The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1893-04-05
STATE LIQUOR BUSINESS.
Trouble Ahead for the Managers Of the
Dispensary.


Trouble Ahead for the Managers Of the
| Dispensary.
COLUMBIA, S. c., March 26.-Wbeth-
er the dis 2ensary is going into operation
or not does not appear to stand in the
way of making preparations for the open
ing of the establishment on the 1st of
July. One thing is very certain, and it
| is that the State authorities in charge of
the dispensary have most gigantic un-
J dertaking on sheir hands.
To-day I talked with several expert
enced men who are in the city, in view of
the establishment of the big bar room,
and they are all of the opinion that her
culean efforts will be necessary to have
the place ready for business. For in
stance, it will take great deal of time
to get the bottling machinery here and
| in position. Then if the Stats is going
to use it's own bottles it will take some
time to get the supply here. Most of the
glass factories close down about the 1st
of June and it is said that it will hardly
pay the manufacturers to take contract
| from the State at this time. Even If the
contract is now given the authorities say
that if two moulds are put In operation
their capacity would only be about eight
gross day. So it will be seen that the
State will have plenty of trouble in get
ting its bottles, as it will use carloads
of TASKS. Similar trouble will no doubt
be experienced in great many other de-
partfnents of the equipment Of the big
establishment.
To get anything like an even start
with the business, one of the takers said
that the bottling ought to begin at least
by the 1st of June. he says that the
authorities will be greatly surprised at
the amount of space that will be requisite
to conduct the business properly. BE
suggested that girls be employed in the
labelling department, as they will do the
best and neatest work. This, he said,
was the experience of all classes of bot.
tiers.
There are number of men here who
have pretty good idea of tho quantity
of the goods that will be necessary to
start the dispensary on business footing,
and they all agree that almost nothing
can be done with $4,000 towards getting
the place ready for business, and getting
the requisite stock Of liquors. One of the
circulators said that at the very lowest
estimate it would take, say: 100 barrels
of rye at $55 barrel, and the better
grade at S11O a barrel; then in corn
liquor 500 barrels would be but "drop
in the bucket"
It will be seen that if these estimates
are in any way correct the $4,000 would
be more than expended in the purchase
Of these new brands. It is the purpose Of
the dispensary to handle every class Of
goods for which there is any demand.
Now if these liquor men know anything
about their own business, for / do not,
then it is evident that the State will have
to start out on a credit busine"s.
Here is the way one of tho party put
this feature of the business II have no
idea that the business can be started on
the $50, 900 that the State has appropri-
ated, and I would not like to do any
credit business with the State as it can
not be sued for any Indebtedness. The
debt may be very good and there will no
doubt be plenty of houses that will give
the dispensary all the credit it desires,
but it is not the class of business that our
firm would care to do"
The men then got to talking about the
matter of profits, and the way they fig
ured it out the cost to the consumer will
be more than under the present system,
that is if the State exercises its privi-
legea Under the law the State and the
County dispensaries are each allowed 8
profit of so per cent. If the limit Of
profit is charged the cost will be heavier
than at present. For instance, the very
poorest class of liquor would cost Sl.25
gallon, with the so per cent. to the State
it would be run up to S1.87, and with the
so per cent to the county to 50 80; add
to this the cost of the bottles ard the bot
tling and the cost will be $3.50 or, il
sold in halfpint aasks, at the rate of 2:
cents per half pint. Even if the cost o.
the bottling is taken out of the profits
the State will not sell as cheap as the
dealers if the 80 per cent. is added
Goods that cost 50 25 are sold by all the
local dealers at rs cents per half pint
Corn whiskey that cost SLIPS to sl.35
gallon is sold here at Is cents per hal
pint or 25 cents per pint. If the State il
going to do the class of business it ex-
poets to, it cannot equal the preaen
prices. Perhaps it is the purpose of th'
Prohibitionists to raise the price of th'
goods and in that way minimize the con
sumption. But those who have advocated
the law as money making scheme will
no doubt, be in favor of the busines
principle of "quick sales and small
profits"
Although the law contemplates giving
the preferences to all State breweries ant
distilleries it would perhaps be as vel
for them to look to their laurels. Their
are already in the city several men wh'
are interested in the sale of beer to th'
State, and if the Palmetto or any otbe
corporation wants to geti on the grount
| floor it will have to enter the race.
While the State authorities are hard q
work making preparations for the open
ing of the dispensary the liquor men ar