Evening star., 1917-09-09
Is D|ST|[[ER|ES
STOP IN MARYLAND
Careers Ended by Law Forbid
ding Making of Whisky
From Grain.
PEORIA, ILL.,, HIT HARD, TOO

BY the Associated Press.
BALTIMORE, Md, September S.-Whel
the federal law forbidding the manu-
facture of whisky as a beverage went
into effect at IL O'Clock tonight ii
found all of the twenty-seven distil-
leries in the Maryland district closed
but one. 1t was explained that these
plants usually shut down for three
months in the summer because this is
an unfavorable time for making whisky.
The effect of the law on the working
force therefore, will not be especially
serious. as most of the employees had
gone into other occupations. All of the
plants still have supplies of whisky on
hand which will be held in bond until
the revenue license tax is paid and 1t
is released by the government. Three
of the distilleries. it is understood. will
engage in the manufacture of alcohol
for commercial purposes.
The money invested in the distilling
plants of the district is approximated
at between $4,000 and $4,000, 200.
cause the distilleries will be used as
storage places for the whisky already
distilled and because the law is only
effective until the close of the war.
yearly production of whisky for bev
erage purposes by the distilleries of
Maryland was about 1.926.S40 gallons. The
distillation of alcohol was 21,042,S42 gal
Ions a year,
The avetage yearly consumption of
rye was estimated at between 2.500,0O0
and 5000, 900 bushels. Very little corn
was used until recently. when some Of
the makers Of spirits used corn mash
in their product.
Several Thousand Lose Jobs.
PHILADELPHIA. September S.-The
full effect in Pennsylvania of the law
prohibiting the manufacture of whisky
from grains after II o'clock tonight
cannot be accurately determined at
this time, according to experts in the
trade. There are many whisky distil-
and it is said several thousand persons
will be thrown out of work by the clos
ing of these plants. 1t was declared
that the enforcement of the law will
result in large depreciation in values
Of distillery properties. Most of the
plants are built in isolated or country
sections in order to obtain pure water
and therefore are not easily converted
for other industrial uses, distillers said.
Edward T. Fleming OF this city, an
authority on the industry, today said
the suggestion to turn small distil-
leries into plants for the manufacture
of commercial alcohol is impracticable
because the cost would be so great
that it would be Improbable.
Distillers believe. Mr. Fleming said.
that the new law should result in the
elimination of all bad whisky, which
| will be a good thing. if it does not
further result in the Illicit production
of a more poisonous beverage" An
other effect, in his opinion. Mr.. F1em.
ing added. would be the forcing out
of business of many retail establish
ments. due to the soaring price of
whisky. thus making the cost almost
prohibitive to the average consumer
Peoria Whisky Center No More.
PEORIA. Ill. September s.-At II
o'clock tonight Peoria ceased to be
Thousands of gallons of liquor will re-
main in warehouses here. but its manu-
facture ends today under the food con-
servation law.
The government permits the distillery
one week in which to allow the beer"
which is the liquid product Of corn. to
go through a weeks process of distilla-
ton. At the end of that time no more
whisky or gin will be produced from the
| FIVE big distilleres which have been fur
nishing one-third of the nations supply
for many years.
Clarke Brothers Co. the Woolner
distillery and the Corning distillery will
close their plants next Saturday and
employees will be laid off. The Great
i Western and Atlas distilleries will con-
T, tinue to run full blast manufacturing
| alcohol and spirits for export purposes
and manufacture of powder.
i Clarke Brothers & Co. have offered
| their plant for sale and intend to close
| permanently. Woolner's and Corning $
| may reopen after the war.
| Revenue Office figures show the
total output of the five distilleries here
in whisky. gin, spirits. high wines and
alcohol for the fiscal year ending June
80, 1917, to have been 62.0o0.32S gallons.
Records show that U-boats have failed
to stop shipments from Peoria distil-
leries to the allies. During the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1917. revenue rec
ords show 0,406, 500 gallons were ship
ped to the allies. presumably for powder
manufacture.
The Globe and American distilleries at
Pekin have cut their capacity from 5000
to $500 bushels of corn a day. They
will continue to produce alcohol and
spirits.
Two Hundred Kentucky Plants Close
LEXINGTON, KY. September s.
About 200 distillerieS in Kentucky were
affected by the governments order for
the closing down of distilleries at IL
o'clock tonight. For some days distil-
leries have been getting ready to close
down, and actual distillation ceased
when the order became effective. 1t is
estimated that the distillers' properties
in the state are worth $4,000 900, and
that they employed from 5000 to 1000
persons.
forces and statesmen. however, will be
rafajy,ed there are about 20 600 UOU