The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-08-16
SOME STATISTICS OF LIQUOR
DRINKING.
SOME

i DRINKING.
4 The subject of liquor drinking and
1 drunkenness is attracting an unusual
amount of attention, both in this coan-
try and Great Britain. There is reason
to believe that considerable progress
has been made in the temperance work
in this country, during the past year on
/ two, and that there is relatively less
drinking than there was a few years
ago; but this is not true Of Great
Britain, Judging from statistics recent
lly published. Notwithstanding the dull
times there, drinking is said to have
increased. Dawson Burns, in a COM
munication to the London Dai7g .Nea0s,
says that the official statistics show
that on a moderate computation the
cost of the intoxicating drinks con-
sumed in the Kingdom during 1876
was e133, 631 ,O2l, or about $668, coo, 900.
Another authority estimates it at over
100000, The quantity Of alcohol
contained in this amount of liquor he
estimates at not less than 100000
gallons quantity sufficient, if dis
tTibuted equally among all the inhab-
itants of the globe. and swallowed at
one time, to kill every man, woman,
! and child" This is a startling state
ment, and probably is not far from the
truth; but if the.truth were only half
as bad, it would still be appalling.
| Such facts, if stated in regard to al
most anything else of daily use, and
substantiated by incontestable facts,
would cause it's universal abandon
ment. But the power of immemorial
custona, long familiarity with the evil,
and the tyranny OF habit, neutralize all
facts; and large part Of the race
treads On the pathway, the dangers Of
which are indicated at every step by
the bones of those that have fallen
in it.
In regard to the material aspect of
the subject, Mr.. BUNS makes the fol-
lowing statements:
/. The nutritious grain used in the
manufacture Of the beer and spirits
consumed in our country alone would
have afforded sustenance to our own
entire population for several months.
u. The consumption of this liquor was
the cause, directly or indirectly, Of a
loss of tens of thousands of lives, of
vast amount of needless disease, of
crippled industry in every department
of business, Of enormous poverty and
pauperism, of indeScribable domestic
Wretchedness, and Of an extent dis
graceful to any nation protesting to be
|ciViliZed ana Christian. 3. According
to the highest medical evidence, and an
induction from the soJlndest statistics,
the whole of this consumption Of in
toxicating liquors might have been
dispensed with, at no sacrifice Of health,
but with benefit to all. 4. The employ
ment of only one-half Of the money in
the purchase of manufactured cotton
and other homemade goods Of real
utility would have aVeEted that de-
preston in oar home trade which still
prevails. 5. It is estimated that loss
Of wealth was incurred in 1876 equal
to the direct expenditure on strongI
drinks by the distinctions Of property
caused by its use, the superfuous taxa
ton and the arrested development Of
the national resources.
Statements Like these cannot be. sue
cessfully controverted; The proof oil
their truth is 10 be found GA every
hand. Let him who takes half a dozen
drinks a day compare his expenditure
therefor with what he pays for -four OF
meat for his family, and see what is
the result. 1t is safe to say that every
person who drinks expeaJl3 therein ev-
cry year a sum sufficient to keep hisl
family well supplied with at least one
Of The great staples OF food, bread or
meat; yet he is only maele worse there
by. The average daily expenditure Of
habitual drinkers for liquor is not less
than twenty-five cents, or one dollar
and seventy-five cents week, which att
ordinary prices, would buy a sack of
the best flour, which is quite as muchl
as the average family consumes in o.
week.
If there WeNe no lnAral or social cGae>
sideration involved in the question:
this one of economy would alone be
sufficient to condemn the custolni Of
IliGuor-drinking But when the evil
THAT results to the individual and to
society from the custom is considered,
one cannot help wondering that civil
lied communities can SO calmly con-
template it or accord it toleratiQm.-
.Miz2Cauk8o Wisconsin.