CHAPTER VII
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THE CONDITIONS AND PROSPECTS OF THE BEER TRADE.
I believe that Germans are destined to be really the greatest benefactors of this country by bringing to us—if we choose to accept the boon—their beer. Lager beer contains less alcohol than any of the native grape wines. This fact, with the other fact, that the Germans have not the pernicious habits of our people, would, if we choose to adopt their custom, tend to diminish intemperance in this country.
DR. HENRY J. BOWDITCH, _Chairman of the State Board of Health of Massachusetts._
Geniesst im edlen Gerstensaft Des Weines Geist, des Brodes Kraft.
The strength of bread, the fire of wine O noble barley juice are thine.
TIVOLI.
[Illustration: FREDERICK LAUER’S PARK BREWERY. READING, PA.
_For historical sketch see Appendix C. Page 180._]
The brewing of ale has been so long an established industry in this country and advances so regularly from year to year as to offer no striking facts for comment. With lager beer the case is different, and the rapidity of the increase in its use is something remarkable. Fifty years ago it was hardly known as a beverage in the United States. Now and then some good old German would import a keg from his native home in the old country, to be drunk on the occasion of some great family festival, and call up in his adopted home thoughts of the merry days of youth and friendly faces, last seen perhaps in some deep valley of the Tyrol or in the shadows of a city that was old when the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. But in the case of so good a creature as lager beer such occasional and almost poetical use could not always remain the only one, and at last a German of Philadelphia conceived the idea of erecting a lager beer brewery. According to the Hon. Frederick Lauer of Reading, Pa., (and we have all reason to put implicit faith in his version) it was introduced by one Wagner, a practical brewer who came from Germany to the United States in a sailing vessel in the year 1842, and shortly after landing he brewed the first lager in a miserable shanty on the outskirts of Philadelphia, and thus became the Gambrinus of America. (We would here refer the reader to the biographical sketch of Frederick Lauer, Esq., in Appendix A.)
His success induced another German to try the same experiment on a small scale in the city of New York, and from this insignificant beginning the business has increased to its present immense proportions, so that there are now according to the latest return of the Internal Revenue Department at Washington, no less than two thousand eight hundred and thirty ale and lager beer breweries in
## active operation. The number is in fact considerably larger than that
given by the Department, owing to the method of returning only those in actual business at the beginning of the year and to other causes. The annual product according to the Department figures, is over three hundred million gallons. More exactly the figures are, 303,147,552 gallons, or 9,473,361 barrels. In addition to this there are numerous private breweries where beer is made for home consumption but not for sale, and these do not fall under the Internal Revenue regulations and are consequently not reported.
Figures as given below in reference to the capital invested in the brewing, malting and hop business, and taken after careful investigation from the best sources attainable, will give the reader a faint idea of its vast extent.
CAPITAL.
Capital invested in 2,830 breweries in operation at the end of the last fiscal year, (taking the low estimate of $10.00 upon every barrel of malt beverage produced, viz.: 9,473,361 barrels at $10.00) $94,733,610.00
Capital invested in 485 malt-houses of all dimensions having altogether a malting capacity of 35,227,984 bushels:
Real estate, $16,567,562.00
Capital invested in the production, 18,620,950.00
----------------- $35,188,512.00
Capital invested in 1,614,654 acres of land under cultivation for barley, $72,659,430.00
Capital invested in 67,216 acres of land under cultivation for hops, 2,689,232.00
Capital invested in gathering ice needed for brewers, 15,000,000.00
Capital invested in fodder of all kinds, 5,000,000.00
LABOR.
Men employed in breweries now in operation; men 22,640; annual wages, $13,584,000.00
Men employed in malt-houses; men 3,045; annual wages, 1,324,575.00
Men employed in the culture of barley, 10 men to every 100 acres; men 16,446; annual wages, 4,844,000.00
Help employed in the culture of hops, 1 person to every 10 acres; persons 6,721; annual wages, 2,016,630.00
All other adjuncts necessary as capital invested by architects, builders, wagon and harness-makers, coppersmith, coopers, machinists, etc., will amount to not less than, 60,000,000.00 --------------- Total, $307,039,989.00
A glance at the figures just quoted is enough to show that this branch of industry has become very important. Such a production implies the contribution of a large amount of capital, and after careful investigation of the most trustworthy _data_ we find that there are more than three hundred million dollars invested in breweries, malt-houses and other adjuncts of the manufacture of beer in the United States. The direct investment however, is not the only thing to be considered. A business of this magnitude furnishes occupation not merely to vast numbers of laborers, but also to thousands of men who follow some profession or trade, such as architects, civil engineers, masons, carpenters, coopers, coppersmiths, wagon and harness-makers, and the like.
The following table exhibits the production of the various states and territories for the last year, together with the increase or decrease as compared with the previous year, and also the amount of brewers’ manufacturing tax collected:
BREWERS’ MFG. NAME. BBLS. INCREASE. DECREASE. TAX COLLECTED. North Carolina, 4 4 —— $100 Maine, 7 —— 7,024 —— Alabama, 74 —— 110 —— Arkansas, 104 —— 6 100 Vermont, 173 —— 112 115 South Carolina, 586 —— 246 100 New Mexico, 847 —— 164 245 Arizona, 1,030 299 —— 100 Idaho, 1,207 457 —— 100 Wyoming, 4,227 —— 132 260 Dakota, 4,548 1,213 —— 640 Montana, 4,596 1,005 —— 580 Georgia, 5,690 —— 1,319 620 Delaware, 7,387 215 —— 250 Washington, 7,473 544 —— 480 Utah, 7,909 25 —— 205 Texas, 9,585 —— 4,859 2,362.49 Tennessee, 10,278 9,572 —— 320.84 Nevada, 12,002 —— 387 1,640 Oregon, 13,028 2,776 —— 1,480.50 Virginia, 14,302 —— 1,195 316.67 Colorado, 21,185 1,242 —— 360.50 W. Virginia, 22,157 Same Amount. —— 858.83 Kansas, 24,102 1,801 —— 1,890.67 Nebraska, 28,403 4,455 —— 2,460.75 Rhode Island, 32,510 4,514 —— 2,640.50 Louisiana, 38,275 375 —— 2,210.30 Connecticut, 51,235 —— 8,239 2,008.34 Minnesota, 103,020 12,329 —— 9,435.82 New Hampshire, 113,740 —— 4,954 8,760.40 Kentucky, 116,493 15,810 —— 3,570.88 Indiana, 170,573 7,881 —— 6,937.49 Iowa, 171,951 14,271 —— 11,449.99 Michigan, 185,606 —— 2,592 11,266.67 Maryland, 218,642 9,496 —— 6,583.35 California, 346,369 —— 5,628 15,327.91 Wisconsin, 463,409 20,345 —— 17,954.17 New Jersey, 478,782 —— 11,979 5,608.34 Missouri, 507,963 46,793 —— 5,762.50 Illinois, 550,976 29,270 —— 11,470.82 Massachusetts, 572,098 77,639 —— 3,904.22 Ohio, 908,254 89,468 —— 17,066.70 Pennsylvania, 957,060 —— 20,848 17,358.05 New York. 3,285,498 125,646 —— 32,601.01
The percentage yielded by the several leading states to the total government income from malt beverages during the last fiscal year is shown in the following table:
New York having 405 Breweries, contributed 34.31 per cent. Pennsylvania “ 383 “ “ 10.07 “ “ Ohio “ 207 “ “ 9.41 “ “ Massachusetts “ 35 “ “ 5.94 “ “ Illinois “ 154 “ “ 5.75 “ “ Missouri “ 65 “ “ 5.21 “ “ New Jersey “ 69 “ “ 5.00 “ “ Wisconsin “ 248 “ “ 4.89 “ “ California “ 213 “ “ 3.69 “ “ Maryland “ 82 “ “ 2.31 “ “ Michigan “ 141 “ “ 2.13 “ “ Iowa “ 150 “ “ 1.94 “ “ Indiana “ 101 “ “ 1.82 “ “ Kentucky “ 34 “ “ 1.24 “ “ New Hampshire “ 4 “ “ 1.20 “ “ Minnesota “ 140 “ “ 1.17 “ “ All other States and Territories “ 399 “ “ 3.92 “ “ ----- ------ 2,830 Breweries. 100.00
It thus appears that 96.08 per cent. of the revenue was derived from the sixteen states just mentioned. They contain 2431 breweries as against 399 in the remaining states and territories. The stamps issued to brewers during the year indicate a sale of 9,473,361 barrels, put up as follows:
In hogsheads, 1,140,361 barrels. In barrels, 1,220,000 “ In half-barrels, 1,325,000 “ In quarter “ 4,650,000 “ In third “ 71,000 “ In sixth “ 277,000 “ In eighth “ 790,000 “ --------- 9,473,361
Enormous as the above figures may seem we are to remember that a great majority of the breweries in the country have been erected within the last fifteen years, and it is certain that no other branch of industry can show equal progress during the same time. The following tables, showing the imports and exports of beer for the past few years, demonstrate the strong position American beer is taking at home and abroad. The imports decrease. The exports increase, and this is the best proof that our brewers produce an article which is equal if not superior to the foreign, and we have no doubt that with the help of wise laws they will soon be enabled to compete with those of any nation and thus not only enrich the coffers of the United States Treasury but add in other ways to the welfare of our great country.
IMPORTATION OF FOREIGN BEER INTO THE UNITED STATES.
Gallons. Value in Dollars. 1872, 1,989,713 $1,485,781.00 1873, 2,289,053 1,827,763.00 1874, 2,088,858 1,752,559.00 1875, 2,167,251 1,742,120.00 1876, 1,490,150 1,161,467.00 1877, 974,277 758,850.00 1878, 767,709 592,707.00
EXPORT OF BEER OF DOMESTIC PRODUCE.
IN BOTTLES. IN CASKS. /--------^--------\ /--------^--------\ DOZENS. VALUE IN GALLONS. VALUE IN DOLLARS. DOLLARS.
1870, 1,076 $2,250 66,467 $23,759.00 1871, 1,570 4,077 105,213 34,301.00 1872, 2,205 5,340 77,639 27,829.00 1873, 3,443 7,712 103,009 36,743.00 1874, 2,897 6,245 99,135 33,357.00 1875, 3,633 7,600 61,661 16,604.00 1876, 7,045 13,007 99,310 29,657.00 1877, 37,876 51,077 144,244 40,138.00 1878, 76,475 108,279 119,579 38,918.00
It will be seen from this table that whilst the export of beer in casks has not considerably increased, the increase in the export of bottled beer has been very large. In 1870 we exported 1,076 dozens, and in 1878, 76,475 dozen! This trade has especially been encouraged by the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition, as it enabled us to show to the world the quality of our production.
The gigantic establishments that, in many cases cover entire blocks, are monuments of very lucrative enterprise and ought to be the pride of the American people. The truth is, that, notwithstanding a yearly sale of more than 300,000,000 gallons, the consumption of beer is yet in its infancy. With an increasing number of persons it ceases to be a luxury and takes rank with the other articles of daily food. The demand for it in all parts of the United States is increasing so rapidly that existing breweries are enlarged and improved, and new ones are springing up in every direction. In Appendices D, E and B will be found a list of breweries in the United States with the names of the proprietors and the product of each, together with the total product by States, as also the production _per capita_ in the various countries of Europe, the total production in the same countries, and the number of breweries in each, and we trust that these tables will not only be of service to the trade and to students of this question, but also serve to give some prominence to the men who have done much for the advance of genuine temperance and who deserve a more substantial recognition than any it is in our power to give.
All this progress is a natural result of the actual benefits beer has bestowed on mankind, and these again follow logically and as might be expected from its constitution, containing as it does a large portion of water from which all organic impurities are eliminated, a certain quantity of nutritive malt extract and a very small percentage of pure alcohol, obtained by fermentation and entirely free from the injurious properties it acquires in distillation, together with some of the carbonic acid gas so thoroughly approved by consumers of soda water. It offers to the public a beverage at once healthy, nutritious, and mildly stimulating, and as refreshing and exhilarating as tea, coffee or cocoa.
[Illustration: JOSEPH SCHLITZ BREWING COMPANY.
HENRY UIHLEIN, ALFRED UIHLEIN, Sup^t. AUG. UIHLEIN, President. Secretary.
MILWAUKEE.
_H. GUGLER & SON. GEN^L. LITHO^S. MILWAUKEE._
FOR HISTORICAL SKETCH, SEE APPENDIX C. PAGE 180.]
Those who travel know very well the injurious effect of a change of water. In no two districts are the waters alike, and we could point to many instances where removal from East to West or from North to South and the consequent change of water has resulted in disastrous effects upon individuals. Any inconvenience of this sort would be diminished or altogether avoided by means of a free use of beer. Another similar advantage of beer is mentioned by Joseph Coppinger in his work on brewing, called “The American Practical Brewer, etc.,” published in New York in 1815. After recommending new ale as a preventive and yeast as an antidote to malarial fever, he continues: “Brewing, in every country, whose soil and climate are congenial to the production of the raw materials, should be ranked among the first objects of its domestic and political economy. But a still more important consideration is the health and morals of our population, which appears to be essentially connected with the progress of the brewing trade. In proof of this assertion, I will beg leave to state a well-known fact; which is, that in proportion as the consumption of malt liquors have increased in towns, in that proportion has the health of our fellow-citizens improved, and epidemics and intermittents become less frequent. In the country it is well known that those families who make frequent use of good beer during the summer, are in general healthy, and preserve their color; whilst their less fortunate neighbors, who do not use beer at all, are devoured by fevers and intermittents. These facts will be less doubted when it is known that yeast, properly administered, has been found singularly successful in the cure of fevers.” The views thus expressed more than sixty years ago have recently received much attention and are now advocated by many eminent authorities who hold that they are confirmed by both fact and theory.
The sum of the whole is that the beer brewing business has within a short time increased immensely—and strictly on the more general recognition of the merits of the product—and that there is every reason to anticipate at least an equal increase in the near future. Beer is already taking the place of ardent spirits and mixed drinks, and not long ago there appeared in the New York _Sun_ the complaint of a bar-keeper who said in substance that the occupation of a skilled compounder of fancy drinks was gone, for anybody could draw beer and beer was what everybody wanted. Large gatherings now are more orderly than a few years ago and the reason is to be found in the general use of beer instead of whisky. At Coney Island the proprietors speak of the change as wonderful, and say that but for beer they could not get on, while now a disorderly occurrence is rare, no matter how great the throng. The same thing may be seen at the various races and in all such great assemblages of people who gather for enjoyment, and under the old regime were sure to become riotous.
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