The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-08-20
BEER. WHISKY AND TOBACCO.
They Cost the People of This Country
Sl,IS9, 600, 900 Yearly.

They Cost the People of This Country
s1,1S9, o0O,o Yearly.
While demagogues continue to COM
plain about the suferings of labor, and
croakers of the hard times, the con-
sumption of luxuries in almost every
particular is greater than it was one or
two years ago, and in most classes Of
expenditure greater than it ever was in
the times called most prosperous, as is
shown by the internal revenue report,
The consumption of beer increased L.
1880 barrels. The consumption in
1885 was greater than ever before, and,
adding the officially reported increase,
it appears that no less than 642, 600, 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
1898 gallons for every inhabitant. ba-
bies included. Considering that a 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 1905 0S gallons, which
makes the consumption for the year
20, 1884, 10 gallons, or 1.19 gallons per
capita. That is much more than was
consumed in the years of depression,
the fiscal years 1878 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
1.4l and LAP gallons per capita.
Probably the rapid spread of prohibit
ton has reduced the consumption.
Fifteen years ago, when the tax was
only 90 cents per gallon, the consump-
ton ranged between ] and 2 gallons
per capita.
The increase in consumption of to-
bacco in various forms has been re-
markable, but especially in the least
healthy of al forms. Snuff-uSing, it
may be remarked, is on the decline;
1874 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 191, 023,66
POuALos VI 80 pOlhuo pCI CtDiGStS
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 abouS
$50; then it rose in 1880 to 2.75, in
1882 to 3.06, and has been above
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 151, 1926. 1855, making
total consumption of $3.50, S72, $50,
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 little with the hard
times to 405 in 1873, butin 1881 it rose
to 1916, reaching 61.5 in 1884, and de-
clined to 582 in 1885, but has now
risen again to 59.2. The consumption
of cigarettes has greatly increased.
Last year alone the increase was 252,-
PIP, 112, or about rs per cent, making
1910. 556, 512 in all, or 22.1 per capita.
In 1855 there was a small consumption,
OuU AOSOAoCO
in the years 1866-1S69. In 1870 it rose
to 4 per capita, in 1875 to .9per capita.
and in 1876, just ten years ago, rose to
IL per capita. But that was only the
beginning; in 1880 it had risen to So
per capita, in 1884 to 16.1 l, in 1885 to
1873, and now averages 22.1 per capita.
Surprising cigars to average only five
cents each and cigarettes twenty cents
a package, tobacco dollar per pound
in retail forms, beer five cents glass
and spirits five cents for half gill,
prices which are certainly not as high
as those paid by most consumers, the
cost of these articles to the people of
this country is over 81, 1S9, 900, 900, or
1882 for every inhabitant. This bur-
den is borne by about 20, 900, 900 wage
carriers, however, and for them it aver
ages $50. 46 yearly. The consumption
of liquor alone costs the working peo-
pie much over $500, 900, 000.- United
Presbyterian.