The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1888-03-08

tho country. has for many years been
partly supported by over quarter oi
million of dollars received, for II during
that period from the Louisiana stare io'-
terry. A. sr,t
Protestant church in that state,was erected
on a site purchased by lottery funds, ana
various similar instances could be cited
Colleges and schools in America, almost
without number, have from time 10 Tune
been indebted to lotteries for their cree
tion or completion. Dartmouth college,
Harvard college, Leicester academy, hhode
Island college, Williamtown free scnool'
acme dozen of educational institutions IN
New York state and Pennsylvania, ana
scores of institutions through the south
and west might be enumerated. ROADS
have been constructed by lottery funds
also bridges, canals and manufacturers
In addition to the Union canal aifeauy
mentioned, the Amoskeag canal, ana
the Wilton canal may be cited
while Hatfield bridge, River PARK
bridge, Kennebec bridge, the
hilton Paper mill, the Connecticut Manu-
factory. all owe their very existence to the
lottery system.
To this system Rhode Island owes to-
dsy its free schools, Connecticut its Or
phsn and insane asylums. Even that
once proud boast of New York state, IN
its days "the greatest water way IN tn
world" the Erie canal, was indebted tor
its early progress to the lottery. Deia-
ware owes to it its schools and Masonic
institute, Maryland numberless pubhc
charities, Virginia its university and
public roads, the father of our country
personally managing a lottery for the
latter purpose. The CarOlinas aud other
southern states have been signally aided
and largely benefited by this means, as
have nearly all the western states, the
public library of Louisville, the fire de-
partment and charity hospital of ST.
Louis being prominent cases in point.
1t may, IN fact, be stated without exag-
geration, that the original settlement OF a
large portion of the United States was
due to the liberal lottery grant given TO
"the Virginia com pany" by james the
First, while no less patriot than Thomas
Jefferson was strongly in favor of rails ng
funds to carry out the ideas of the mist
continental Congress" In l776, by means
Of puolic lottery, under the management
of the infant government.
One thing is certain-durlng what are
now called 1.-THE good old times" and are
regarded as "the best days of the repub-
lic," lotteries fourished under govern
ment sanction. During the first hall
century of the United States existence a.
a nation seventy three lottery grants were
licensed, over So per cent of the funds OF
which were devoted to public purposes
and benefits.
But times have changed. There is 6
fashion in lotteries, as in everything else
and for awhile at least lotteries have gont
out of fashion in most states of the union
though stock gambling lin which the
amounts risked are greater, and tht
chances for prizes are less than in aver
age lotteries, and in which there is less
System" than in even the widest "lOttery
scbeme") fOurishes to degree hitherto
unknown.
In fact, the only lottery scheme of shy
magnitude now authorized in this country
is that of the Louisiana State Lottery
which forms an important part of thu
| lCNOhuO VI Ohhu oOnbOB ohN VhO
of which take place under the supervision
of two of the leading men of the south
Generals Beauregard and Early-tw'
gentlemen whose very names are guarau.
tees alike of good management and gooc
faith.
The Louisiana State Lottery has beer
incorporated for some twenty years, with
an original paid-up capital of $1,000,000
and during its twenty years of existence
it has paid out millions of dollars in prizes
and every prize once drawn has beer
fully and promptly c-shed.
Many bankers and merchants have beer
numbered among "the lucky ones" bu
fortune has often favored the poor auC
hard working portion of the population
Thus, at recent drawing of this 10 terry
a combine" of twenty-five car-drivers or
the Lombard Street railroad, Phila
delphia, drew and divided prize of $15,-
600 cash.
But with the single exception of thi
Louisiana State Lottery, all lotteries
which once constituted 80 important, and
on the whole, profitable feature of life il
the United States, are practically wiped
out-Iegally OBJ iterated. New York Sun
day Mercury, January l.