The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-05-11


economy, these sensational organizations
viii sdbsfde.
How Much Virginia Spends for Liquors.
n For the Information OF the public, and
especially for the benefit OF the tgaree .Cots-
sier and Parson MASSEY, we give some ex--
tracts from DR.. RufFNER's third annual re-
nort. II will be seen that he and the United
States Chief OF the Bureau OF Statistics. the
latter the best authority in the country,
agree that Virginia spends for liquors every
year ut least money enough to pay the lack
ing Interest on the public debt twenty times
repeated This on the assumption that the
United States Government collects the tax
on all the Whiskey sold, But when we re-.
collect that millions of gallons Of whiskey---.
much OF 1t made in the mountains and wales
Of Virginia pay no tax, 1t is easy to see that
DR.. RuFFSER's. figures are not too larse,.
especially when we recall the fact that many
patent medicines are disguised whiskey or
brandy. We quote:
"The statement which made in my an
nual report two years ago-to wit. that The
consumption Of liquors in Virginia for all
purposes was probably in the neighborhood
OF $4,000, 0O0-exciteds surprise at the time;
but it has never been seriously controvert-
ed. and it never can be except by either
denying the accuracy OF the liquor statistics
OF the United States Bureau oil Statistics, or
by denying that the people OF Virginia are
average consumers as compared with the
people Of the country generally. | have
lately correspondent with the author OF the
statistics, from whom / quoted in 1871, the
Hon. Edward Young, still chief OF the Blu
reuu,) in order to ascertain whether he had
reason TO doubt the correctness OF the
figures from which drew my conclusions,
and also whether he had any data beyond
the general average per capita which would
determine the quantity actually consumed
i'm Virginia. I lind that he confidently adj
heres to his former statements, which made
the consumption Of liquors in the United
States 5000, 900 in value, but he had little
| tc guide specially to the actual consumption
in Virginia"
"In Virginia, during the fiscal year 1872,
the United States revenue officers collected
from retail liquor-deaers for license SILL
40O.G1, and as each dealer pays $50 for
license it follows that there were 2.S5G retail
liquor-shops in the State. The average an
nual sales of liquors by each shop IN the
| whole United States is So, 723. Assuming
this as the correct average for Virginia. the
aggregate sales from these shops would be
Sl0,622,S 1888. Add to this the amount indl-
Gated by the extra tax collected on sales ex-
ceedins $4,000, which is $1,235,600, and
we have from this source $11, S67.4SS. 1t is
possible that the sales Of our retailers do not
reach the average for the whole United
States. but it is certainly not unreasonable
to suppose that when we add to the retail
sales what is sold to drinkers by our $40
wholesale dealers. by druggists under the
name OF medicine, and by those who sell
without license, and what is imported by
consumers. we may feel sure OF being with
in the mark when we put the liquor drunk
in the State as q beverage at $l2,000,C00
every year. The surplusage, be it more Or
less, may go for medicinal, mechanical, and
manufacturing purposes"
.sThere is another sort OF damage which,
although sometimes exaggerated, deserves
to be taken into account: It is the injury
done to public order and to private health
and enterprise by the drinking usages OF
society. This sort Of injury is only loo
familiar to every mind; but il calculation
could be accurately made OF the time wasted
in connection with drinking, the injury to
insanity, sickness, and litigation resulting
from intem perance, it is believed by statis-
ticians that these incidental evils would
prove more costly than the liquor itself.
enormous as its direct cost has been shown
to be-"
RecolIect that he above are facts-not
suesses. 1t is absurd to pretend that Vir-
ginia does not consume her proportion OF
these liquors. We quote again:
"On this point there is difference among
pnblicists; but / agree with the United
States revenue commissioners OF 1866 in the
opinion that whilst i:en OF means and vic
Tins of intemperancc will not be checked
in their consumption of liquors by the price,
the great mass OF consumers must and will
be affected by the cost OF this as OF other
luxuries, though the aggregate result may
not be materially affected.
:sBritish statisticians inform US that their
wealthy classes pay annually in taxes to the
Government for liquors at therate or Sl5.5O
per head, the middle classes $2.8S, and the
laboring classes So; and that the tax is
about one third the cost OF the liquor. This
would make the consumption OF the first
class S4650 per head, the second 1864. and
OF the third Sc. The average consumption in
America is considerably greater than it is in
Great Britain: owing perhaps to the former
cheapness Of strong drink"
1t will be seen, as the tax on the liquor in
England is only one third of the cost. that
for liquors the wealthy classes in England
pay annually $4,000 per head, the middle
classes 1864, and the laboring classes Sc.
Now. let us remember that the consump-
ton is greater here, and we can easily see
what our average must be. The Clarke
Courier thought it absurd to suppose that
the average could be $12 per annum! We
quote again:
"Colonel w. P. Burwell, OF Richmond
city, who has given great attention to prac-
tical statistics, estimates the annual con.
sumption OF alcoholic spirits in this Stale at