The beginning of the century was marked by a great increase 

 in the consumption of alcoholic liquors of all kinds, which 

 was largely occasioned by the economic difficulties and horrors 

 of the Xapoleonic period, and the spread of the custom through 

 the returning armies. Distilleries and production increased 

 very rapidly, particularly in the country, where the raw ma- 

 terials were close at hand. This period of growth was also 

 one of reform. The abolition of mediaeval conditions, the 

 creation of a Customs Union and the introduction of uniform 

 taxation have been most potent in aiding the industrial de- 

 velopment of Germany, and as the first steps toward reform 

 were usually taken by Prussia we will first consider that king- 

 dom. 



2. Prussia. 



Prussia, containing some of the most fertile districts of 

 Germany, well suited to the raising of rye and other grains, 

 possessed a considerable distilling industry at the beginning 

 of the century. The establishments were chiefly found in the 

 important agricultural provinces of Silesia, Saxony, Bran- 

 denburg, East Prussia and Posen. There were a considerable 

 number of distilleries of fair size running the year round and 

 found in or near the cities. Then, in the cities, were the 

 little stills connected w r ith a bar, over which the product was 

 dispensed. In the country, the majority of the plants were 

 run only during the fall and winter months or as long as the 

 grain lasted and in connection with agriculture. Those of the 

 district along the Ehine were operated only a few days or 

 weeks, and produced brandy from the spoiled fruit, wine lees,, 

 etc. Finally, numerous brewers still continued to produce 

 whisky from the brewers' grains, or that part of the malted 

 grain remaining after the wort has been extracted. The 

 growth of the industry was greatly hampered, however, by the 

 various taxes to which it was subjected. 



Prussia still retained at the beginning of the century an 

 antiquated and complicated excise system, of which many 

 features had been borrowed from the French. Alcohol was 

 placed under different taxes in all the various provinces and 

 cities. Distinctions were made between country and city dis- 



