American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1921-10-21
ONE HUNDRED STILLS"
OPERATING IN COUNTY

in Power County and by that | mean
the commercial variety, the kind that
are manufacturing ~"moonshine Tor
sale pose There are approx
mately % more "b%ootleggers" who are
selling it. In fact one good agent
like our host, could normally dis
pose OF the product OF several dis
tiIlers. But times are not normal.
Competition is drivin the most dis
reputable agents from the business.
There is only a bare living In selling
whiskey in present circumstances.
Our host explained while we were
with him that the only whiskey he had
was drinking whiskey, not selling
whiskey." The margin OF profit was
so small and the risk so great that
he had decided not to start selling
again until business conditions i'm
proved.
The Palmy Days.
The years 1919 and 1920. particu-
larly the former, were the palmy days
for the "bootlegger" In Power County.
There was a considerable amount OF
bonded goods available then and the
price was high. At that time IL was
wholesaled at six dollars a quart and
retailed for $12 and as high as $40,
"Moonshine" found a ready market
for $12 the quart.
Today there is little bonded liquor
In the county, and what there H., IL
inferior In quality TO homebrewed
whiskey. For the old manufacturers
al home have reached a degree of per-
lection that challenges improvement,
Particularly when allowed to age
for eight months or a year. The ag-
ing Is said TO take away the burning
qualities OF the brew and also color
II. This home product now whole
sales ut four and Ave dollars com
pared to six in 1919, but the retailers
profit has been cut from six dollars
10 three dollars a quart, about hall
what the profit was a year ago. And
there are four or five selling nov
where there was one In 1919.
aStIllsv In Country.
Where is Il made? Some of II n
American Falls, but most OF 1t In Tho
country. City dwellers who make {
practice Of having liquor In the house
all the time, usually prefer to patron
lLf lntlI IlOit vi i'bb Dllfhht phih
in the country. 1t Is usually at thu
home of a sober and industrioul
farmer who keeps a still" instead o
a flock of hens. In one case a farm
er's wife manufactures about two gal
lon a week which supplies her will
groceries and expense money. He
patronage is very limited. AS far a
is known there Ia but n man In tn
county who knows her name thougl
her product reaches several OF hi
friends and il regarded as UNUSUAL,
good, OF high proof, and pure. A
long as the present quality Is main
tained she will get four dollars
quart for IL.
One familiar with distillation O
"moonshine" can go into any kithce'
In American Falls, bar none, an
have a "still" going within hve min
utes. That In why bootleggers an
proprietors OF Stills have no fear Z
the workings Of the law. II ELLA
Marsters, federal prohibition directo
for Idaho, was to mysteriously con
nseate< every still In the state an
every appliance or ingredient tina
enters into the manufacture of liquol
II would not be "a hours before Tn
damage would have been repaire
almost entirely. A "stlll" can be rig
ged up nearly anywhere. The In
gradients are any grain, cereal Q
vegetable, sugar and water.
Weed Alcohol Little Used.
3 Wood alcohol There is practica
ly none of Il sold. D%enatured alcoh'