The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1872-02-08
WastefuI Extravagaee Of the Virginia Peo-
nla.

pie.
Mr.. W. Fl. Ruffner, in his very abe and
interesting report upon the present and fu.
ture of Virginia, in relation to her public
schools, gives the following important and
suggestive facts, which should be read and
carefully considered
81 have cndeayored to form some estimate
Of the amount Of wealth consumed, wthous
return, in Virginia, and although the sources
of information fail to furnish exact figures,
the indications are that it does not fall short
of $40, 100000 per annum. 1t is not affirm
ed that all this expenditure is improper, but
only that it is destruction of wealth The
annual consumption in Virginia of alcoholic
liquors alone must be near $19 100000 The
sales Of liquors in tho United States during
the fiscal year ending June Both, 1871, it has
been calculated by Edward Young, the chief
of the Bureau Of Statistics, amounted to six
hundred millions of dollars. This total is
made as follows: Sixty million gallons OF
whisky, at six dollars a gallon, aetal $780,
100000. Two and nalf million gallons Of
imported spirits, at ten dollars gallon, $35,-
100000. Ten million seven hundred thou
sand gallons of imported wine at five dollars
gallon, $50, 100000. Six million five hun
dred thousand barrels of ale, beer, aud por-
ter, at twenty dollars barrel. $130,e03,001
Native brandies, wines and codias, in unknown
quantities, have been consumed, involving, IT,
is estimated, an expenditure or S31 100000
These figures, although not so large as soma
that have been published, yet give total that
should astonish the consumers Of ardenz
spirits. They give an annual eonsum ption Of
about sixteen dollars worth of spirits TO every
man, woman and child in the United States.
If the Virginia people be average consumers,
the amount expended in Virginia is 19,O00,-
600 per annum This, of course, includes
Ahat is used for medicine but probably nine
ty-nine one-hundredths of it is used as bev-
erage, which, in the eye Of political economy,
is destruction of that much of the wealth of
the State. Ii to the loss OF wealth directly,
is added the waste of time, neglect of business
injury to health, disturbance of public order,
and many other individual losses, what q
frightful tax it is upon the wealth of the
State
The consumption of tobacco is another ex-
penditurc which political economy must class
under the head Of waste. The tax paid to
the United States on tobacco in Virginia lass
year was 81, 363,9l1. One-thirtieth of this
is supposed, by one of the revenue officers, to
be consumed in Virginia. Besides this, there
is considerable consumption Of imported Sc
CARS and tobacco, so that the annual eonsump-
ton is something like 100000, probably
more.
There are great many other wasteiul ex-
penditures ofless Importance, but which would
present large aggregate, if brought togeth-
err. Could we sum up the amounts which are
carried off by 1heatrcals, circuses, operas, lot
terry dealers, gift enterprise, jugglers, and 9TH
ar exhibitors, gamblers and swindlers of all
sorts, We should no doubt fnd that the people
If the State expend several hundred thou
sand dollars ON these ndulgences. Add to
this what is spent in confectionery, ornaments,
costly furniture and eauipage, expensive ap-
parel, and the amount would be enlarged by
some hundreds of thousands more. Cou'd We
gather exact statistics on these and other like
expenditures, there is very little doubt that
the grand total would not be less than $780,
100000
The right of persons to indulge themselves
in these Injuries is not called in question;
but it is scarcely consistent in a people to
doubt their ability to educate the children OF
the State. and to pay interest on the public
debt, when they are wastefuly consuming five
times as much as would do both. The term
commonwealth" indicates the community of
property aud interest among the people Of
State. It is only family, as to matters Of
this sort. What would be thought of fami-
y claiming to be too poor to educate their
children and pay its debts, whilst at the same
time it is squandering far more than would bs
needed for both? ai~'
The destruction Of wealth by dogs has long
been observed, though never very accurately
calculated It is estimated by the statistician
ture at Washing on. that there are FIVE mil
lion of dogs III the United States Our share
Of these animals must be something like 1907
800. Some newspaper writer's estimate the
food consumed by dog as being sufficient to
keep Log. It is not uncommon for wealthy
people in large cities to put their dogs in the
country 10 be boarded, at certain seasons of
The year. The price Of. dog-board among
Pennsylvania farmers, some years ago, was
from two to three dollars per month--at the
rate, say, Of thirty dollars per year for eaci,
log. Of course, there was profit in this; but
probably the actual cost was not less than
twelve dollars year. This would be little
over three cents day; even the rough food
thrown to them would be worth that for chick
en- or pig feed Take off two dollars and
suppose the cost DO ten dollars each, then the
tota! cost ofkceping the dogs in Virginia would
be about 81 100000 per anuum. We're the
cost but five dollars each, what destruction
Of food for the small value received But
dogs are not mere consumers-they arc de-
stroyers. Their ferocity and liability to mad
ness produce great mental disquist, to say
nothing of the injuries they inffict upon per-
sons. It is estimated, at the Agriculture.
Department, that the killing and manning Of
sheep by dogs in the United States inficts
damages amounting to $4,000, o00 annually.
In this damage, Virginia has shared largely.
But this constitutes only small part Of tho
injury to sheep interest by dogs. The risk
incurred is so great as to increase the cost of
and to deter many from enter
ing upon business which, but for that, would
be peculiarly suited to the present condition
Of Virginia lands. In some States tax is
laid upon dogs, for the support of public
schools
A Kansas paper chronicles a not uncom-
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