Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1888-11-04
PROHIBITION In ATLANTA.
IT'S EFFECT on THE BUSINESS OF THB
CITY.
Interviews With Ciizsns Representing Very
Many Branches and Lns Of
Business.


the city that the people reJolyed to rid
themse!vss of the incubus. A committee
of thirty citizsns, representing all the lead
ing lines Of business, took direction of the
effort to reject prohibition and restore the
license or tax sy.tem. Among the mem
bars of tae committee we're bank presi-
dents, merchants in wholesale and retail
trade, manufacturers, property owners,
real estate dealers and clergymsn. A
thorough canvass of the city was made,
prob. bition was rjected by over LOO
msiority. The Atlanta ArdIanehe publish
ed during the canvas large numb:r OF
interviews on the subject with ci,iz ans in
all lines of business. 1t into luCed tn So
interviews by saying:
Tn. following voluntary stat ,ments
CONF from the very best men in Atlanta,
every one of whom is sb)ve suspicion and
above rsproach. Neither enc Of these men,
with single exception, has any Interest
whatever, either direcS or remote, In the
sale of liq nor or its manufacture.
From the great mass Of thee interviews
we reprint the following:
Michsel Lynch, books and stationary
I have nothing to do with the liquor traf-
fic. nor have eve: been on a spree in my
life; in fact, do not drink pint 10 five
wears Tbs assessment on my real estate
in Atlanta has BEN increased 81 per cent.
and nv rents have decreased aboat the
SINE ratio siuce prohibition went into
or g Il d;6i ,1lku IN ootfinC r far =.
antI at the reduced rates, as so many
working p.cple have left the city seeking
employment; and so many men OF capital
have transferred their investments to other
cities. l have lived in Atlanta thirty -four
years. l know prohibition has hurt me
and hurt every other owner of real est .te.
Bruckre:, of Wilson & BruCkner, books,
stationery, etc.-Our business is les3 with
in thu city, but has increased out ide 1T,
siace prohibition has bsen of fore There
is as much liquor dIunk by the men as was
drunk two years ago; tee only difference
being, the city has lost the rev 1nus which
did ariee from the sale.
L NJ. Ives real estate dealer The de-
mand for real estate doss not begin to COM
pare with that of three years ago. That
Oh sracter Of property, forced to sale now,
would not bring 70 per cent. of what 1t
would three years ago. l am not speak
ing of isolated instances, but Of real estate
gen srslly, in Atlanta. The truth is, Atlant /
mas not prosrered under the prohibition
regime; and this in the face Of the fact
that all of the towns around her have
greatly il creass ed in prosperity. TIE r;tsil
trade has fallen off at least % per cent. If
in Birmingham, Admission, Chattanooga
and other cities whers energy aud euter-
prise has bsen displsye1, as ba' been done
in Atlanta, business was depressed, as it is
here, then it may have been attributed to
soms general cau:e; but the depres sion has
been confined to Atlanta-and cnlg since
prohibition was of force.
am in favor of temperance, but am OPP
posed to prohibition because it is danger
ousIy irjuriou'.
Thos. J. Hesly, real estate owner-NeVer
was iateres.ei in the sale of liquor; haven't
dru1k..A quart in five years My rents have
fallen off So. 900 since prohibition went in
to f0rcs. l have now six good store9, IN
good business loo atoms, which are unoccu-
pieJ. l don't want to say anything which
wonld reflect upon Atlaata; l have lived
here sincs bsfore the war, and expect 10 die
and be buried hsre; but these are truths,
and / make them very reluctantly. | had
one mill on brick for the construction Of Gr
ope house on my lot, clrner of Forsyth
and Waltoo, but the result of prohibition
caused me to transfer all my binding oper-
a ions outside of Atlanti, where l have
spent co asidsrable money and | am still
building.
J. Stsiuheimer, of J. SteinEe;mer & %.
Wholesale Tobacco and cigss.-Have teen
in Atlanta since rs, aud never knew basi-
nss, so dull as since prohibition wa1 of
70 &c. City trade aad revenue have fallen
off thirty per cent. Hsve been on Wal
strest year; one store en- esch side OF Us
have been for rent ever sirc'. They be-
long 10 Senator Browp. From person a.
%: e:yetion there is ss much Drunkenness
in Atlanta as ,foIe Prohibition went into
fo-ce.
jos. Smith, wholesale groceries, feed and
provisions-I always feared prohibition
would irjurs Atlanta, and NY worst fears
have been verified by close ard constant
observation. Oar city trade has fallen of
% per cant, aud coll ,Ct:ons are hard
From the ge neral feeling and the OLD jerva-
tions O! my brother merchants, think the
defeat of prohibition would iostill new life
into trade and induce better feeling
among all classes.
James Lynch, real estate owner-l an
in no way conn scted with the liquor trade.
My rents have deere ssed $500 per month
sirc9 prohibition went into force. l fed
it difficult to rent, and and am Compslle
to take come tenants who otherwise would
have been refused. Ny property is located
on the best business streets in Atlanta. The
great increase in assessments on real estate
ard the fact that from 5000 TO 10000 peo-
pie have left the city in the psst two years,
clrryirg swey fully million and a half Of
capital, is probably gent cause. II this
prohibition crsz, continues much longer
we IeL estate owners can't tall what will
become of IS. / determi ned 10 improve
my property, ard had commence | building
bn;i1e.s houseS bat the efftci Of prohibit
tio1 caused me to stop and t. invest $50,
600 elsewhere. 1 have sevgal valu,ble
business and dwelling HOUSES lying idle
which before prohibition were always Oc-
cupisd and paid me good rent.
J. S. Lester, wholesale coal dealer
have cold more coil Than have ever done
in any one season, within the past twelve
years; snd less PSF cent. of it came to
Atlanta than ever before within that me
Tae competition has been about the same
10 each Of my markets. lean only astIi.
butte A l.nta's falling off to the depression
caused by prohibition.
L. Cohen.-I bought the WHY property,
SO Alabama STREET, several years ago, l
- a.. .ananl IL e. q rEn. 4n;n ,rnn- l. rant =,