Year: 1866

TREASURY DEPARTMENT,


OFFICE OF INTERNAL REVENUE,


Washington, Oct IL, 1855.


Information has been received at this Office that
officers Of internal revenue in various parts of the
country permitting distillers to continue under
the new law, the old practice of separating the low
and high wines, by allowing them to run in separate,
open tubs placed the outlet of the still or worm.
1t is understood that the almost universal custom in
grain dstilleres has been place the outlet of
the worm, two open tubes, into of which the high
wines conveyed, and into the other the low Wines
the former connected by pipes with the high wine els
tern and the latter with the still or doubler.


This arrangement is not consistent with the terms of
the act of July 13, 1865. Section % par. l25 of
that provides that all spirits distilled during each
day, of twentyfour hours, shall be conveyed that
day into of the receiving cisterns prepared for
that purpose, and that such cstern shall be connected
with the outlet of the still by suitable pipes other
apparatus, constructed always to be exposed to
the view of the inspector


This language clearly prohibits the use of open
tubs, for separating low and high wines. The out
let of the still must be connected with the
cstern by pipes or other apparatus exposed to the
view of the inspector. Open tubs are not "ppes or
other apparatus" contemplated by the law. The in
tention of thelaw, as is well known is to off the
opportunities for the commission of fraud heretofore
existing. To this end the design was to keep the
Spirits as it were under close guard, continuously
from the worm to the bonded warehouse, by the use
of a pipe connecting the with the cistern, by
having the cistern in safe room under the lock and
seal of the inspector and by having the spirits under
the immediate inspection of that officer, drawn off
into casks packages which, after being duly guaged
proved and Marked he is to see it removed into the
bonded warehouse which, again. is under his lock and
key.


Now, to permit the spirits to be run from the worm
into open tubs for the ostensble purpose of separ
atng the low from the high wines, would be to trus
the grand object of the law and render all other
safeguards provided by law wholly nugatory


Consequently dstilers must in all cases be required
to connect the still with the receiving tistern
by pipes or other apparatus, which be SO con-
structed convey the spirits directly to the cistern


As it is necessary for the interest Of the dister to
prevent the low wines from running into the high wine
cistern and the of the open tubs cannot be al
lowed, it becomes necessary to adopt some arrange
ment by which this can be done.


1t is deemed entirely feasible to separate high wines
by the of glass vessel, which shall be connected
with and made part of the pipes apparatus con
meeting the outlet of the still with the receiving els
tern The precise form of this apparatus for separ-
ating the low and high wines is prescribed,
but distiller3 must be Immediately notified that some
such arrangement must be adopted and put in use by
the 18th day of November next Any distiery
which, after that date, shall be found without such ap
paratus must be closed up and proceeded against
cording to law.