The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1886-09-17
STARTLING FIGURES.

/ STARTLING FIGURES.
vaefs Cleaned From the Reeeatly Issued
| Internal-Revenus Report.
| The dry figures of the internal rev.
enue report, when examined, yield
much information. 1t appears that tho
consumption Of beer increased 1,524.-
$50 barrels. The consumption in 1885
was greater than ever before, and, add
ing the officially reported increase, it
appears that no less than Ga, ZOO. 900
gallons of beer were consumed last
year. The population is over 81, OOO, 900,
but the consumption for the year end
ing June 30 must be reckoned upon the
mean population for that year, which
was about 80, PSI 900. On that basis
the consumption Of beer appears to
have been 1888 gallons for every in
habitant. babies included. Consider
ing that large part of the population
does consume beer at all. this seems 70
imply an enormous consumption to those
who do. and vet, since those who use
beer at all certainly consume as much
as half pint daily, they would at that
rate get rid of twenty-three gallons
each. Apparently the consumpt on
is about equivalent to G pint day for
half the adult population.
The increase in the consumption of
whisky was l,606, los gallons. which
makes the consumption for the year TO-
763,010 gallons, or LIZ gallons per
capita. That is much more than was
consumed in the years of depression,
the fiscal years OF, 1873 and 1879. when
the tax was the same as it is now, but
it is much below the consumption of
1888 and 1884, when the quantity was
1.4l and LAP gallons per capita The
increase in the consumption of beer,
which has risen from seven gallons to
nearly eleven gallons since 1889, ac-
counts for some diminution in the use
of spirits, and probably the rapid spread
Of prohibition at the South has affected
the consumption still more. Fifteen
years ago, when the tax was only 80
cents per gallon. the consumption
ranged between l l-2 and gallons per
capita.
bacco in various forms has been remark
able. Snui-using. it may be remarked,
is on the decline 1885, pounds less
were used last year than the year be-
fore. But the consumption of manu-
featured tobacco. for smoking and chew
ing, increased ll.0lo.5 7i pounds. reach
ing f9l .O23. 663 pounds, or 3.22 pounds
per capita. which is considerably in ex-
cess of the consumption in any previous
year. Prior to 1870 the quantity con-
sumed was from l to pounds: in 1870
it rose to 2-3S. and until 1879 averaged
about $50: then it rose in 1880 to 2.75,
n 1892 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 over 151, 925. S55, max
ing total consumption of 3,510.372,-
539, or 59.2 per capita. Just twenty
years ago the consumption was 1O.2
yearly; in 1870 it rose to 30; i'm 1875 to
1879. and then declined little with the
hard times to 40.5 in 1873, but in 1881
it rose to $40. reaching els in 1884.
and declined to $50 in 1885. but has
now risen again tO59.2. Thus the con-
sumption is shade lower than the
greatest vet recorded, and there is some
reason to doubt whether this small de-
crease betokens the pressure of hard
times, because the consumption of
cigarettes has greatly increased. Last
year alone the increase was psi. PIG, 112,
or about % per cent, making 1,3lO.-
556.512 in all, or 22.1 per capita. In
1865 there was small consumption. but
practically none officially recorded i'm
the years 1S66-lS69. In 1870 it
rose to per capita. in 1875 to
9 per capita, and IN 1876. just ten years
ago. rose to IL per capita. But that
was only the beginning: in 1890 it had
in 1885 to 1913. and now averages 22.1
per capita Of the influence of this
change upon health doubtless physi-
clans may have something to say, but q
considerable increase in the use of to-
bacco in other forms is evidently pre-
vented by the manufacture and use of
cigarettes. whether that change be
beneficial to health or not.
1t remains to add that. supposing ci-
gars to average only five cents each,
and cigarettes twenty cents a package.
tobacco a dollar per pound in retail
forms, beer five cents glass. and
spirits five cents for half q gill. prices
which are certainly not As high as those
paid by most consumers, the cost of
these articles to the people of this conn
try is over 81, 1S9. 900. 900. or 1882 for
every Observation-Disclosures Cor. N.
7. Tribune.