The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-01-14

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tLtssss1fy ..55ls..!J< = paper was listened 10
lluu1.,A ~ 49, +t3 with close attention
l1A@L%SyS RSleS and marked interest.
liz. 81 The essay was entitled
Lotteries in American
History" and synop-
sis is here given.
The manners and customs Of a people being
a falling subject Of interest to their pos
terty, this leaf out Of the social history of
America NAV perhaps be found not unworthy
Of notice. The genesis Of the English settle
mcnt OF Virginia presents the first record found
Of the lottery in connection with American
history. In King Jamess charter Of 1912 10
the Virginia Company Of London license was
granted to that company to establish a lottery,
10 raise money for outfit and supplies TO the
infant colony in Virginia. The lottery thus
sanctioned was largely subscribed TO, the
Grocers' Company Of London and other guilds
taking shares, aud we even find two London
churches adyenturing several pounds in Vir-
ginia lottery tickets The amount realized in
drawings spread over six years, was 500, 900,
but upon the House Of Commons protesting
against the Virginia lotteries as an illegal rais-
ing Of money without parliamentary sanction,
they were terminated in 1921 by an order in
council.
The earliest notice Of an American lottery
found advertised although not the frst) was
in BrddforFs Americ1n Mercury. Philadelphia,
1920. Ii advertised "a new brick house, cor
ner Third and Arch streets" for which $50
tickets, at 90 shillings each, were TO be drawn.
Soon after lotteries appear 10 have become COM
mon. Ii is curious TO find the early defense of
the Colonies against foreign invasion helped on
by the aid Of the lottery In l7lS leading citi-
zens of Philadelphia benjamin Franklin, Ed
ward Shipper, and others, having defeated
the Quaker policy Of uOn- resistance organized
a lottery TO raise $4,000 needed for the erection
of a battery on the Delaware. In the same
year lottery was organized at Philadelphia,
TO raise 1913 pieces OF eight" lthe piece Of
eight being Of the value OF 81 for public use.
In l1jG a like sum was raised by lottery for
college and academy in Philadelphia. Many
instances are found in early colonial history Of
lotteries organized for public objects. This
practice was for many years regarded a
beneficial method Of raising money by way OF
saving the imposition OF taxes or a general sub
scriptiOn, aud il was by no means viewed as a
species Of gambling. The most reputable eiti-
zens were engaged in these lotteries, either as
selected managers or a. liberal subscribers. 10
was a kind Of voluntary tax for paving streets,
erecting public buildings etc. with a cOntin-
gent profitable return for such subscribers as
held the lucky numbers
As early as l744 the Massachusetts, province
granted authority 10 raise $500 to meet the
expenses Of Government In I772. Harvard
College, its funds running low. received legis-
lativc permission for a lottery scheme TO erect
StOughton Hall. This lottery prolonged its
drawings over 10 years, producing SIS 100 net.
The college invested 3 900 in tickets and was
lucky enough to draw the principal prize Of
$4,000. In l7jS, the citizens Of Charlestown,
in Town meeting assembled, voted 10 ask the
general court for authority 10 organize a lot
terry 10 raise funds for paving Main street. In
1913 the repairs Of Long Wharf, Boston, were
provided for by $4,000 lottery In 1912
lottery was authorized 70 raise $4,000 to repair
the beach at Plymouth. This lottery issued
schemes in the space of nine years, 10 the pro-
digious amount Of sSs6,439 yet the entire sum
realized 10 tho town Of Plymouth was only
S9s16 In Connecticut, In 1850, lottery WAS
authorized to raise iudd for building a new
edifco for Yale College Among public build
ings erected By the aid II lotteries in America
Faneuil Hall, in Boston, was one Of the most
conspicuous.
Already, as early as l7l9. the General Court
Of Massachusetts enacted that "all private lot
terics arc common and public nuisances." In
l753 and 1888 more stringent acts for their sup
preston were passed. Still these laws were Of
ten violated aud the Legislature itself, in
plain Illustration Of their spirit and intent,
passed many special acts permitting these
common and public nuisances." At length,
in 1921, a committee Of the Legislature made
remarkable report upon the misehiefs of the
sale Of lottery tickets in Massachusetts,. The
abuses Of the system were laid bare, and il was
shown that in single scheme nearly 100000
had been collected from tickets out of the hard
earned savings Of the people. In 1893 an act
was passed which put an end TO the sale OF
tickets in the State.
Ii lis not surprising to ind George Washington
participating in the lotteries Of his time-for
IN what object Of public improvement was he
not interested? Tickets are preserved of the
Mountain Road Lottery" dated in the year
l76s, aud signed by Washington, one of which
Is in the Toner Collection, deposited in the Lii
brary OF Congress. In his manuscript account
books in the Department Of State is this entry,
May ., l16J: By cash paid PeytOn Randolph,
esq, for my 10th Of 100 tickets taken in partner
ship with himself aud others In Col. Byrd's lot
terry, go" In December, 1863, In his personal
diary, We read: "Dined at the attorneys, and
went IN ye evening 10 draw Col. MOore's lot
terry" The same business engaged him for
three successive evenings. The first entry
above records Washington's share Of 10 tickets.
at 20 each, In the lottery organized for the sale
OF the famous estate ofCOl. William Byrd, called
Westover, comprising a large domain on James
River. This was authorized in 1905, and en-
abled payment TO be made OF the debts of a
heavily involved estate. This way Of dispOsing
OF real estate was not uncommon IN Virginia
more than century ago. 1t was unrestricted
10y law until 1863, when the Legislature, moved
by the wide growth Of the speculative mania,
enacted that no lottery should be drawn with
out authority Of a special act These acts were
sufficiently numerous, as appears from partial
list of 20 legally permitted lotteries. in the b
years between 1852 and 1870. The purpose for
which these lottery schemes were organized
were quite various. Five Of them were for
clearing rivers and building bridges, including
one 10 raise 900 for the Dismal Swamp i'm
provement; 10 were for educational objects,
chiefly academies. with two lotteries for Will
liam and Mary College; 10 for improving pub
lie roads; 10 70 enable Counties or Towns To pay
for streets or other improvements; two for
public charities; eight TO erect or complete
churches in Virginia towns, and six for private
individuals a 10 erect paper mill for sufferers
by fire in Lexington" Ito raise $1,000 for Will
liam latham 10 enable him TO complete his
geographical work, !" etc
singular historical error occurs In the En-
cyclOpgdia Britannica, where it is gravely as
serted that before 1920 at least 20 acts were
passed by Congress authorizing lotteries for
various public purposes such as schools, roads"
etc. The facts are that Congress has never
passed any act authorizing lotteries for schools
or roads, aud the careless encyclopedias has
COMPOUNDED the list Of 20 lotteries authorized
by Virginia laws with the legislation Of the
United States Congress. After rapid survey
Of lottery schemes in New York, New jersey,
Maryland, etc, the address proceeded: