The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1886-09-23
ATLANTA NOT DEAD, NOR DYING

Johannesberger?
ATLANTA NOT DEAD, NOR DYING
To the statesman
have seen statements in different pa
pers to the effect that the city of Atlanta
is suffering in her material interests, as
the result OF prohibition. Being interest
ed in the truth and believing the best way
to get it was to hear from those who are
on the ground, | wrote to a number of
prominent citizens whose private opinion
on the subject of prohibition l had no
means of knowing. The responses were
prompt and very explicit. Among the
writers are such men as Mayor Hillyer,
the city recorder and auditor, promi
nent lawyer and others who have the best
possible means of knowing the facts. 1t
may seem unnecessary to publish these,
since the Atlanta Constitution, of August
2Sth, published over three columns con
tanning interviews with leading mer-
chants, grocers, bankers, real estate men
and others thoroughly refuting the
charges that the city has suffered in any
sense.
But not having seen this article quoted
or referred to in your paper, l ask space
to make public some extracts from these
letters. They all, with wonderful unani-
nifty, tell the same story.
II am certain our town has not been
injured"
ATLANTA is more prosperous than ever.
There have been more houses built this
year than are now vacant. Had none been
built, the town would have been crowded"
Prohibition has injured no business
except the liquor business, and the tenn
porary reduction of rents of houses here
tofore occupied by liquor dealers. Other
rents keep up. Very many of the liquor
stores are already occupied by other lines
of trade, and the sales and rents foot
tage houses are notably better. County
taxes have just been reduced 25 per cent.
from last years rate"
"The retail grocers especially report
large increase in their cash sales.
Their Saturday night cash trade having
in many instances more than doubled
THAT tells a tale). The better class of
store-rooms, formerly used by bar-rooms,
are almost all rented for legitimate pur-
poses. AS resident property, there are
fewer unoccupied houses than at any
time since the panic of 'S4. No business
except the liquor business has suffered
in Atlanta, and i.er present prospects are
bright
prohibition in Atlanta has succeeded
better than 1 expected. A small minori-
ty of those who are opposed, carry their
opposition into prejudice, and you can
place no reliance on the statements they
send out unfavorable to the working of
prohibition"
'The effect on peace and order is good.
Crimes and arrests are decreasing quite
perceptibly. We haYe not full prohibi-
ton yet. The last quart license will not
expire till October 26. No liquors are
sold here now, except by dealers having
the quart license. 1t will be quite as easy
to enforce this anti-liquor law here as
any other penal statute" (This last is
from the recorders letter..
We leave the reader to draw his own
conclusions. Would say to the skeptic-
at, that as much of this sort of infOrma-
ton can be had as he will take the trouble
to gather. For complete statement of
the case readers are referred to the Daily
Constitution of August %. From these
statements it would appear that Atlanta is
neither dead no. dying, and that she will
be able to survive for a long time under
the fearful disease of prohibition.
w w prncoN