The Durham daily globe. (Durham, N.C.) 1889-1894, 1893-12-23
HOW THE STUFF GOES
Enormous Expenditures for Whisky,
Beer and Tobacco.
The Sum Greater Than the Circulating
Medium of the United States.
THESE FIGURES TELL THE STORY

What the American People Pay Annual,
for Dwarfed Bodies and De-
bauched Minds.
WASHINGTON, Dec. % Especial ]
Internal Revenue Commissioner Miller
figures that We consumed 5000, 100000
glasses of whisky last year, for which we
paid over the bar The almost incompre'
hensible sum of $6O9, 100000 oil $50, 000,'
900 more than all the annual a%ppropria-
tions of congress-. We consumed over
80,0OO,000 gallons of whisky, brandy and
distilled spirits. This represents a con
sumption of 100 glasses of whisky each
year for every man, woman and child be-
tween the rock bound Pacific and the
.tormtossed Atlantic, or counting only
male adults, 500 gallons for each. OF
beer the figures are equally astounding.
The consumption was 81 ,562,345 barrels,
that is 1875, 1863. 200 glasses, represent
ing an expenditure for this mode of hilar-
ity Of $617 POS, AGO or about $40 for each
~inhabitant. In The neighborhood of $50
glasses are charged up in this calculation
against each of Us as III annual allow
ance. If we do not average our daily
glass with our daily bread, we may be
sure onr n%eighbors get the benefit of our
abstinence
In the matter of cigars, cigarettes,
smoking tobacco and chewing tobacco,
we are equally prodigal. The blue in
censs of ASIA, 2O2, 900 cigars and cheroots,
and the curling wreaths Of 3,176,693,OOO
cigarettes aid us in our reveries and sooth
US in our work. For this luxury we pay:
For cigars and cheroots, 1858, 100000; for
cigarettes, $22, 332, 900. This is appor-
toned: For cigars, eighty three to each
inhabitant, or 415 for each male adult
cigarettes, ffty-one to each man, woman
and child, or $50 to each male adult. All
this goes up in smoke each year, while
people are hungering for bread. But this
does not include the millions Of bowls of
tobacco that are consumed in pipes. The
figures for smoking tobacco cannot be
separated from those for chewing to-
bacco. Combined, we consume 279, 1885,
O02 pounds of the fascinating weed, which
costs US $139, 663 ,O36.
Altogether, not taking stock of the
money we e1pend for champagne, whose
sparkling bubbles burst about the brim-
ming goblet, and the other imported and
native wines which drive away care, the
people Of the United States spend an
nually for drink and tobacco the almost
incomprehensible sum of 81, 641, 9O4, AGO.
The mind Is incapable of grasping the
largeness of this total, but when it is re-
menbered that this Is more than the cir
culsting medium of the United States;
that it is $27 per head more than the per
capita circulation that it proves that the
head of every family, supposing he
handles the purse strings, pays out 1896
annually for drink and tobacco, and that
every dollar in the United States goes
each year over bar or counter OF some
tobacconist, some idea can be obtained of
Its magnitude.
In the house 10 day, while the def
bill providing for an a~ppropria-
ton for the work of special pension ex.
aminers in the field was under consider.
alton, the republicans compelled the
democrats 10 accept a number of amend
ments which completely nulify Hoke
Smiths anti pension policies and put the
Cleveland antl-penSion record TO shame |
northern republican members
were in their seats and did some lively
diminishing and voting for the amend
nents in,ended 10 preserve tie interests
Of pensioners. All OF the opposition to
amendments came from democrats.
A Child Enjoys
The pleasant flavor, gentle action and
soothing effect of Syrup of Figs, when
need of q laxative, and If the father or
be costive or bilious, the most
gratifying results follow its use ; so that
1 is the best family remedy known and
family should have q bottle.
Holiday Rates.
The Seaboard Airline will sell round
rip tickets on account OF the HOLIDAYS TO