The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-09-01
BEER, WHISKY AND TOBACCO.
They Cost tho People Of This Country
el,188, 900, 900 Yearly.


el,1s9, 100000 Yearly.
While demagogues continue to COM
plain about the sufferings of labor, and
croakers of the hard times, the con-
sumption of luxuries in almost every
particular is greater than 1t was one or
two years ago, and in most classes OF
expenditure greater than it ever was in
the times called most prosperous, as ID
shown by the internal revenue report
The consumption Of beer increased L.
524, $50 barrels. The consumption in
1885 was greater than ever before, and,
adding the officially reported increase.
it appears that no less than 642, 000, 900
gallons OF beer were consumed last
year. Reckoning the mean population
for that year at about SO, 257 900, the
consumption appears to have been
1888 gallons for every inhabitant, ba-
bies included. Considering that large
| part of the population does not con-
sumo beer at all, this seems to imply
an enormous consumption to those
who do.
The increase in the consumption of
whisky was 1,606, l08 gallons. which
makes the consumption for the year
70,763, 0l0 gallons, or 1.19 gallons per
capita. That is much more than was
consumed in the years of depression,
the fiscal years 1873 and 1879, when
the tax was the same that it is now;
but it is much below the consumption
of 1888 or 1884, when the quantity was
l.4l and LAP gallons per capita.
Probably the rapid spread of prohibi-
ton has reduced the consumption.
Fifteen years ago, when the tax was
only so cents per gallon, the consump-
ton ranged between II and 2 gallons
per capita. I,
The increase in consumption Of to-
bacco in various forms has been re-
markable, but especially in the least
healthy Of all forms. Snuff-using, il
may be remarked, is on the decline;
1875, TAI pounds less were used last year
than the year before. But the consump-
ton of manufactured tobacco, for
smoking and chewing, increased H..
010,574 pounds, reaching 19l, 023, 663
pounds, or 1929 pounds per capita,
which is considerably in excess of the
consumption in any previous year.
Prior to 1870 the quantity consumed
was from l to pounds, in 1870 it rose
to 2.38, and until 1879 averaged about
$50; then it rose in 1880 to 2.75, in
1882 to 500, and has been above 8
pounds ever since. But the increase in
this form of tobacco would have been
greater but for the increase in the con.
sumption of cigars and cigarettes.
The number Of cigars consumed IN.
creased last year ISL, 1925, 1855, making
total consumption of 3,51O,372, 539,
or 59.2 per capita. Twenty years ago
the consumption was 1912 yearly; in
1870 it rose to 80; in 1875 to 1879, and
then declined a little with the hard
times to 4O5 in 1873, butin 1881 it rose
to 52.6, reaching 61.5 in 1884, and de-
! clined to 58.2 in 1885, but has now
! risen again to 59.2. The consumption
! of cigarettes has greatly increaBed.
4 Last year alone the increase was 252,-
PIP, 112, or about % per cent, making
> 1910. $50, 512 in all, or 22.1 per capita.
a In 1855 there was small consumption.
It but practically none officially recorded
!, in the years 1866-l869. In 1870 it rose
to.4 per capita, in 1875 to g per capita
9 and in 1876, just ten years ago, rose to
d IL per capita But that was only the
n beginning; in 1880 it had risen to s..
n per capita, in 1884 to 1871, in 1885 tC
t 1873, and now averages 22. l per capita
u Surprising cigars to average only fiv'
n cents each and cigarettes twenty cent?
e a package, tobacco dollar per pound
o in retail forms, beer five cents glass
3 and spirits five cents for half a gill
j. prices which are certainly not as high
J, as those paid by most consumers, the
d cost of these articles to the people o.
y this country is over $1,1S9, O0O, 900, Of
9 1882 for every inhabitant. This bur
d den is borne by about 2O,0O0,0O wage
= earners. however, and for them it aver
n ages $50. 46 yearly. The consumption
: of liquor alone costs the working pe0
pie much over $4,000, OO0.- United
s Presbyterian.