Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-08-07
Maine are generally obliged to do a Sc

cret business, with very small stocks, IT'S
evident that the sales of two or three
dealers in this State cannot be as large
as the sales of one licensed open dealer
in license State. These facts make 1t
evident tina, the sales of liquor in Maine
cannot be one-eighth what they are in Ii
cense States. The amount brought in
from Boston by express for personal use,
is not so large as many imagine, as the
packages are all small, and the aggregate
amount so introduced is not so much as
would be sold by very few open licensed
liquor establishments.
The fact that the U. 5. Revenue Re
port shows tina, only cents per inhabit-
ant was collected on the manufacture and
sale Of liquors in Maine in 1882, while
sl.4O per inhabitant were collected in
the whole Union, affords very striking
contrast.
1t has already been observed that pro-
hibi,ion practically sbolishes secret as
well as open dram shops in the rural Sec
tons, and confines the traffic to the cities
and larger villages where it can hide.
This is strikingly shown by the Z. S.
Revenue returns for Maine.
In the fourteen cities Of Maine, with
a population Of l44,s6S, the number OF
persons, including about $50 druggists,
who paid the tax as dealers in liquors, is
496. or one to about 500 inhabitants;
or emitting Bangor with lSi dealers,
where the law is but slightly enforced.
and in the other Is cities there is one
dealer to every S5S inhabitants. Stats
tics Of the number Of dealers in 60 license
cities all that have been reached) show
one dealer to every l55 inhabitants, or
twice as many as in Maine cities. The
actual number Of dealers who sell liquor
as a beverage, is, however. much less than
these figures will indicate as viii be here
after shown.
But where the law is so well enforced
throughout whole county tina, hardly a
dram shop exists in the rural sections, it
is inevitable that such persons as have
the appetite for liquor fastened upon
them, will seek to crafty it in the near
est city where the traffic can hide. For
example. the United States Revenue re-
turns show l56 dealers in Portland, all
conducting their business more or less
secretly. But these l56 dealers not only
supply $3.50 population in Portland,
but also the So, 500 in the county, as
there are only Is dealers in Cumberland
county outside Of Portland. Further,
there are only 5 dealers in the adjoining
county Of Oxford with a population Of
SASS. and it is probable that Portland is
the source Of supply for a, leas, half tina,
county, as well as parts Of other counties.
In other words. it ia probable tha, Port
land IS the source Of supply for popu-
la;iOn of nearly 10, 900, giving one deal.
or TO abou, 700 Inhabitants.
In deviation and Auburn. with a pop
ulsiion Of 2s.6sa, there are 81 persoas
who appear 90 the internal Rsvanus
books IS dealers. including such Of tie
irdssis;s ss have paid the tax, Yet
there !s 70, single open dram shop in
;hsss cities, and a careful inquiry shows
ihst TIE number Of persons who sell j.
suOs; secretly fos : beverage, aad sl N
ANAL quan,i,ies under frequent prosecu-
tons, does no, probably exceed thirty.
But ,hers are oaly five dealers in An
droscoggin county outside Of those in
Lewiston aud Auburn to supply the AS.
oi4 population Of tia, county. More
over. part OF the adjoining county Of
Oxford. which has naly Eve dealers, and
some Of Franklin which has only eight
dealers, find al Lewiston some Of the
ANAL supply which the drinking par, Of
their population secures. Probably the
dealers in Androssosgin county supply for
the mos, par; = population of over $1,000,
making one dealer 70 more than 1000 10
habitants, and every one OF shese dealers
ioes = small and secre, business under
great difficulties.
The reveaus returns show that in four
isss cities and in fifteen larger villages
and sea-shase resorts in Maine, With .
population Of sboa, $4,000. there are
'ss dealers in iauor, including the
arussis,s who pay the United States
tax, while in the 40 other ,ovns and
plantations in the State. with & popqls-
ton Of about 4Ss, 900, there ara only
900 dealers--or one 10 over 2,0l0 inhsb-
itan:s. There are S5S towns and plan
;a,ions in Maine, comprising the bulk of
the s1clpsive,y farming towns, in which,
according to the United States returns,
shers IS not . single open or secret dram
phop.
RESULTS OF FVRTHER NqVIRy.
Circulars haYs recently been sent BY a