The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-12-11
TOBACCO CONSUMPTION.

Tremendous Quantity of the Weed Used
in the Leading (nunt ries of the World.
Tea, coffee and cocoa are articles OF
common consumption, but the use oil
tobacco is, with some immaterial ex-
ceptions, limited to one sex. For this
reason we find the consumption per
head of the population, published in
the annual reports of her jss ty
Commissioners of Inland Revenue. in.
terest'ng enough in relation to fireside
beverages. but not quite so valuable
when applied as gauge to the can
sumption of the weed-fragrant or
otherwise. II is of little consequence
to learn that twenty three ounces per
head represents the consumption Of
tobacco in the United Kingdom when
we recollect that great proportion Of
1.-The heads" belong 10 housewives who
drive their spouses into the back gar
den to smoke their post-prandial pipe,
and to cipher5 of humanity more
familiar with the tube of feeding-bot-
tie than that of a hookah. Yet by
means of the figures at our disposal wa
have ample data enabling us to arrive
at near approximate to the aggregate
number of the inhabitants of these
islands belonging to the brotherhood of
the pipe.
The male population of the United
Kingdom exceeding ID years of age
was, in round numbers, 10, go. 900 on
the date of the last enumeration. From
inf -
the present article we feel Justified in
stating that one-half the indoor COM
mercal classes, clerks, shopmen, ETC.,
may be described as regular smokers.
Among the artisan classes, farm labor.
ers aud all those who are at liberty to
smoke during working hours, the pro-
portion Of smokers must be considera-
bly, larger, so that it may be assumed
that go per cent. of the male population
exceeding 10 years ofage have acquired
the habit, On this basis we find the
number of smokers to be about $780,
600, and the average capitation con-
sumption of tobacco about ight pounds
three ounces. This is hardly an ex7
travagant figure, as it is only equiva-
lent to two and a half ounces per week
per smoker. In money value it repre- ,
sents an Individual expenditure of, say.
2 guineas per annum, or a gross sum
of G12,915, 900. Oddly enough this
amount is just one half of that received
by the railway companies for the conf
veyance of all classes of passengers
during the year 1881. Two other pecu,
liarities may be here mentioned in con,
nection with the consumption of to.
bacco-namely, that hall gallon OF
spirits and something more than half y
barrel of beer was consumed for each
pound of tobacco cleared by the excise
authorities.
While the yearly consumption of to.
bacco has increased from 100000 to
53,000,000 of pounds since 1S41, tho
United Kingdom is still a long way bei
hind other countries, except Italy, i'll
the use of it, In Belgium and Holland
the average per head of the total pop.
ulation is as high us 81 ounces in
Switzerland, 50; Austria, 80; Germany.
Y; United States, 50; and so on, Rus,
STA approXimating most nearly with
a ounces, while Italy consumes
% ounces.' For the financial year end
ing 31st March last, there were 56l
manufacturers and 290,032 retail deal.
ers who took out licenses from the ex.
else authorities. As a large number
of dealers in tobacco hold beer and
spirit licenses, it is to be presumed thai
this popularity of the trade explains
the discrepancy between the excise
and census returns. In the latter the
number of persons working and deal.
ing in pipes and tobacco England and
,Wales) is set down at %, 175, includ,
ing 142 Germans, % Poles. As Russians
and lesser numbers of Danes, Norwe-
gians, Swedes, Austrians, Hungarians
and Swiss. Pal Mall Gazette.