The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-09-08

of Alcohol for Commercial and Me
dicinal Uses.
WASHINGTON, Sept. S.-Manufac-
turc of whiskey will cease throughout
the nation at / clock tonight when
the prohibitivc clause Of the food con
troll act becomes effective.
Millions Of bushels of gram which
would otherwise be ground up for whis-
kew will thus be released for food. How
MANY millions. no one knows, for thu
manufacture of alcohol for beverage
purposes is so closely blended with the
production Of alcohol for industrial and
medicinal purposes that there IS 30
way OF determining the exact amount.
OF the l00,00oooo bushels Of grain,
or thercabouts, which 90 into the dis
tillegies each year, about fortg per cent,
Iexperts estimate comes out III the form
Of whiskey and other distilled beverage |
drinks. The remainder, made into al |
leohoI of exactly the same characterl--
tiles as that used for whiSlsey, eventual |
! " finds its way into perfumes, toilet
waters. bay rum, medicines and to IN
dustries where denatured alcohol is uset
in ever increasing quantities.
n Approximately ll6,o1o,ooo gallons Of
/ wbislcy are produced each year by Amer-
Jean distillerics. Production OF alcohol
~ the same distllcrics for commercial
and medicinal uses other than beverages
approximatcS l4G,000,oo0 gallons. The
manufacture of alcohol for the latter
purposes will continue au usual, prob
ably iii greater volume, and few OF the
larger distillcrieS, if any, will have to
shut down.
The class of dstilcrics which will be
nut out of business is composed almost
wholly OF small plants operated by from
one man to half a dozen men located
Z in California, Ohio and New Jersey and
1 producing brandy from grapes, apples
4 and peaches These proGucc approx
4 matclv 2,0oO,ooo gallons year. Those
in New Jersey and Ohio. officials be
lieve. will suspend operations entirely
: The California plants. ii is thought, will
:, continue to operate, in part, for the man
Il ufacture OF spirits for fortifying sweet
II wine.
II So far as officials here can learn. thelc
II are few disti1cries in the United states,
II with the exception of the fruit brandy
II plants. producing whiskey at the pres
H ont time Summer is the eff season for
II whiskcy production, which IS contin q
H almost wholly to the winter months,
II the early spring and the late fall. The
II cessation Of active whiskpy production,
II therefore, at this season OF the year, IS
II largely theoretical, but the operation of
II the law will prevent the manufacture
II Of whisllcy at the time it usually starts
|! on n large scale, the latter part OF Sep
II TENDER.
II Stopping whiskey manufacture, in
II stead of curtaiiing the government ;
II revenues, viii increase them for the
II next two wears, officials believe. Coupled
H with the operation Of the pending rev
II enue bill, the withdrawal of whiskey
Grom the stock already accumulated vii
II probably treble tho revenues within tht
II next twelve months, as the present Law
imposes lax Of Sl.l0 and the revenue
II bill contemplatcs tax of $50 Il gal
II Ion A stock Of Approximately $4,000,
II 0Og gallons has accumulated III the bond
II ell warehouses and on the shelves o
II wholesale and retail liquor dealers
II Approximately l90,0G0,0e0 gallons ar
H in warehouses and upon that quantit.
II the government will collect taAcs a
Il il is Withdrawn.
II Few men will be thrown out Of worl
II by the operation OF the law. Dlstillcnc
II now running will continue to Froduc
II alcohol for commercial purposes wit
II little change in their forces. pom thi
II class Of alcohol with the exception 0
alcohol for dcnaturiZation. the rcvcnu
=. bill would impose tax Of $40, dol
I: bling the present III, from TIN
:: source.
(: There are approximately 100 disti
\: lcrics in the country, of which nor
:: than half are small fruit brandy plant
!: The amount of capital invested III tn
s.: latter class is not great in the aggregat
4: The capital invested in the big Pr0du'
!: ing plants mounts high into the mi
Z: lions Officials here believe that losst
:: will he more than wiped out b. II
X: greatly higher prices distillers will o.
ii: tain for their product, already mani
a: featured In the opinion Of some on
N: ciais whiskcv will be selling at $l5
I:: gallon within twelve months, atlordlr
3: distillers enormous profits which wi
ST: more than compensate for the loss
+: capital invested in plants.
IS: At the same time the plants will co
l:: tinue to operate on an approXlma
III: sixty per cent production basis, ma
III: inc commercial alcohol. 4 tremendol
~; growth in the use of commercial alcoh
is ANTICIPATED which in time may 7
suit in the demand for a quantity
: alcohol at least as large as the prese
N output for all purposes.