The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1872-02-01
What it Costs.

II is a remarkable fact that newspapers
that make no pretension 20 temperance
advocacy are publishin some of the most
powerful facts on the subject as if they
were constrained to notice the alarming
proportions of the great evil. There Is
reason TO believe that the subject is soon
to attract more general and effective at
tenticn than ever before Last week the
Philadelphia Press put forth a series of
statements showing tho near and serious
dangers to the State and the nation which
the liquor business involves. This week
the Philadelphia Bulletin speaks out
emphatically on the growing evils of in
Temperance, saying, among other things
In Sweden the relaxation of old restrain
ing enactments has greatly increased the
use of liquors. Accordingly it is found
that one-haif Of the entire population
drink brasd to an extent that averages
orer half a pint daily to each viz: from
$50 to 225 pints per anum. The result
of this makes itself shown IN every way,
as might be expected, especially in dis
ease, decentralization and death. But tax
ing mortality only as test of its influence
we find that in Erkistuna where excessive
drinking prevails, the mortality is one
in thirty three annually, whist farmland
where the population is more sober, the
deaths. occur in vastly less proportion.
Suicide is common result of drinking
aud in Erkistuna the proportion of sui
eide rises to in each 81 deaths. Crime
has increased fifty per cent. What oc,
ours in Sweden is but a type of what goes
on around us.
Who can reflect On this without asking
himself if no remedy is ever to be found
for these monstrous evils?
Now comes the following from the
Pittsburg Commercial quoting freely
from the New York Tribune:
The number of licensed places that
sell liquor in New York is over 5000.
The Police Superintendent placed a po-
hceman at the doors of above 200 of these
groggeries, and their reports afford the
average like this: each one has daily
l34 visitors, and each visit averages Is
Siautes. A statistician may extend the
estimate so as to show that the entire
number of visitors is 697, 202 per day.
Three persons on an average are required
to attend each saloon, making Is, 600 in
all. A further estimate gives the cost of
the liquor thus drunk at something over
$3S, 600 900.
The Mayor of Chicago does not think
it right that his city should have one sa-
loon for every twenty-six adult male in
habitants, assuming the population to be
300. 900, and the men one fifth of the
number. A Tribune reporter bas gone
into an examination Of the pecuniary re-
suits of tie Chicago grog shops, which
use 1000, 900 gallons of whisky, averag.
ing 81 Per gallon at cost. A gallon will
make GA drinks at fifteen cents each, and
yield 81 60 profit or 1900, 900 that the
essire city In year pays to saloon keep
ers. Other spirituous liquors sell to the
amount of about Sl,50O,O0O, of which
the profit is at least J, or $3.50, 900.
800, 900 kegs of beer are also drunk year.
ly in Chicago, costing dealers So. SO each
and yielding 100 glasses at cents each,
or 100 per cent profit. Ale, soda-water
and other beverages not included in the
above, mey be put down at 100000 an
nually, of which $3.50, 900 is profit.
The city's annual expenditure for liqu-
Or Is estimated to be ST. 900 OUU, or $52
per head for every one of the population
babies and all. The liquor sellers on this
make profit Of $4,000, 900, or So
from each individual in the city. To this
may be added 1000, 900 spent annually
On cigars and tobacco, making a grand
total of $50, 6OO 600, or S6s.66 for each
The Tribune concludes: 1t
will be seen from the above statistics that
drinking, smoking and chewing are in
dulged in very extensively in this commu
nifty, and that large portion of the earn
lngs of the people is spent to suppor.a
large number of men who live by the
sale OF those articles. all of whom are
and add nothing what
ever to the wealth ofthe city or coun-
try.
The money spent is absolutely thrown
away Tor, except in few instances, it is
rot necessary to life, and no one can pre-
tend that it is productive of happiness
All the taxes paid in this city-City.
State and Federal-and all the money
given tc churches and charities, do not
amount altogether to the sum expended
On liquor. The exhibit is a striking and
sad one, and indicates that something
must be wrong with a community that
'quanders millions every year, and gets
no return except the hunger, soualor
Indebtedness and misery that follow in
culgence in the excitement of intoxica-
tion.-Pitsbuyg Commercial