Answer.—The best answer to this question is contained in the latest report of the Secretary of the Treasury. Mr. Folger says: “The quantity of spirits produced and deposited in distillery warehouses during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1883, is less than the production of 1882 by 31,839,853 gallons, and of 1881 by 43,741,842 gallons.” He distributes this decrease as follows:

Decrease in production of—Gallons.
Bourbon whisky20,913,422
Rye whisky4,440,123
Alcohol4,482,965
Gin23,366
Highwines2,260,428
Miscellaneous241,385
 Total decrease32,361,689
 Increase in production of—Gallons.
Rum97,876
Pure neutral or Cologne spirits423,960
 Total Increase521,836
 Net decrease31,839,853

There were remaining in distillery warehouses at the dates below specified distilled spirits as follows:

Dates.Gallons.
June 30, 188380,499,993
June 30, 188289,962,645

There should come out of bonded warehouses, under the present law, and pay tax, distilled spirits as follows:

Dates.Gallons.
By June 6, 188426,104,531
By July 6, 18843,495,512
Total29,600,043

It is to avert taking this large amount of spirits out of warehouse and throwing it upon the market more rapidly than it is called for that the distillers are so lustily petitioning Congress to postpone the date of withdrawal. Several causes have conspired to bring about the decrease in production of spirits above shown, of which the vigor with which the temperance movement has been pushed of late years is indisputably one.

ART, HISTORICAL, AND SCIENTIFIC SOCIETIES.

Battle Creek, Mich.