Year: 1872

the Contraband Poteen Mills.
In the various departments of the United States
government OF this city there is very little OF in
tcrest TO report at present. The election excite
mcnt over, the routine business is regularly at
tended TO, and even this Is very dull at the present
time.


AT THE CUSTOM HOUSE
some activity In business may be noticed, which Is
consequent upon spasmodic demand for goods to
supply the heavy stocks lost at the Boston fire.
Heretofore shipments in bond or Transportation
without apprasement' to Boston was an everyday
occurrence; but the merchants at the Hub arc
probably too poor now to pay the duties hence the
goods are made free at this port and then shipped


The greatest activity exists In the wool market.
The entire stock on hand In the ''burned distuct'
being exhausted, this city has to be drawn on for
supply. In an article on this subject published in
the HERALD OF the 18th instant 1t inadvertently
stated that at that moment the stock of wool In
bond In this city was G,00o00O pounds, whereas
IL should have read 16,O00O00 The latter figures
were obtained by our reporter from an assistant
auditor Of the New York Custom House, and may
be accepted as official.


STANDARD SAMPLES OF WOOL,


accommodating for great many years at the APP
praisers' Department, form one Of the most valu-
able collections in possession of the government
Assistant Appraiser Baush, who has this depart
ment In charge, and is considered one of the best
judges of That article, takes particular pride in
adding constantly to his stock hand. The ap-
praisements OF the staple depend alto gether upon
the samples, ana the latter are made the standard
to Judge OF entire invoices. In the Appraisers
Department. where the large quantity OF these
samples Is stored there is not the slig hest protec
ton from burning, although the utmost care Is
taken to prevent cOnnagration; yet, should a
fire break out no one wonld think of saving this
insignificant looking, yet in reality, most valuable
savings OF many years samping and necessary
guide Tor appraisemcnt.


BY the Boston fire eight cabinets of such samples
were destroyed, inlictlng an lrreparable damage
upon the wool trade as far as government ap-
praisements and Judging the standard by these
specimens concerned. To guard against
similar calamity in this city should the appraisers
stores ever be destroyed, Mr.. Baush should divide
his samples store, one half in freproof building
and keep the other portion thereof where his stock
is at present for daily use. The limited accom-
modatiOns OF the Custom House will not admit OF
any additional storage to be placed therein, other
wise the samples Of wool might be saved there.


Until Congress takes action on this matter and
provides adequate buildings, say at the Battery,
which can combine all the customs departments
under one roof there viii always exist, SO far as
the public stores are concerned, lurking danger
ilom the fire ienG, which will only be realized
after the damage has occurred The above sug-
gestions should be pondered over and duly carried
out by the proper officials.


INTERNAL REVENUE AFFAIRS


at the present moment somewhat mixed,
owing to the expected consolidation of all the
collection districts throughout the county. Ac-
cording to law passed at the last session OF
Congress, making ciglty-ive districts out OF 233,
the President is compelled to take action on
this subject by the lst OF January next 1t is only
tricts this city viii have allowed as its quota.
Supervisor S. B. butcher is at present in Wash
ton as far as the State OF New York is concerned
(Which forms his districD, will no doubt have been
determined upon. The internal revenue taxes in
New York city have been collected very economically
aud promptly, and are at the same time as large as
a great many entire states. The beer interest
alone is sufficient to keep two collection districts
actively employed. The present incumbents OF the
offices OF Collector and Assessor are on tip-toe of
expectation to learn what disposition Ii to be
made of their various Observation-Disclosures for good
or for evil.


ILLICIT DIsTILLATIoN


heretofore has been thought to be cOnnned eXclu-
sivey to the classic shades OF the Filth ward In
Brooklyn, commonly known as Irishtown, and it Is
facture OF whskey should be carried on in New
York. Yet such Is the case. Probably the fear OF
raids, such Supervisor butcher has made in CON-
pany with United States marines, deters the
Brooklyntes from indulging in the dangerous bust
ness, and they keep up at least show OF complying
with the law. A few days ago Assistant Assessor
Robert Hunt, OfSupervsOr butchers force, achieved
the feat OF seizing an Illicit "stiil and hxings"
and the arrest OF two of the operators. He
learned that nice little still was being run in
Yorkville at No. 1773 Third avenue In vinegar
factory, where the "vile STUFF" was used up ut
once by being turned into acidity. Mr.. Hunt took
his bearings with caution and a few days ago pro-
ceeded all alone to the ''potheen mlll,' and, sure
enough, found the Still was in full blast. TO rush
into the place and secure the two men who were
on the premises was the work OF but moment.
Assessor Hunt not only landed his prisoners sale
with the United States Marshal, but secured and
lodged the still and accOutrements OF the mna-
ture distieIy intact with the same authority.
ANOTHER SEIZURE


OF the same sort, but not with so successful re-
suit, was made by the same o1lcer a day before the
last mentioned. This distillery was or a much
larger capacity than the ormer being able to turn
out at least 900 gallons or liquor per day. Olcer
Hunt took possession ofthe establishment, located
at Harlem, In the evening, and left one man in
charge to guard the premises until morning.
About midnight gang OF rOwdies masked and
otherwise disguised Ia X. X. X, broke into the
knives and bludgeons while others completely
Quilted the premises carrying of the fine copper
still, worm and even the fermenting tubs, thus
nullitying seizure effected with considerable risk
and ingenuity.


The above Seizures were all effected by one officer
were entirely new, having evidently been but
slightly used or just put up when the revenue
Oiicer5 pOunced upon and eradicated them at
once This course II more commonly adopted,
would do more toward breaking up contraDand
dstllation than all the laws and edicts enacted
the same time would save the general government
millions OF dollars, which would be collected
through this means.


The Sciss Times states that the expectation OF
watches from Switzerland to the United States OF
America assumes larger proportions every year.
f. ON the 1st OF January to the 30th Of September
a l1017.2l3I worth OF waLgnpa