North Dakota entered the country as a dry state, initiating an ongoing battle between state authorities and bootleggers. On this date in 1928, the Bismarck Tribune reported that four men found themselves in hot water, accused of running the largest still ever found in the state. To call the operation a “still” was an impressive understatement. Located on a farm seventeen miles north of Mandan, the operation more closely resembled a factory.
The bootlegging business was valued at $43,600. This would be almost $800,000 in today’s money. Authorities were astounded by the extent of the operation. Located in a two-story barn, the still had a capacity of five hundred gallons. The barn was equipped with running water and a boiler that provided steam power.
Authorities seized fifteen hundred gallons of liquor, ready for sale. That was only the beginning. The haul included over twenty-two thousand gallons of alcohol mash, 72,200 pounds of sugar, and twelve barrels of molasses. Authorities estimated that the alcohol was worth over $28,000. Samples of the product were analyzed. It was discovered that the liquor was 187 proof and declared to be as fine a product as could be made.
The bootleggers apparently had a lookout. As federal agents descended on the farm, four men ran from the barn and headed for the woods, but the men were captured and taken into custody. They were held on five thousand dollars bond each.
The federal agents attempted to discover who was behind the operation, but the captured men had nothing to say on the matter. They had been paid $200 a month while working on the still, and were promised $100 a month if they had to spend time in jail. They did time for their misdeed, but whoever put up the money was never identified.
Dakota Datebook written by Carole Butcher
Sources:
- Bismarck Tribune. “North Dakota’s Largest Liquor Still Seized.” Bismarck ND. 10/13/1928. Page 1.
- Bismarck Tribune. “Four Still Operators Removed to Cass Jail.” Bismarck ND.10/22/1928. Page 8.
- Bismarck Tribune. “Still Worth $60,000.” Bismarck ND. 10/15/1922. Page 1.
- Bismarck Tribune. “Still Workers Given Salaries.” Bismarck ND. 10/15/1028. Page 3.
- Weebly. “Prohibition in North Dakota. https://prohibitionfargond.weebly.com/prohibition-in-north-dakota.html Accessed 9/16/2022.
- CPI Inflation Calculator. “$43,600 in 1928.” https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1928?amount=43600 Accessed 9/17/2022.
