Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1889-02-09
LOTTERY ARGUMENTS.

There are still a numbr Of people in the
State who are making the dog in the manager
argument against the lottery amendment,
that it will make the rich, richer and the
poor, poorer. This is no argument at all
The true facts in the matter are that the rich
will be made richer, probably, if the people
buy lottery tickets in such numbers as are
predicted by few, but will moi the poor be-
come richer also? The proposition OF the
lottery isto give to the State each year the
sum OF sac, GOO. This is quite little sum
in itself, but as some argue it will be mere
bagatelle compared to the amount OF the
company's receipts. The argument OF those
who do not favor the scheme is that the COM
pany will be taking in from $Ioo,o oo 10
$Iso 900 per month and can well afford to
pay the $40, 900 TO the State annually. This
may all be true, bat let US see where lhese
monthly receipts come from. Nevada has,
possibly, a population of 10000 people. 1t
is making a fair estimate, we think, to say
that one third, or 20, 900 Of these people will
invest in lottery tickets If we have lottery
in the State, and it is a liberal estimate, also,
to say that these 10000 people will spend
81 per head each month for lottery tickets.
This would mean that the people Of Neva ia
invested $4,000 month in the lottery. If
this is the case, and it is true, as claimed
IN tboca ,rho nrofaec II, know that The re
ceipts of the company will be $4,000
month, must moi $50, 600 come from outside
OF the State2
II is estimated that it will take nearly ~
per cent. of the receipts of the company for
actual expenses of running the institution.
This being the case there will be $1,000 Of
the $4,000 spent in this State set in crcu-
lation every month, and 2,ooco of the $780,
600 that comes from abroad set ahoat hete
each month. This will b. $4,000 month
that will be put in circulation every thirty
days in this State and no one can argue
that it will not be of benefit to the State. 1t
must also be borne in mind that this Sac, 900
is outside Of any prizes that may be drawn.
The amount distributed in prizes each month
will be over so per cent. OF the receipts
leaving but small margin for the managers
of the enterprise who are to put up the
money to statt the ball rolling. There is
no doubt but il will be good investment for
those who have money to put it into this en-
terprise. 1t will return them high rate of
interest on their investment, but at the same
time it will surely benefit the State to
great extent.
Appropriations are being asked by every
Legislature for many things. The State Fair
wants an appropriation of $4,000; the Or
phan's Home wants an appropriation; the
State Printing Office needs an appropriation;
the State University wants few thousand
dollars, and each of our Agricultural Associ-
atoms want $4,000 or $1,000 per annum to
carry them along. We want some large ap-
preparations for irrigation purposes, and
where are we going to get this money il the
rate of taxation is not raised? The taxpayers
of our State are even now growing about the
high rate of taxes and will not stand y
further raise. The $40, 600 per year given
by the lattery company will go quite length
towards making some of these appropriations,
and the $40, 900 per month that will neces
sarily mostly be spent in the State will nat
orally make more taxable properly in the
State.
The moral argument against the lottery is
about the only one that will stand in any
form. But cannot our children be taught to
eschew gambling just the same il we have
lottery in this State as they can with lot
terry in Louisiana? After the first Two or
three months there will be no more money
invested in Nevada tickets than there is now
in Louisiana tickets. The matter will be
come an old thing to Nevadan's while the
regular trade will come in from The outside
just the same after it comes down TO a solid
business basis.