The New York herald., 1920-01-14
BOOZE RUSH FROM
WAREHOUSES; TO
HOMES IS NOW ON
Many Liquor Stocks Still in
Storage-Soce Said To Be
Forgotten"

with the final moving day for liquor
liked as January II, except in instances
which require special permits, there is
In progress a great hegira of the precious
beverages owned by those fortunate
enough TO have purchased liquor before
July of last year. The moving consists
at present OF wet goods in small and large
quantities from safety deposit vaults and
storage warehouses to the domiciles of
the lucky individuals aforementioned.
All the local warehouses whose GUS
toners had put stocks of cheer in storage
notified their patrons last month that
they must have, the stuff carted to their
homes or bonded warehouses by the first
or the year. Some of the liquor was
moved but large and small stocks still
remained in many of the warehouses yes
terday. Some of the stocks that have
not been moved. it was learned yesterday.
are those belonging to persons who are
out of the city and others are of such
large proportions that special storing ia
cilities in homes have not been completed
None OF the big storage warehouse COM
panies is OF the opinion that any great
quantity of liquor will be in their custody
after next Saturday.
None of the hotels has on hand any
large quantity of liquor, so far as can
be learned. In many instances the liquors
have been stored in government ware
houses for long periods.
Liquor shipped to Cuba.
According to Mr.. Roper, Commissioner
of Internal Revenue, hotels which have
been holding quor in contemplation of the
lifting of the dry" ban may make appi-
cations for permit to sell IL for non-bev-
erage purposes, putting UP bond that ii
will be sold only for such purposes. 1t was
said by hotel men yesterday that they
would lose money on such sales. Some
hotels, 1t was learned, have been busily
engaged shipping surplus stocks to Cuba
and South America.
At the Hotel Astor it was said yesterday
that space had been provided for private
lockers belonging to persons who make
their home in the hotel, which is permitted
under the law. Hotels in the Bowman
group-the Biltmore and others--have
made no such arrangement. 1t was said,
because their liquor stocks have been dis
posed of long ago. At the Ritz-Carlton
the cellars have been empty for months, it
was said.
A possibility that liquor in storage might
never be reported was pointed out by one
warehouse owner yesterday. He said that
despite all precautions, and without any
duplicity on the part of customers, liquor
stored long ago, and which had been for
gotten by the owner, might be in the ware
houses after January IL.
Worth Hundreds of Thousands.
No estimate could be obtained as TO the
value of liquors removed from safety de-
posit vaults and warehouses since early
in December and that are still in their
custody, but it may be safely assumed
that il runs into hundreds OF thousands,
according to present day values. Per-
sonal stocks that aggregate 200 cases.
containing twelve quarts to tho case. and
worth in the neighborhood of $4,000, were
reported by some storage companies. The
average stock OF customers at one large
warehouse was placed at five cases.
For the man with large stock of liquor
and small home. the law presents diff
culties. For his benefit the Excise
Bureau has accorded him tho same privi-
lege as NOTES.-THE opportunity to sell his
liquor for non-beveragc purposes before
January II.
Federal Judge Knox has not yet rem
dered decision in the case OF William
@. Street, who through his attorney,
Joseph S. Auerbach. applied for "A per-
manent injunction TO restrain revenue
agents from seizing his store of wines
and liquors I'm the Lincoln Safe Deposit
Company, No. 60 East Forty-second
street,