The weekly Minnesotian. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1852-1858, 1855-02-24
Total. s 5473l.437

= = C134Cb
1t is no more than justice to state that thi
total is the estimated value of the above item
In our market, not the prime cost where the,
were purchased. Estimated at the usual dis
count OF twenty per cent. on all except liquors
and 100 per cent. on liquors, the total origina
cost OF these luxuries could not be less thar
FORTY millions Of dollars! This sum expended
annually would give million of dollars as
school fund to each State and Territory! Il
would annually build and equip four such rail
roads as the Western! 1t would open as free
schools nearly every college in the Republic
1t would =" lick Mexico" every five years, easily
1t would purchase forty Graytowns annually
besides paying for Hollin's sword!
But, joking aside, is it not perfectly horri-
bic picture for contemplation. Forty millions
OF dollars sent out of the country in Cotton,
Rice, Corn, Flour, Beef Pork, Lard, Shoes,
Cloths, Machinery, some Rum and Tobacco, J
and the same eat and drank, and smoked in the
coarsest sensuality and beastliness. Is there a
man in the country, who can read and write,
who can say that any of the foregoing articles
OF imports are necessary to human health and
happiness? Is there a man who has the least
smattering of physiology who does not abso-
lutely know that each and all Of them are alb
solutely pernicious, unwholesome, poisonous,
even?
But this sum offorty millions of dollars only
In tobacco. This is made into cigars, which
cost the consumers three millions to reduce
them to ashes. We pay duty of 100 per cent,
ere he guzzles it and what costs one dollar in
Rotterdam and Bordeaux. costs four dollars in
passing into the bibber's stomach Our i'm
ported cigars pay Is per cent. ad valorem, q
believe) and they retail for from 200 to 500 per
cent. profit. Tea and coffee are free, but they
pay large profits between the importer and con-
sumner.
If there are six thousand grog shops in New
York city, and they average five dollars day
in receipts for liquor, this alone would amount
In one year to the sum of ten Millions nine
hundred and fifty thousand dollars annually,
and any one who has had any acquaintance
with New York, drinking houses will readily |
perceive that my estimate is too low by ten dol
lars day!
lin Boston there are 1900 grog-shops, and |
their receipts average five dollars day for IL |
quor, this would amount to over two millions |
annually for Boston. But we produce an enor-
nous amount of manufactured tobacco, and |
nearly half the adult male population smoke
and chew /; increasing the terrible tax upon the
purse and liver to an incredible amount. We
manufacture to still more frightful amount
rum whiskey, mali liquors, pop liquors, and
X. g. and immense quantities of these are con-
sumed at home!
We have about four millions of slaves, who
are mostly debarred from the imported luxu-
res, thus increasing the responsibilities (!) |
of tie white slaves, and large portions of the
agricultural districts use but few of them, and
those sparingly.
In view of these facts, if the prophet of the
olden time could stand in our midst, with the |
statistics of our aboard bill" before him, how
little need would there be for him to inquire
" Why will we die ?"