Morning journal and courier., 1883-08-14
so1lrnaI snS Gairiisr.
Tuesday, August 14,. 1888
HIGH LTCETsE IN JOLIET.


 We have taken pains to put before our readers all the facts obtainabls cencerning the working of the high license system which is so popular in some parts of the West, and which appears to be continually growing in popularity. The people like 1t because 1t re- duces the number of saloons and brings large sums into the public treasury, and those who pay the high license fees like 1t because it protects their business from competition with large number of small dealers.
 Some wonderful stories are told of the good effects of the high license system, but none that we have seen is more wonderful than that told of the working of the system in Joliet, Illinois. Two years ago Joliet was a pretty bad" town. It was afflicted with low license, much intemperance and govern ment by the saloon. keepers. The enc hundred and seven saloons, which then paid $50 license, ran night and day, turned out drunkards fast, and were ehAracterized by the most rampant law1essness. The saloons $1, 900 license apiece, and are places that will not harbor drunkard OF minor, nor keep open Sundays nor after II o'clock nights. Then it was unsafe to walk the streets after dark Now, no one is afraid to go upon the streets unescorted at any hour. They will not be molested, nor behold drunken or dis graceful sights. Then, the gamblers dens ran night and day. and youth as well as adults spent most of their time in them. Now, there is not one in the city, and all boys out after Il o'clock are arrested. Then, the policemen could not be told from ordi. nary rowdies, and were to be found two and three in group in the saloons. Nov, Joliet has fine set of policemen. They are always on their beats, with time card, and every cit- izen may know at any hour inst where each of them is. People have found out that Joliet is a fine place to locate in, and the city is daily making desirable eommer- cial and social accessions to it's popu- lation. Two years ago the population slightly exceeded 14 1000. Now it exceeds 20, GOO. Business and manufactureB have i'm creased correspondinaly, and real estate has enjoyed continual boon in consequence. The building boom during the sane period has been unparalleled in the history of the city. Within the last year ten new business blocks have been erected, and three are in process of erection now. Five new manu- featuring establishments, extensive and per manent, have also been completed To give an idea of the extent of the progress in building there during the last year, 300 resi- dences were erected, costing $40O, ,oo0; 10 business blocks, $175, ,0O0; five factories, $5O O0O; two new public school buildings, $50, GOO; two sectariar schools, $12O, ,O0O {; 8 total of permanent improvements of $795,- 900. Besides three new churches were built, costing $10O.OOO.
 No wonder the people of Joliet are enthu- aiasticalIy in favor- of high hesmnss - IL Aas certainly done great deal fer them. By 1t they have been enabled to make thorough reform in the condition of their city. Few places have profited so much by high license as Joliet has. but many western towns and cities are rejoicing over benefits which have flowed from It. Thus far the evidence has been very decidedly in favor of the system.