Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-05

The Sprayer adopted by the boot
leggers is of the two-gallon size and
manufactured for use of farmers in
destroying insects and other pests COM
mon in fruit orchards. A copper tube
connects it to the exhaust manifold of
the automobile motor. A small petcock
on the tube near the sprayer controls
the flow of oil and other ingredients
used to produce the dense smoke
barrage.
Reporter Investigates Business.
With the aid of the Washington po-
lice, a Star reporter set out yesterday
to learn the underlying principles of the
comparatively new business created as
a result of the widespread use of the
smoke screen 1t was found that the
business is yet in its embryonic stage,
but sufficiently we'll organized to meet
all current demands for the necessary
equipment and mechanical labor.
Conversion of the sprayers into smoke
producing machines appears to be only
a special and sideline service of the
hardware store, which seems to have a
monopoly on this business. This is due
probably to an arrangement between the
store and the mechanic who likewise
appears to have an exclusive trade
among the rum-running profession of
installing these weapons of defense.
The actual search for a smoke screen
device started at garage in Southern
Maryland, where the reporter was ad-
vised it could be produced and installed
within half an hour Unfortunately
the mechanic at the shop where most
OF the Washington rum-running cars
were understood to have been equipped
had none in Stock-the demand for the
apparatus in the last week had ex-
hausted the small supply he kept OH
hand.
The mechanic, profusely apologetic,
announced he could procure "a good
screen by the following day. A much
better plan, he suggested was for the
reporter to go to a certain Washington
hardware store, purchase the spray
gun" and return to have it installed.
Little DifficuIty Experienced.
In accordance with the suggestion,
the reporter drove back to Washington,
went into the hardware store, sought
out the employe he was advised to call
on and asked for spray gun"
With only few preliminary and in
troductory questions the hardware clerk
proceeded to assemble and connect the
copper tubing, nuts. bolts and other ac-
cessories essential to efficient operation
of smoke screen. He made little ef-
fort to conceal his activities from other
customers.
Finally came the time to select the
spray gun" and remove from it the
spray nozzle and other attachments
necessary to the proper functioning of
the sprayer when used for the purpose
for which 1t was manufactured, but
non essential in smoke screen. The
clerk led the reporter to counter
where on conspicuous display were two
OF the large orchard sprayers-not
radically different in outward appear
ance-but different in price
The cheaper sprayer, the clerk ex-
planned, was not copper lined like the
one resting beside 1t which sold for sew
eral dollars more. The reporter did not
know which one to choose, for he had
not been informed as to which type the
bootleggers had adopted.
The clerk observed the reporters
puzzled expression. This is the one
generally used" he volunteered, point
ing to the cheaper sprayer. 1T will do
the work.
The cheaper sprayer was ordered.
The clerk took 1t, disconnected the
nozzle and other non-essential gadgetS,
attached an adjustment on the hose
which would fit screw from the three
feet of copper tubing and wrapped the
complete outfit. The price was $10.50.
There was nothing else to buy, not even
a bolt or a screw.
Back into Southern Maryland to the
garage went the reporter with his smoke
screen. The mechanic stopped work on
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