Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1854-05-19
pRnx1rarN eARprrrn. MAINE.

1nkNh4H0tN 0a<D ANEH, mAANEs
A few weeks ago our neighbor Of
the Democrat published the amount o.
various kinds of liquor sold in Gardi-
ner Maine with view of showing
that a prohibitory law only put the sale
into different hands without decreasing
the quantity-that men would buy it
as medicine and then drink il, and he
predicted that. il similar law to the
Maine Law should be enacted in Indi-
ana the health Of BrookviIle would be-
come alarming bad. Not wishing 70
aid, directly or indirectly in imposing
upon the people of our native state a
aw that would tend only TO the prac-
tee Of frauds we sat down and wrote
TO friend. Rev. Mr.. Webber, now
stationed in that city. to ascertain such
facts as would lead to proper under.
standing Of the subject. Here is his
letter. Will our neighbor do his rea-
ders the favor to copyit? Every paper
that'gave the statistics should give the
accompany explanation. They owe
it to the cause oftruth and humanity.
Let the reader ponder these facts.
and then let him ask the question
whether the Maine Law is failure.
And II. in so short time. such a
change can be produced in such aplace
as Gardiner will not every lover Of hui
manity aid in procuring a similar law
in this statel
GARDINER. Me. Apr. 90, 1854.
Dear BrotAer:--Yours If 10Th inst.
came duly TO hand, and at my earliest
convenience ! Immediately attended
to the subject OF yoar inquiry. aud
give you the result. as furnished to me
BY the city agent-by whom tho liq-
uors for the city are sold. and the pres
ent Mayor of the City. l have also
consulted number Of our most no.
sponsible citizens, in reference to the
comparative amount ofliquor sold in
the City now. with what was sold
previously TO the enactment Of the
prohibitory law. The following is the
result:
1.-The table" contained in the slip
inclosed in yours, is probably nearly
correct. This agency supplies two
other towns entire, and eight Others
partially. beside our own citizens. Ac-
cording to best calculation ! have been
able to make with the above aid. the
whole number in all these towns. inclu--
ding our own City. who gettheir liquors
at this agency, is l2.432 which would
give to each one anuuly little less
than Is cents worth of liquor. 1t
should also be understood that deduc-
ting the percent profit, charged at the
agency TO pay the salary of the agent,
for his salary is tixed) would lessen
the amount as appears In the "table"
one third; which would be 81 .222, 90
instead Of i.833, 81 rs in the table. Il
should also be remembered that this
amnnntis not oil usod for ''rn obi cine
but portion oft is used for mechani-
calpurposes; what proportion could
not ascertain, as no particular note OF
the use to be made OF IL Is kept by the
agent. You will remark that II is also
stated above, that the agent is paid for
his services by a frsd salary, instead
of a per cent on the sales the object oil
which arrangement is, to take from him
all motive to sell; except what might
appear 10 be the real need Of the appli-
cant.
1 have made inquiry s to therelative
amount sold now, and before the law.
On this question there is difference Of
opinion. but according to the bestdata
could obtain, the proportion sold now
compared with what was sold before
the law. cannot be one sigth part, some
say one Goth. one 10th DC. DC.
Judging from my own acquaintanc
with the matter, comparing ten years
ago with the present, | should say
there could not be one tenth sold now
in the city that was sold at that time,
You could then hardly visit the bust
ness street Of the city from 10 O'Clock
In the morning ill 10 or | at night buI
you would see more or less intoxicated
persons in the streets. and brawls and
fights were frequent occurrences. N ow
you may go every day in the week,
and not one time in fifty will you see a
drunken person. and brawls and fsti,
cuffs have ceased among us.
The result ofthc law is most saluta.
ry. It's popularity is daily increasing
Yours, DC.
GEO. WEBER.