The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1917-09-08
It MAY NEVER
BEGIN AGAIN
Manufacture of Whisky i'm America
Ends Tonight at
Midnight
ASSOCIATED Pressl

Washington, Sept. Manufacture
of whisky will cease throughout the
nation at IL o'clock tonight when the
act becomes effective.
Millions of bushels of grain which
would otherwise be ground up for
whisky will thus be released for food.
How many millions, no one knows, for
the manufacture of alcohol for bev-
erage purposes is so closely blended
with the production of alcohol for in
dustrial and medicinal purposes that
there is no way of determining the
exact amount.
Of the 100,000,000 bushels of grain,
|or thereabouts, which goes into the
cistilleries each year, about forty per
cent, experts estimate, comes out in
the form of whisky and other distill-
ed beverage drinks. The remainder,
made into alcohol of exactly the same
characteristics as that used for whis-
ky, eventually finds its way into per-
fumes, toilet waters, bay rum, medi-
cines and to industries where de-
natured alcohol is used in ever in
creasing quantities.
Approximately 116,000,000 gallons
cf whisky is produced each year by
| American distilleries. Production of
alcohol by the same distilleries for
commercial and medicinal used other
tnan beverages approximates 49,
600, 900 gallons. The manufacture of
ialcohols for the latter purposes will
continue as usual, probably in greater
volume, and few of the larger distil-
leries, if any, will have to shut down.
The class of distilleries which will
be put out of business is composed
almost wholly of small plants operat-
ed by from one man to half dozen
men, located in California, Ohio and
New Jersey and producing brandy
from grapes, apples and peaches
These produce approximately 2,00O,-
loco gallons a year. Those in New
Jersey and Ohio, officials believe, viii
lsuspend operations entirely. The Cali
fornia plants, it is thought, will con.
tinue to operate, in part, for the
manufacture of spirits for fortifying
lsweet wine.
| So far as officials here can learn
there are few distilleries in the Unit
led States, with the exception of the
fruit brandy plants, producing whls
ky at the present time. Summer l.
the off season for whisky production
which is confined almost wholly Il
the winter months, the early sprins
and the late fall. The cessation o
: active whisky production, therefore
at this season of the year, is largel.
Theoretical, but the operation of tn
law will prevent the manufacture o
whisky at the time it usually start
lon large scale, the latter part D
September.
Stopping whisky manufacture, in
| stead of curtailing the government
revenues, will increase them for tn
next two years, officials believe. Cou
! pled with the operation of the pend
ling revenue bill, the withdrawal Q
! whisky from the stock already acct
; nlulated will probably treble the rev
: enues within the next twelve months
) as the present law imposes a tax c
2 ISl.1O and the revenue bill conten
plates tax of $500 a gallon.
! stock of approximately 230,000,0G
:. gallons has accumulated in the bono
t eG warehouses and on the shelves
( wholesale and retail liquor dealer
). Approximately 190,000,000 gallor
4 are in warehouses and upon ths
Iouantity the government will collie
taxes as it is withdrawn.
Few men will be thrown out
work by the operation of the laN
Distilleries now running will contlnl
4 to produce alcohol for commerce
purposes with little change in the
forces. Upon this class of aicoh
" with the exception of alcohol for d
5, lnaturization, the revenue bill wou
: impose a tax of S2.20, double Il
s Ipresent income from this source.
There are approximately 700 dist