Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-10
SUSPENDSBEER
PRODUCTION AT
LOCAL BREWERY
Manufacture of Malt Product Prac-
tically Discontinued as Re-
suit of New Zone.
CAUSES CONSIDERABLE LOSS
VIII Devote Plant to Making of
Substitutes Many Employees
Are to Be Dropped.

Manufacture Of beer by the Rock
Island Brewing company was yes
terday practically suspended.
This action comes as a direct re-
suit of the establishment by the
government of a five-mile dry zone
surrounding Rock Island arsenal
G. A. Tegeler, secretary and treas
ureT Of the brewing concern, stat
ed late yesterday afternoon that
the extension of the old half-mile
prOhibitory area to one of five miles
in extent, effectively closes the larg-
est and principal market for beer
of the local company.
When Rock Island, Moline, East
Moline and Milan voted against the
saloon in the May elections, ousted
liquor men began searching for a
site where intoxicating beverages
might be sold. The spot was found
In South Moline township a tract,
mostly marshy farm land, about
$50 square acres in size, was dis
covered still to be wet" territory.
Principal among the liquor con-
Germs doing business on this ground
was the Home Brewing company,
organized for the sole purpose of
handling Rock Island Brewing COM
pany beer. Orders from cOnsum-
ers within the dry townships were
taken by the Home concern and for
warded in turn to the local estab-
lishment. Following manufacture,
quantities as designated were trans
ported to the Home company. by
which it was delivered TO the buyer.
B AlthnnoI np1tEidn n
dry townships. the South Moline
tract is included within a five-mile
radius Of the government arsenal,
and is consequently now subject to
federal regulations governing this
area. Thus the Home Brewing COM
pany, chief source of beer demand
OF the brewery here, was forced to
shut its doors
Cannot Ship In.
It is also unlawful to ship alco-
hOlic liquors into the dry zone from
outside wet towns, according to in
depreciation OF the regulations by
United States Commissioner c. l..
Walker. If such a ruling is main
tanned. it will eliminate all posi-
bility Of the brewery obtaining an
GtiCl Ntl site II Oll ~ ll4Nl " w
business with its former customers.
According to Mr.. Tegeler, out of
town business transacted by the
company is very small Practically
marketless, officials concluded to
curtail the manufacture of the malt
product to meet the demands of
out Of town customers This means
that only a very small quantity of
beer will be manufactured here in
the future
Cause of Loss.
The government dry measure, eff
fective June p, causes a considera-
Bile loss to the local brewery, stat
ed Mr. Tegeler. Not only will ac-
tual financial loss reach good sized
figures, but loss OF business, ma
chinery now idle and almost worth
less, and practical adjustment of
bottling, will prove important loss
items.
Approximately One-half of the
men now employed at the brewery
will be let go. Services Of nearly
all of these will be unnecessary
and the men must be dropped from
the pay roll About so per cent of
the plant has previously been en-
gagged in the manufa cture of beer,
the other half manufacturing beer
substitutes. 1t was decided to de-
vote practically the entire plant to
this work hencefOrth, according to
Mr. Tegeler Bottling work suffers
from this step, as the Rock Island
Brewing company manufactures
draught beer substitute, that is. the
beverage is put up in kegs. Very
little is bottled. this process, it was
found, affecting the taste Of the
drink
Mr.. Tegeler asserted in an inter
view that the Rock Island Brewing
company would abide faithfully by
regulations fixed by federal author
tiles. and that the local concern
would be glad to cooperate in any
ruling which the government deems
necessary for the betterment of its
own ends.