1911 Beverages de luxe

spirits in gênerai, there has been practically no increase in tlie production of Knm. The maximum production of Rum reaclied 2,439,301 in the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880. The manufacture of Rum has not kept pace with the in- crease in population. This is due to the fact that drinking, like other things, including architecture and clothes, has its styles, varying from time to time, sometimes for good reasons, some- times for none. For many years during the early history of the country, Rum, which is made only from molasses, was practically the only strong liquor in use, as nearly ail grain in the country was. consumed as food. American (Rye and Bourbon) whisky, the products of grain, may be said to have corne in style about the time of the Civil War, although George Washington made some at Mount Vernon, and there was considérable distillation throughout the South, its consumption increasing gradually for many years, it taking the place formerly occupied by Rum as a national bev- erage. Fifteen or more years ago Scotch whisky began an in- creasing popularity, and in the same way, although perhaps in a lesser degree, there lias been during the past two or three years an increasing demand for fine old Rum. Another reason for the lack of growth of the Rum industry is found in the fact that alcohol for médicinal and manufactur- ing purposes can be generally more cheaply produced from grain than from molasses. But many old-fashioned people and good judges of liquor still adhère to the use of our forefathers r favorite drink. It is évident that the actual production in gallons liaviiig remained about the same, and the number of distilleries having decreased, those distilleries now in existence, or some of them, at least, must be of much larger capacity than those of the early days. The largest Rum distilleries now in opération are located with in the Boston Metropolitan district, one of them alone hav- ing a capacity of more than 1,500,000 gallons per annum. Some of them, however, still remain practically unchanged from our grandfathers' days. In financial standing and in good réputation of those en- gaged in it, this industry compares favorably to-day as it did in its beginning with any other in the country.