An economic history of the distilling industry in Scotland, 1750 - 1914

Scanned copy in 2 volumesTypescriptThis historical survey of the Scotch whisky industry attempts to cover the period from the late eighteenth century when distilleries first emerge as commercial enterprises in Scotland, through the changes of the nineteenth century to the outbreak of the First World War. The study opens with a short introduction, which is followed by observations on the nature and state of distilling in Scotland, based on the Old Statistical Account, and by an examination of the legislative framework affecting the industry up to the year 1823. The problems of illicit distillation, such as the attitudes of landowners, and the Excise authorities, the supply of equipment, and whisky smuggling, are treated in a separate section. The proliferation of licensed pot still distilleries in the early nineteenth century is supported by case studies of individual entrepreneurs and their business activities, while the problems of the Lowland capitalist distillers are considered in a section devoted to the enterprises of the Stein family, which spans the years from c.1780 to c. 1840. The innovation of the patent still, producing alcohol by continuous distillation, took place from 1826 onwards, and it had profound effects on the structure of the Scotch whisky industry. A consideration of the changes associated with the patent still culminates in a study of the rise of the Distillers' Company Ltd. A gap in business records from 1840 to 1860 is partially bridged by material from the New Statistical Account and other contemporary sources, as well as by a review of legislative modifications during the nineteenth century. The expansion which distilling in Scotland enjoyed from 1870 to 1898 is discussed under the title of 'The Great Distillery Promotion'. This phase came to an abrupt end with the collapse of the firm of Pattisons, Ltd., of Leith, which was a substantial blending and broking organisation. The events of the period 1887 to 1914 are described from the records provided by William Grant & Sons, Ltd., Glasgow, and these demonstrate the problems of establishing a new distillery, and of promoting trade in blended whiskies both in the home market and abroad. This economic history of the Scotch whisky industry is concluded with an investigation of whisky blending, the conflicts which it provoked, such as the 'What is Whisky Case' of 1905, and the subsequent appointment of a Royal Commission in 1908, whose findings confirmed the arrival of blended Scotch whisky. The account also traces the effect of government interference on the Scotch whisky industry, which has proved such a lucrative producer of revenue and foreign exchange for the British economy.This historical survey of the Scotch whisky industry attempts to cover the period from the late eighteenth century when distilleries first emerge as commercial enterprises in Scotland, through the changes of the nineteenth century to the outbreak of the First World War. The study opens with a short introduction, which is followed by observations on the nature and state of distilling in Scotland, based on the Old Statistical Account, and by an examination of the legislative framework affecting the industry up to the year 1823. The problems of illicit distillation, such as the attitudes of landowners, and the Excise authorities, the supply of equipment, and whisky smuggling, are treated in a separate section. The proliferation of licensed pot still distilleries in the early nineteenth century is supported by case studies of individual entrepreneurs and their business activities, while the problems of the Lowland capitalist distillers are considered in a section devoted to the enterprises of the Stein family, which spans the years from c.1780 to c. 1840. The innovation of the patent still, producing alcohol by continuous distillation, took place from 1826 onwards, and it had profound effects on the structure of the Scotch whisky industry. A consideration of the changes associated with the patent still culminates in a study of the rise of the Distillers' Company Ltd. A gap in business records from 1840 to 1860 is partially bridged by material from the New Statistical Account and other contemporary sources, as well as by a review of legislative modifications during the nineteenth century. The expansion which distilling in Scotland enjoyed from 1870 to 1898 is discussed under the title of 'The Great Distillery Promotion'. This phase came to an abrupt end with the collapse of the firm of Pattisons, Ltd., of Leith, which was a substantial blending and broking organisation. The events of the period 1887 to 1914 are described from the records provided by William Grant & Sons, Ltd., Glasgow, and these demonstrate the problems of establishing a new distillery, and of promoting trade in blended whiskies both in the home market and abroad. This economic history of the Scotch whisky industry is concluded with an investigation of whisky blending, the conflicts which it provoked, such as the 'What is Whisky Case' of 1905, and the subsequent appointment of a Royal Commission in 1908, whose findings confirmed the arrival of blended Scotch whisky. The account also traces the effect of government interference on the Scotch whisky industry, which has proved such a lucrative producer of revenue and foreign exchange for the British economy

The Lyric and the Lathe: Dreams of Perfect Poetic Efficiency, 1800-1917

This study examines patterns of efficiency in the poetry and theory of William Wordsworth, Hilda Doolittle, and other figures from the Modernist and Romantic periods. I begin by defining perfect efficiency as occurring when energy transforms, without loss, inside a closed energy system, and I offer perpetual motion machines as hypothetical examples of this impossible state. I then demonstrate the process of efficiency in William Wordsworth\u27s poetry, which begins with circumlocutory poetic cycles but contracts into terse repetitions. Since technical efficiency is calculated by the formula output/input, poetry\u27s subjectivity makes poetic efficiency difficult to measure. However, I suggest that repetitions offer an internal scale that compares efficiencies through relative concision. To address twentieth century poetry I begin with Gertrude Stein\u27s notion of a Portrait, which is an aesthetic closed system that nonetheless multiplies meaning through repetition. I then examine Ezra Pound, who led the Vorticists to implement a symbol of perfect efficiency, and, I discover that, just as vigorous and destructive vibrations arise in an energetic engine, Vorticism collapsed into chaos—not in spite of but because of its advocates\u27 vehement assertions of order. Pound also showcases H.D.\u27s poetry as a triumph of the efficient Image, which is like an objectified emotion. As with Wordsworth and Stein, I identify H.D.\u27s repetitions, which signal, instead of the accomplishment of perfection, the process of efficiency. I conclude with the observation that efficient poetry does not denote concise poetry. I suggest that perfect efficiency demands the elimination of all disparate elements, eventually its beneficiary and even its creator

2005 Literary Review (no. 18)

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A Geography of Resistance

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I researched the strategies that city officials and housing developers used to address NIMBY concerns about low income housing developments. I conducted interview research with planning commission members, their staffs, and housing developers from two cities. I wanted to understand what strategies the interviewees employed to address NIMBY concerns, if best practices were used during the planning process, how well those practices were followed, how effective those approaches used were in a real world setting, and inquire about alternative methods. The findings indicated that population density and median income were the relevant factors regarding NIMBY related issues. Also, traffic concerns, classism, and ageism were found to be prevalent NIMBY concerns. The strategies used included early engagement of residents, studies being conducted to identify credible issues, and the use of the judicial system. The methods outlined were the best practices used, and were effective in addressing NIMBY concerns

Speaking for Americans: Modernist Voices and Political Representation, 1910-1940

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