Smyrna times., 1871-02-22

The CONSUMPTION OF WHISKY AND To-
BACCo IN DELAWARE E.-Thomas b. Coursey,
ESQ. of Frederick, in his recent address before
the Farmers Club, At Dover made the following
statements concerning the consumption OF
Tobacco aud Whisky III this State. Ot Tobacco"
he says:
/ have the figures correctly from Frederica,
town of 588 inhabitants learn that the
tobsccO and cigars sold in that place within the
year 1870, cost, in Philadelphia, $4,359 92, TO
which, if we add the usual profits on such
articles, would make them cost the consumers
about $6U0U. | would like to know what
they cost the ctizenS Of Dover and vicinity,
but have had no opportunity to get the correct
amount. But we may approximate 10y hgureS.
Ii tobacco cost u town OF 58S inhabitants and
their customers $4,000, what will 1t cost a
town of 1918 inhabitants and their Customers,
and that too the apital of the State, where
money comes easier aud where many have but
little else to do than chew the best tobacco
aud smoke the best cigsrs2 Without any OF
| these allowances however or anything for the
sessions of the court legislature, aud political
aud O her meetings, which must nearly double
the consumption, we would have the sum of
$l9.523. think it might be safely put down
at $4,000 Now il we admit this eStlm ,te
for Dover as correct, and allow all the inhahi-
tants of Dover hundred to draw their supplies
from that town, we would have to divide $50,
0O0 among a little over 5000 inhabitants.
This would give within fraction OF five dol
lars for each. This looks large, but is it toe
large? Some men spend nearly a hundred
dollars year for tobacco and segars. We
have, according to the last census, l24, ,22t
inhabitants IN the state; then If 1T cost 6,4Oc
inhabitants $50, 900, by the same rule it wOulC
cost l24. 226 inhabitants 1881 ,582 SO, for al
article that does no one any good.
Whisky is another useless luxury in which
our people indulge freely BY reference Il
the freight books of the vessels trading frou
Frcdrrica and the freight books of the Della
ware Railroad, find there has been retaile
at that place about 100 gallons, which cost tn
r consumers about $2,0OO. This being rather
\ temperance community-thOugh dI unkennes
/ may be seen almost daily-we think the con
> sumption OF this community below the averag
g of the State, and think we might assume tina
i there is st least the amount of $780, 900 wort
g sold in the State. This is far below other est
i mates. This amount, added to the tobacc
e bill, would amount to about $78l ,5Sl. TheT
b se in the State about six thousand one hundre
l. tarInS, The above amount, II spent for trrtIl
y zer>, would give about two and half tons
n c ,ch farm. A ton OF good trrlIhzer will il
y crras the crop Ut wheat from seventy tive to
= hundi ed bushels, ~ a lair Se,Sun. All abOv
If the cost Of fertilizers would he clear gain
4 the farmer, as also the after III prOvement
4 the land. This estimate being allowed, at
i ayricn tura ISIS would have tor mrrket abOl
~ ,563,OOO huShrl> more Of wh' at han they u"
/. have, aud this at pIes ut ;"lc S. would nC
r IL our wealth aOnui 5 UOJ OOJ clear OF eos
annually, in>te ,d or Se"IIrR a, ~ 81 O0U
0OO out.