites of the office. Con
sidering the adulteration of LIQUOR
which is practiced in Colon and Pan
anna, there would have been virtue in
the governments insuring pure sup
ply of spirits by making them itself.
but the commission had no desire to
/ dabble in the liquor business.
But here was a valuable property
which would not be destroyed by the
canal work for three years. Two big
stills, cane mills, engines, tanks and
fine crop of cane grown up at the
very doors. Efficiency" is the watch
word here, and so the words, 'why
stand We here idle?" of Patrick Henry,
the inciter of war, may have occurred
to some of the army officers. At any
rate, permission was given by the Sec
Rotary of war to lease the disdIlery and
some of the adjacent cane land.
And so went into operation the only
commercial distillery owned by the
United States Andrade paid for its
use $500 the first year. from Jan. 10,
1909; for the next year, $500, and for
the next $100 The decrease in rent
was because the cane which was there
when the government turned it over
became exhausted, except through the
efforts OF the tenant. Any single tax
er" knows that he ought not to pay
rent for his own Improvements.
The advancing canal work demands
the end of the happy arrangement
The rejoicing Andrade appears as Dr.
Faustus, pledged to surrender ALL And
the pity is, it is about all he has. When
his $4,000 was awarded, $4,000 was
Won from him in court by people to
whom he was indebted. 1t seems that
the claims were mortgages given for
gambling debts, and they were not out
lawed. And after he got the remaining
$4,000, people who know him say,
Andrade could not hold onto it. He
gained local honor as an easy mark,
investing and lending at the behest OF
the human hawks in way to show
that skepticism can never overthroY
faith. The good old fellow may feel
himself martyr on the altar of theolo-
gy; but they say that when he reflects
, on the facts he doesn't feel theologic,
ally inclined.
\ Six other distilleries in the canal
, zone, owned by private persons, pay
the government over $4,000 a year in
taxation. The taxes have been levied
according to the Colombian law, which
!, was in effect when the United States
took charge, but new system has
, been devised by the canal zone gov
= eminent, and is being inaugurated.
e Now, all the interest the government
: of the zone has in the liquor business
: is collecting taxes and licenses, guard
e ing the purity of the stuff sold and pre-
i serving the peace against its effects
i With the latter it has had little diff
l. Guilty. In December, 1911, out of 53S
r arrests, rs were for intoxicated" Of
o intoxicated and disorderly;" in No
d vember the number was 80 out of $50
e in October, "A out of GIG.
n In December % nations, or As state.
e and principalities, were represented b,
n native sons or daughters at the bar O
e zone justice. Considering the zone ha
e such an assorted population, about so,
It 600 in number tit was 50,0O3 in June
l. 1908; new census is under way), tn,
s order preserved is remarkably good.