Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-09-10
one pay sfn.Aisasssa.

WHAT II Drp, AED nov AUoH of TN RkofLEs
MONEY was akvKD on KLE3TIoH DkF-fHz NJ
RKEsE or L1QUoR DRnKma.
I There is 90 much difference between quiet
ness and NOISE, order and disorder, morality and
and immortality. that 1t is indeed, sdiioalt task,
10 give an approximate estimate Of the vast
amount OF good resulting from our recent day of
prohibition.
The outward evidences Of it's beneficial re suits
were everywhere visible, and In many instances.
called forth the approval Of persone who we're
known 10 have no very strong leaning 20 the
Temperance cAne9.
Aside from the moral view Of the question, the
pecuniary saving to the people is OF no mean
Importance and although there Ia no specific
rule, upon which TO base calculation, showing
the money value Of the liquor, usually drank on
election days, IL Ii presumed to be much more
in quantity than upon ordinary occasions. and
for the sake OF being As near correct ~ possible,
We will base our calculations upon the lowest
estimate We have heard mentioned. The esti-
mates range from 5000 TO el2OOO none plAc-
ing it lower than the former, while many agree
tn at il would oyerreaoh the latter figures.
There ere in the city Of Wilmington according
to the last City Directory 81 hotels, malsters,
1888 liquor saloons and restaurants, and 2S
wholesale wine and liquor houses. making to-
tai Of 20S places were Intoxicating liquors are
sold. This does not include several grocery
stores and many other unpTetentious places
where liquors are sold, either with or without IL
cense. Is il too much to say that In these 20S
places where liquors are sold, the average sales
would amonnt to &25 each ? This small average
alone would amount 10 trife over s5O0O. There
are but few Of these places where the re-
ceipts would not be largely in excess Of e5, and
in some would oveTeaoh el00., therefore we
think that the assumption that &5000 was lost to
the liquor sellers on election day and the same
amount saved to the people, TO be very mod
rrAte assumption, and well substantiAted.
II this then was the saving for one day Of pro-
hibiton, we are justified in going little further
and ehoWing the immense loss to the people
during the remaining S64 days OF the year, by
the free sale of liquor. In this estimate We in
clude Sunday for 1t 10 . notorously reported fact
that in same of these places where liquor was
sold Sunday must have been the most profitable
day OF the seven and we presume that in view
Of the large number Of intoxicated men seen
upon the streets on Sunday, this fact will be
hardly disputed.
1t Is nothing more than fair, to say that all
days are not election dAyA, therefore we will
make deduction OF two tifths, which will bring
the estimate down to daily average of SS, 900.
| or an average Of about sl5, each for the 2O3
places mentioned where Intoxicating liquors are
sold. This calculation then will give the follow
ing result, taking the present year as . basis =
| 365 days minus l election day-364 days, at
$1,000 per dAy-($1 .092, ,000,) which makes the
enormous sum OF one million and ninety two
/ Thousand dollars spent in one year in Whining
ton alone for Intoxicating beverages. 1t is use
| less to tell how this amount compares with the
| city taxes, or what amount OF good ought be
/ done with it, These are questions which have
discussed and are therefore familiar to the peo-
/ pie. Our main object was TO show that Prohibi-
| lion one dsy, lost 5000 to the liquor sellers
remainder otthe year brings them the cum OF
al 092 900,