The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-02-10
The Drlnking Statistics Of chicago

A census of the drinking facilities of the
last city Of the Lakes would afford the
theme for n temperance orator, and be u
basis for any quantity of moral sensation.
A reporter of one of the city journals has
taken the pains to gctup some calculations,
which, outside OF the argument they imply
In favor of temperance reform in that pop
ulation, arc not wanting general interest.
We give II few of his figures and conclu-
sions ..... .....
by inquiry ut the Office OF the city clerk
II II ascertaincd that l,i70 licenses are now
In force, allowing the retail sale of intoxi-
eating beverages In this city. Each one of
these licenses cost $52 so that the revenue
derived from liquor licenses Is S76,ll0. The
same individuals pay license of $25 each
to the General Government, thus adding TO
the income tax the sum of S30,760. The
whole amount paid by the liquor dealers Of
Chicago for licenses IL, therefore, $ll3,lOO.
Each one of these liquor establishments
employs, on an average, two persons, Civ
Ing employment 90 at least 1900 persons.
large proportion of these dealers have
families 10 support, and II Ia probable that
from 1000 to 10000 people are supported
directly by the proceeds of the retail liquor
traffic.
That opens very well, then he goes on
OF all kinds of liquor sold at saloons and
other licensed places, II Is estimated that
about 7T barrels, beer measure, are sold
each day. This will amount TO 2bS,055 bar
rcls, or S,2b7, ,760 gallons per year.
Rctluce this amount TO cubic feet, and Il
will be found to I'll canal 6 feet deep, 10
feet wide, and about two miles In length
If they could have canals for each kind of
liquor--so that lager beer, ale and spoon
stealing whisky would not get tmi1ed--such
means Of navigation would, ut least for GER
tain species OF travellers, soon bring rail-
road rnonopolies To their senses. Imagine
what a crowded boat the "Lager Beer LIne''
would constantly have under sail and
what flaming posters the city walls would
be dccked with every Sunday morning,
calling special attention 10 the proposed
pleasure excursion to come OF in the after
noon, over the Bourbon scrpentinc!
But more: See how Chicagonns might,
ii they only would, become u ''wcll-Lredr
people:
IC this amount be reduced to drinks, al
lowing half n pint for each, It will make
the sum of 1872, ~, 100; and If these drinks
are all sold for Ave cents, the lowest rate
fora potatiOn of ale, II win amount TO the
sum of $1,000, Dos. Ofcourse II large quaint
ity of this viii be sold for 10 cents pei
glass but this may be set against what will
he purchased by the gallon or larger quaint.
ity, and therefore at cheaper rates. This
calculation, too, does not include the larg,
quantities Of costly wines consumed In the
city. If this amount Of money were In.
vested In bread ut 10 cents per loaf, tho
highest retail price, II would purchase g..
OO2,0S0 lOaves and, allowing every man
woman and child In the city half u loaf q
day, and computing the population Of Chi
cagO at 100000 people, this amount Of breat
would subsist the population of the city
for nearly two years. In other words, The
cost Of liquor consumed IL twice the cos
OF the bread
Jealous young Temperance Orators arr
advised that no 'rightof way" to use thes'
items, in any OF their diseourses, is essen
tlal The theme IL extensive enough, loo
to taxi, home to more communities than
that Of Chicago.