The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-03-19
WIIISKEY SUPPLY
WON'T LAST LONG
Little to be OH Hand When July
Comes.

'"o y" w oh manu- NucH July
Comes.
Washington, March 11.-National
prohibition next July 1 will find only
ABOUT 5O,0OO,000 gallons Of liquor in
bonded warehouses, barred from dis
position for beverage purposes, if the
present demand for whiskey continues
during intervening months Officials
VINO have observed the effect Of high
taxes in the past believe however, thr,
Withdrawals from bond will decrease
under the new revenue law, and that
between 60,000,00O and 75,OOO,O 900 gal
Ions Will be left in warehouses July 1.
1t is conceded that it is impossible
to forcsce the effect Of approaching
prohibition on the demand for liquor
to be stored away by consumers, and
officials say a big movement Of buying
even under the increased tax, may de-
Velop and leave the quantity Of liquor
left in bond smaller than the advance
estimates.
The estimates do not take into con-
sideration liquor which may be stored
In cellars or attics Of prospective con-
sumers Nor do they include any
stocks which Wholesale or retail deal
ers may not sell before the prohibit
tion wave catches them. These are
not measurable by any official reports.
Revenue bureau officials calculate
that at present bonded warehouses
connected wifi distilleries, but under
lock and key Of government agents,
hold less than 90,000,O00 Of the 900
100000 gallons in stock when manu-
facture ceased September 8, 1917, un-
der the food conservation act. With
drawals in January and February have
been less than the 100000 or more
gallons in December, according to in
'dica,ions based on preliminary re-
ports from revenue agents.
On January /, 100000 gallons of
distilled spirits were reported in bond,
including 100000 gallons not avail
able for beverage purposes. About
10 per cent. Of those figures must be
deducted as allowance for leakage and
evaporation from barrels. On Decem-
Der |, the latest date for which item
iZcd figures arc available, the stock
Of distilled spirits in bond was distri-
butcd as follows: Whiskcy, 10S,S46,-
600 gallons rum, 100000; gin, 2,338,-
900; alcohol, 5,7G0,OOO: refined alcohol
or high Wines" 3,744,OO0; and brandy
2,316,00O.
The normal rate I demand, meas
ured by withdrawal from bond, had
been between 100000 nd 5000, 900
gallons a month until last October,
when Withdrawals jumped to S,35S, 900
In November they were 9,597 900, and
in December II is estimated they ran
over l0,000,000 gallons, while in jan
uary and February, indications are
that tho demand probably was nearer
100000 gallons. Most OF this liquor
was taxed when taken out Of the bond.
cd wachouSc at the rate Of $500 a gal
lon. Under the now revenue act, the
rate is double. amountin gto $Gi0.
Consequently the increase amounts to
$500 a gallon or so cents quart, and
the aggregate tax per quart is SLIGO.
BY terms OF the pending bill pro-
viding for enforcement Of prohibition
under the constitutional amendment
effective next January 16. the prcs-
dent would be empowered to appro-
pirate for government purposes the
stock Of liquor left unused in ware
houses. The price to be paid for this
would be determined by agreement or
by special commission.