Sessional Papers Volume 81 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1901 Excerpt: ...reach remains to be seen. Alcohol. As was stated in the report for 1899, the prospect of the intro duction of a law prescribing the levying of octroi at the place of production caused a very large quantity of alcohol to be bought up by speculators with the object of evading this consumption duty However, the unexampled stagnation in all branches of trade, and the scarcity of cash among the peasantry, who constitute the most important consumers of this article, dealt a heavy blow to the hopes of those who had engaged in such speculation, and the 165,000 gallons which had thus been bought up, and which would under ordinary circumstances have scarcely sufficed for the demand during four or five months, were, as a matter of fact, not disposed of till nearly the close of the year. The sales effected by the distillers were consequently insignificant, and notwithstanding the scantiness of the vintage, the total amount of alcohol sold by the three distilleries in Eastern Koumelia did not exceed 45,000 gallons, the prices realised being proportionately unremunerative. As the octroi on alcohol represents from 75 to 80 per cent, of the communal revenues under this heading the precarious position of the various municipal bodies may in a large measure be attributed to the depression in this branch of industry. Tobacco. Although inferior to the best Turkish tobacco the Bulgarian article has come into favour within the last two years, and extensive purchases were made by British and Hungarian firms in the districts of Bhilippopolis and Haskovo. The manipulation of the leaf is effected in large special depots by native labour under the guidance of skilled hands imported from Turkey, and the tobacco is then made up into bales and exported for the purpose of being mixed with...