Tombstone epitaph., 1891-03-29
PRODUCT OF THE POPPY.

CNOONSV VT IuG rSFFVs Nearly $500 GOO Spent Yearly for opian
 fla New York.
 It was for the purpose of giving an ac. surate and interesting account of how p,000 Chinanen spend S4CS. 75 annu. ally just for the pleasure of hitting the pipe," that the Chinese reporter made a thorough canvass of the various haun:s ot Chinatown.
 There are at present abt ut twenty-five Chinese firms that deal in refined opium) both wholesale and retail. There are . nven private Chinese joints, where ,ium is sold at $2.25 per ounce. These 5oints 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 opiun-which, according to all accounts, Is even worse than to see ''snakes." Great tears would gush out of his eyes, big drops of precipitation constantly moisten his brow, while his nostrils would act as If he owned small sized fountain some where in his head. But the worst of all the ailments is an eXcruciating pain al. over his backbone, as if he had been just run through fine clothes wringer Under such circumstances he would almost be willing to give half of his entire kingdom to be able to Unit the pipe"
 Six pills or pipes, about the size of @ green pea, would restore him to his aural condition of life, which would last him for about as many hours A regular ''fend" will consume about an ounce per day, which is $2.25.
 The sensation while smoking is inGe6t soothing. No matter how fatigued or op' pressed in mind, few whiffs of the pipe would put . man in. the best of social spirits. It has strange medicinal proper. ties, and is said to cure all kinds of levers and ague, consumption and palpitation Of the heart. Most Chinamen are driven t6 it through business reverses and ether troubles, while not a few contracted the habit through sociability, just as ah American would do on their "take . drink" with friend.
 It takes just about the same length of time to get the opium habit us to get the drinking habit. The latter destroys the mind, and makes a man irresponsible for his actions, while the former destroys the Sody but makes a keen thinker of the victim. It is estimated that there arc something over 1000 Americans in the city of New York who are now using opium in the same manner and form as the Chinese Most of these are said to be we'll known and fashionable people, as indeed no other but people of inea IS 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 wn )lesale orders come from towns and cities in and around New York state, and only now and then the native American custome IS from up town come in to buy their supply. Say they only sell an average of three cans per day. Al wholesale rates, which i, $S.35 per can for China imported gooGs, but when retailed out by the fifty cents worth 1t a time it would bring it up to about $l0 to Sl1 per eau. At $10, which is the lowest possible price per can, siXty-siX cans amount to $66O per day, or $240, 300 per -ear.
 There are eleven joints. The majority of these import their own opium, said to be direct from China, but the greater part Uf which comes from Victoria, B. c. One of these places, which is the best Chinese joint in town, sells at retail on Sundays alone from ten to twelve cans, while tht second best place sells from eight to ten caus on Sundays. On an average these joints dispose of five cans day. These places calculate to make from $2 to $3 on each can of Chinese imported opium. but they are able to make more when they mix the Victoria in with the pure. Thus it can easily be seen how nearly $1 ,0LO ,O00 Ihanges hands for opium each year.
 According to Chinese San Francisco papers they paid over $500, 900 for custom house duties for the Chinese year just ended on opium alone.-Wong Chin Eco in New York World.