The sun., 1917-09-30

here the customer will lose. for the
average saloonkeeper believes In maxi
Ing the man in front Of the bar pay
the extra cost.
In anticipation Of the Governments
action in shutting down the dlstilleries
during the war heavy orders for goods
were placed by wholesalers as we'll az
retailers. In consequence about every
saloonkeeper is likely to have to-day
either in his cellar or in a warehouse
enough whiskey to last him for at least
q year. Many are supplied for two or
more years. To get this stock, how
ever. an advance had to be paid on the
regular price and much Of the whiskey
now in barrels in cellars in this city
cost the owners about $3.50 u gallon.
Add the new tax of S2.l0 and one
can readily see that the cost will be
raised to the consumer.
For some weeks past there has been
steady rise in prices for those who
find solace in front Of the mahogany
bar. BY those who like an occasional
noggin or bracer the increase has not
been particularly felt. But the topper,
the man who takes many drinks each
day, has discovered that his money
does not buy as much as formerly.
Once he got 80 proof whiskey for his
10 cent piece. He also got good
sized glass into which he could pour
his drink. Now he gets a small glass
and often the w1hiskey has been
watered down to as low as 60 and 10
proof.
In the cent Erog shops a customer
has no choice as to the quantity he
gets for his iitney. He does not even
handle the bottle. The bartender pours
out a drink in a small glass and the
buyer drinks II or leaves II as ne secs
fit OF course. men who frequent such
places are not of the sort that would
leave anything in glass.
But the owners Of these places are
now up against 1t. The whiskey they
sell cost but a little more than the
new Government tax. II 1t was 100
proof and cost 81 q gallon 1t was
watered down so that it was really
worth but a little more than 81 a
gallon. Now the price for 8 cent
whiskey-a grade that is said to be
fair-is 81 a gallon. When the war
tax is added the cent whiskey house
will go out of business or will be
forced to raise the price.
OF course cent whiskey house
owner knows just how much he is
going to get out of a barrel Of whiskey.
This is because he measures every
drink and he seldom gives anything
away. His trade does not look for
favors and the boss never drinks this
grade Of goods himself. The same can
be said Of his help.
In the more pretentious places
steady increase in price has been dis
cussed. All case goods formerly SELL
ing at Is cents straight have been in
creased to 20 cents. Pints Of beer that
a few months ago cost the customer
10 cents are now 20 cents. A con-
tainer costs Is cents and there are
three scant glasses in 1t.
| Small Clubs Hit Hard.
| Many small clubs in the city are
! going to feel severely the effect of
the increased cost Of goods and several
are contemplating closing their bars.
There is no use in running a bar at q
loss, they argue. When a steward Is
hired to run the club he Is usually put
in charge OF the bar. With what he
drinks himself and what is needed by
the help It has been estimated that
many clubs are actually running at Q
loss.
During the past year, despite the
great increase in prohibition territory,
all records for whiskey consumption
were broken. The production OF dis
titled spirits from every source rye
wheat. apples. corn, peaches. pears,
pineapples. oranges. apricots. berries
prunes, figs and cherries, amounted to
164,665,246 gallons. an increase over
the previous year Of $4,000, 900 gallons
The tax return to the Government on
this production was 1886 65S3,O55.
The production Of beer last year ex-
ceeded that OF the previous year, but
fell considerably below the high record
of 66,0OO0 900 barrels in 1914. Taxes
were paid last year on 60.729, 500 bar
rels. Taxes on brewers and retailers
brought the income to the Government
up to sSS.771.104.
+, For several months the distilleries
have been running at top capacity and
in the city of Peoria, ILL.,. more than
$4,000 bushels Of corn were used daily
Farmers in many parts Of the country
are sure to feel the shutting down OF
the distilleries. Record prices were
paid for corn, &c, recently. In the
making OF whiskey soft corn can be
used and in that way the farmer has
| an outlet for crop that is of little
value for other purposes. Distillers
argue that tho farmer will suffer
dead loss on this crop in future.
Labor does not appear to be likely
to suffer as a result OF the shutdown
Of the distilleries. Should the Gov
ernment require large amounts OF
alcohol for powder making the dlstil-
leries will Immediately reopen, but the
owners are not expecting any Govern
ment contracts. Men thrown out of
work by the closing down OF dlstilleries
have had no trouble in getting work
at higher wages in munition plants.
Rush Tims at Distiileries.
The distillers had a months warning
or moro Of the coming shut down, and
during that time the plants worked
night and day to GHock up the market.
At II o'clock on the night of Septem-
ber s tho law went into operation. At
the same time the embargo on i'm
ported goods became effective. Since
that time the wholesalers and retailers
have been taking stock and dlsposing
Of the great supply to the best ad-
vantage.
That a shut down in the making OF
whiskey was coming became apparent
some months ago. So certain of this