The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-04-07
Six Hundred Millions for Drink.

Six Hundred Millions for Drink.
Some authentic and official figures,
covering the sale of drink throughout
the whole country have been obtained,
and can be given. They are, indeed,
startling. Mr.. Joseph Nimmo, Chief
OF the Bureau of Statistics in the Treas
ury Department, estimates the sale of
liquors in the United States for single
fiscal year at 5000, 100000, distributed
as follows:
Whisky, 60,00O,OOO gallons. .... $3.50, 100000
Imported spirits, 100000 gallons. 25,000,OO0
| Imported wines, 100000 gallons. 53,5OO,O0O
Ale, beer and porter, 6,500,000 bar
Native brandies, wines and cordiais 3i,SOO,0SO
Total. $500, 100000
Here are some comparisons that are
indeed "odious." The value of the
manufacturing industries for the same
fiscal year were:
Flour and grist mill products w S444, 9S5 1H
Molasses and sugars raw and re-
- nned ........................... 119,335,37g
SOItOH SOOuS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. I7,4S9,I39
Wooden goods. Observation-Disclosures. 155, 405,35S
Boots and shoes. 14a704, 655
1t appears by the same census that
the aggregate wages paid by all the
manufacturing establishments of the
country for the same year were $780,
5S4, 843-not thirty per cent. in excess
of the drink bill.
The total income of all the schools of
learning, public and private, from
every source for the year is given as
$95, 402, 726-not one sixth of the sum
spent on liquors.
The whole printing and publishing
bill is but 500, 1862, AL.
AL the libraries in the country, pub
lie and private, are said to contain As
52S,938 volumes. Reckon the average
value at two dollars a volume and it ,
will give as the value S91 ,057, $40, so
that we drink up our books in less than
two months.
The entire church property of the
United States is valued at 1854, 483, 581.
If it were all to burn up, about six
months of abstinence would replace it.
The census gives the total aggregate
of State taxation in 1870 Gncluding
therein all territorial, State, county and
municipal taxes) as $3.50, 59l ,521-not
one-half the direct tax the liquor con-
sumers lay upon themselves; while the
whole public indebtedness exclusive of
the National debt, of course) is set
down at 1865, 676, 758-which could be
swept off by the direct saving from less
than year and half of abstinence.
Sales of liquor, wine, beer, etc, in
Great Britain for the year 1870 aggre-
gated CHOOSE ,2S5. This is a some
what less sum than ours, but it repre-
sents larger consumption at much
less price persgallon. The sum for 1878
is reckoned at CHOCOLATE. The pop
ulation of the United Kingdom was ST.
817, 10S in 1871, and that of the United
States 38,558,371 in 1870. ... .t..
In 1872 there were 161, IA persons
paying to the United States Government
a retailers license to sell liquors. Con-
slider the number who evaded, the num-
Der of bar-tenders who served EMPLOYERS,
and the increase since, and it is easy to
conclude that 100000 is moderate esti-
mate of the number who are now solely
or mainly employed in the business.
Thus, beside the spending of $6O0,O00,-
600 per year for drink, an army of POO
600 are withdrawn from all useful in
dustry.
Judge Robert G. Pitman says: "Some
statisticians estimate the indirect cost of
intoxicating liquors to people as only
equal to the direct. But we have to
leave our figures when we ponder the
pecuniary losses and burdens which the
accidents, the impaired power of pro-
duction, the pauperism, the disease and
death, and the crimes which result from
alcoholic drink impose upon us. They
are not the less grave because they elude
computation. "-Iooa State REGISTER.
REV. CANON WHEREFORE tells us
of medical man who, after very ex-
tensive practice of more than sixty
years, ''firmly believed that not single
life has ever been saved by alcohol. e"
He adds: THE most eminent medical
men have confessed that they have
erred in this direction, and will candidly
admit that the dangerous system of tho
perpetual exhibition of alcohol practiced
by themselves in earlier years has sent
hundreds to their graves"
AT SPRINGFIELD, MASS, recently
John b. LOOMS, who murdered afriend
for q watch and few dollars in money,