The Washington times., 1923-07-11
PLANES LOCATE
ST|LLSNEAR
DISTRICT
Three Big Ones Discovered
Through Photographs
Taken From Air.

Bootleggers believing it possible
to hide big stills in the Businesses
| of densely wooded districts far
away from the beaten highways
have had a crirnp put in their
plans. The kinking was done
when enforcement officials sue
ceeded in securing the use of a
number Of airplanes and pilots to
scout over suspected locations.
Photographers accompanied the
filters and filmed the sections COW
cred. Later the plates were de-
veloped, prints enlarged as far as
the negatives would go were
made and carefully studied.
Three Stills Located.
The results obtained, it is under
stood, have more than justified the
experiment. So far they have led
to the locating of >three moonshine
stills within 80 miles Of Washing
ton, having a combined output of
more than 600 gallons Of distilled
liquor a day. And the end is not
yet.
According to information obtained
by the dry agents five additional
sections are to be "dragnetted." It
is believed the photographs indi-
cate the presence of stills in oper-
alton and that when the hunt Is
completed within the next ten days
several additional moonshine units
of the larger type will be strung
as wet scalpS dangling at the belts
of the crusading agents.
On the other hand 1t is learned
that the moonshiners are preparing
to meet cunning with cunning. At
least one man, formerly attached to
the camouflage service Of the army,
! who saw more than eighteen
months service overseas, has been
employed to provide DISCUSSES for
| the stills which will defy detection
by means Of the Photographic
tense.
Have 'OdOr Consumers"
It is also understood that the
distiliers have worked out a proc
ess, through the use of modified
smoke consumer device, by which
practically all of the doors emitted
by stills in operation are consumed
in the process of distillation.
Through this improvement in the
process of operation, they say, it
will be possible to snap their
fingers under the noses Of the en-
forcement agents with perfect inn
munity. When not in use, it is
said, the still can be deodorized. A
dead still ennits almost as much
oder as one in operation unless
precautions are taken.
In locating the operators OF the
larger stills the enforcement agents
have received valuable tips through
the sales Of solder. Solder Is used
| in lining the stills and is generally
applied at regular intervals. Houses
selling solder have never made a
record Of their sales. 1t happens,
| however, that when a new customer
turns up, unknown in the trade,
with orders for quantities of solder,
| the demand creates some little in
terest. Enforcement agents under
standing still operations become in
formed Of the increased demand for
solder. They later learn the buyers
are men either under suspicion or
closely affiliated with those who
are, and watched them. Following
the solder trail has led to the dis
covery of many large stills. Boot
| leggers discovering that solder sales
were being checked are splitting
orders.
Shoot at Planes.
Up to the present time there has
been profit enough in moonshiile
| whiskey to justify disregarding the
saving Of a few cents a pound on
the solder used in resurfacing stills.
Recently, 1t is said, they have pur-
chased supplies through small
plumbers. This has resulted in de-
stroying one Of the valuable Tip
lines" used by the enforcement
agents in locating the larger plants
The airplane, however, has in part
recompensedN them, it is said, and
| until the bootleggers have developed
camouflage successfully screening
their hidden plants, it promises to
be an effective factor in locating
the Illicit stills.
Several reports Of airplanes hav.
ing been fired upon when flying low
over woodlands have been explained
by the aviators on the theory they