U.S. Plaza (1939) Image Source: The Peace Bridge 1927-1977
The United States established the Customs organization in 1789 to collect duties on imported goods and provide revenue for operation of the young government. This was very successful and, by 1835, Customs revenue had eliminated the national debt. But in 1920, the 18th amendment (the Volstead Act) made possession of alcohol illegal in the United States. The Customs organization found itself stiffly challenged when the Peace Bridge opened a land line for "rum running" in 1927. Little help from the Canadian side was forthcoming until 1930, when Canada passed a law making it illegal to export alcohol to the U.S. |
U.S. Plaza (1939) Image Source: The Peace Bridge 1927-1977
Buffalo Courier-Express December 30, 1927 For the first time since the Peace Bridge opened, every automobile and every person passing through the America customs will be thoroughly searched for liquor. The search-all dictum was pronounced yesterday by Collector of Customs Bradley in an effort to stop the activities of petty smugglers and will be continue indefinitely. Thirty quarts of choice imported liquor was seized from eight motorists yesterday and last night. One of those caught was a prominent New York State official, who had a cargo of two quarts aboard. Another captured was a wealthy Canadian who was taking six quarts of liquor to New York , via the Peace Bridge, for a New Year's Even party. A well-known Buffalo real estate man and his friend yielded up six quarts when their pockets were searched. Search of all cars and occupants began at 8 o'clock yesterday morning under the supervision of Lamar L. Stevenson, deputy collector of customs, in charge of the bridge force. The inspectors were painstaking in their attempt to locate hidden caches in the line of machines, making all occupants disboard, pulling out seats, floorboards, back cushions and peering under the machines and lifting the hood. After finishing with the car, the inspectors then devoted no little time to the occupants. Overcoats were ordered pulled back, and the well-known frisk was applied in each case. All in all it was a very bad day for those who attempted to bring back their New Year's liquor over the Peace Bridge. |
Canadian Customs secondary inspection (1936)
Image Source: The Peace Bridge 1927-1977
Although a few bottles were confiscated during the morning and early afternoon, it was not until 3 p.m. that any appreciable quantity was seized. Three middle-aged women in a modest coupe stopped at the customs house for the usual formal questions asked other times. The inspector peered into the rear of the car and found nothing. Then he asked the women if they had anything aboard that the United States government should know about. Their rejoinder was a negative. "Well," the officer said politely, "you better get out and let me look, and please shut off your motor." The calm driver then lost her poise. Instead of shutting off her motor she stepped on the accelerator and her machine brought up against a large car directly ahead. Whe the trio alighted, the seat was pulled up. Arrayed in a neat row were thirteen quarts of government store liquor. The women were brought in before Deputy Collector Stevenson and informed that the tax was $5 a bottle or $65 for the thirteen. The women could not produce $65 and were detained until the husband of one returned from work and made the trip to the customs house with the fine. They said they had planned on having a large wet New Year's eve party. A good search of the real estate man's machine failed to produce results. The inspector then asked the men if they had anything in their pockets. They smilingly assured him they did not. "Might as well keep you honest," the inspector said. He gave the men a frisk and pulled out three quarts from the pockets of each. The real estate man said he was getting it for a friend. They were assessed $30 and allowed to depart with a warning from Deputy Stevenson not to repeat the offense. Two youths from Jamestown also fared badly with five bottles of liquor they came all the way to Niagara Falls, Ont., to buy. Their pockets produced four of the five bottles. A fifth was discovered under one of the boys's shoulders suspended on several yards of gauze bandage. Collector Bradley said the big bootleggers are not using the bridge but the one- and two-bottle smugglers have been working overtime. The collector said it was no reflection on the customs officers, as the force has not been large enough to thoroughly search every machine. "But," declared Mr. Bradley, "so much petty smuggling has been going on that we intend to put a stop to it. Even if it means holding up traffic every car will be stopped and searched thoroughly. This is by no means an order to stop those who attempt to bring New Year's liquor across, but will continue indefinitely. I have given the same orders to the customs men at the two Niagara Falls bridges and the Lewiston Bridge." The only period yesterday when bridge traffic was slowed up by the search edict was between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. The two customs officers became so busy that Deputy Stevenson aided in searches himself and also pressed into service John Wiggins, chief supervising inspector, who had been enjoying his weekly vacation. The government yesterday became richer by $150 as a result of the seizures. The choice assortment will be destroyed this morning. |
Prohibition ended December 5, 1933. See the Spring 2011 issue of the magazine for the story of why it took 70 years to bridge the Niagara with the Peace Bridge. |
