The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-08-14
1873.

1t may be gratifying to the temperance
people to note that the falling off in reve-
nues arises chiefly from a marked reduction
in the business of distilled spirits. In ana
Lying the statement 1t will be seen that "the
number of gallons of spirits returned for
taxation for the year ending June 80 last
was so, 704 1S9, against IS 543, 800 for the pre-
'ceding year, a falling off of I, 1888, POI gal
Ions. The figures also show a loss of nearly
81, 900, 600 from tobacco, and about 100000
from banks and bankers. The increased
consumption of fermented liquors is shown
by nearly $500, 900 increase in revenue, the
increased consumption for the year repre-
'senting 491, All barrels of 81 gallons each.
The loss in revenue from tobacco arose from
the falling off of receipts from manufac-
'tured tobacco The loss on this item was
50, FAC, 139, while from cigars and cigarettes
there was an increase of 1857 ,94S."
In the matter OF beer drinking the proba-
bilities are that the United States will COM
pare tavorabIy with Germany, for it appears
that the number of barrels of 81 gallons
each which entered into consumption for
the year was 1924, Al. The quantity of
liquor comprised by these figures will be
better understood when they are converted
into 81 ,495, 60I gallons. Placing the popu-
'souls, these figures give a fraction over7
gallons as the quantity consumed by every
man, woman and child in the country. 1t
is fair to presume that about one-half of our
entire population, including children, do
mot drink any fermented liquors, which
would make thequantity consumed by each
'drinker equal to over IA gallons. From
these estimates some idea may be formed of
the quantity of beer consumed by the reg
'ular and steady drinkers.
"Of distilledepirits about 81, 600, 900 gallons
entered into consumption during the year,
but as large quantities of spirits are con-
'sumed in the arts and exported, no intelli-
gent estimate can be formed of the quantity
consumed IN the United States. 1t will be
noticed that the quantity OF spirits entered
for consumption and taxation during the
year is equal to more than one gallon for
every inhabitsnt OF the United States.
THE total amount of cigars upon which
tax was paid for the year was 1905, 063, 743
which number is exclusive of 165, 9t594
cigarettes. This would give, excluding the
cigarettes, over 40 cigars to every inhabitant
of the country, and assuming that one
fouth of our entire population are smokers,
it would give each smoker les cigars for the
year.
The number of pounds of manufactured
tobacco consumed during the year was 25,-
49,, 1913, which is equal to more than one
half pound for every person in the country.
This includes manufactured tobacco of
every description not used for the manu-
facture of cigars"
The figures given above are quite sugges-
tive, particularly as the cry of hard times is
heard from Maine to California We pre-
sumo that the fermented liquors cell for an
average price of 50 cents per gallon, which
would net the handsome sum of S15s, IA, 800.
OF distilled spirits, amounting to SOL ,OO0, 900,
1t is fair to assume that rs per cent Ks drank
as a beverage, and costs the consumer an
average of 81 per gallon, or a sum total of
$500, 000 which, with the amount ex-
pended for beer, foots up S2Ss ,247, 800. The
amount expended for cigars by consumers is
another big item to be considered these hard
times. The average price of cigars, If placed
at fge cents each, draws on the pockets of
the habitual smokers to the extent of
sos, 253, 1877, with manufactured tobacco cost
ing consumers about S25, 100000. We have
for these four items-beer, distilled spirits,
cigars and tobacco-and annual expenditure
of more than $3.50, OOO,O 900. Certainly drink
ing, smoking and chewing are expensive
habits.