Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-27
PRODUCT OF THE POPPY,
Nearly e5oo.co spent Yearly for Opium
IL New York.

IL New ork.
II was for tn, ourDose Of giving an &C.
curate and inlerls ~ account Of how
1900 Cinnamon sPeCd S46S, $40. - anna
ally just for the ;sleasure OF "hittinS The
pipe" that the Chinese reporter
thorough canvass of the vsrious h,...a;, 81
Chinatown.
There are at present about twenty-five
Chinese firms that deal in refined opium5
both Wholesale aud retail There are
eleven private Chinese joints, where
opium is sold at 81 25 per ounce. These
joints do not now admit white smokers,
on account OF the frequent raids made
upon them by the police, but the stores
sell to both Chinese and whites, although
the latter must be well known smokers.
Otherwise he has to suffer for the want of
opium-which, according to all accounts,
is even worse than TO see snakes" Great
tears would gush out Of his eyes, big
drops of preparation constantly moisteu
his brow, while his nastrils would act ~
if he owned u small sized fountain some
where in his head. But the worst Of all
the ailments is an eXcruciating pain all
over his backbone, rs il he had been just
run through a fine Clothes wringer Under
such circumstances he would almost be
to be able 10 chit the pipe"
Six pills or pipes, about the size OF n
green pea, would restore him to his naural
condition of life, which would last him
for about as many hours. \ regular
''fiend' will consume about an ounce per
day, which is 81 Is
The sensation while smoking is indeed
soothing. No matter how fatigued or OPP
IN, &. NV Of ,Ia ~.
would put man in the bes; OF social
spirits. Ii has strange medicinal proper
ties, and is said TO cure all kinds Of fevers
and ague, consumption and palpitation of
the heart. Most Cinnamon are driven 10
ii through business reverses and other
troubles, while no, few contracted tho
habit through sociabilty, just as an
American would do on their take a
drink" with n friend.
1t takes just about the same length Of
time to get the opium habit rs to get the
drinking habit The latter destroys the
mind, and makes a man irresponsible for
his actions, while the former destroys the
body but makes q keen thinker Of the
victim. 1t is estimated that there are
something over Loco Americans in the
city of New York who are now using
opium In the same manner and form as
the Chinese Most 4 these are said 10
he well known an shiouahie people. as
indeed no other hut people Of means and
of leisure could ever be able To contract
such habit.
The opium dealing firms sell from'two
to five cans per day, each can weighing
about four ounces Most Of the Wholesale
orders come from towns and cities In and
around New York state, aud only now and
then the native American customers from
up town come in to buy their supply. Say
they only sell an average OF three cans per
day. At " Iolesale rates, which is 81 %
per can for China imported goods, but
when retailed ont by the fifty cents worth
at a time Il would bring il up 70 about
$40 to + per can. Al $40, which is the
lowest possible price per can, sixty six
cans amount 10 $500 per day, or $40, 800
per year.
There are eleven joints. The majority
Of these import their own opium. said 10
be direct from Chi aut the greater past
o, which comes Gloria. -. G. one
e., tlese places Ae best Chinese
.I'1L III town. etail on Sundays
o. ,lc from ten 10 .e cans. wniie tic
second best place sei.s from cight To- ten
cans on Sundays On an average these
Joints dispose OF five cans a day. These
places calculate 10 make from 81 10 i 3 on
each can Of Chinese imported oplJm hut
they are able 20 make more when they
mix the Victoria ia with the pure Thus
II can easily be seen how nearly { ] .OG0, 900
changes hands for opium each year
According 20 Chinese san Francisco
papers they pa.d o.ef $500 600 FOR custom
house duties for the Chinese year Just
ended on opium aIone--WoEg Chin Foo
Ia New York World.