The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-31
CLOSING UP SALOONS
TWO PROMINENT DOWN TOWN
PLACES WILL BE OPEN No MORE.
Another About to Shut Up-POlice
surveillance Prevents Profits on
Sales During Illegal Hours.

The police surveillance Of the downtown
saloons has made the business not only I'M
profitable to some of them, but will cause
a thinning out, perhaps. The enforcement
of the law has already resulted in the clos
ing of two of them, and another will prob
ably close it's doors within a few days.
George Shires, proprietor OF the saloon on
West Washington street adjoining the Park
Theater, closed his doors Saturday night
and did not, open them yesterday. This
stand has been a very profitable one, and
under the Sullivan administration literally
coined money for its owner. Recently,
however, with the strict police surveillance
after IL o'clock and on Sunday, making the
after-hours business exceedingly precarious,
il has been a losing investment. The eX-
penses of the place have been heavy and
the receipts light. The consequence was
that, being Improbable. the saloon has
been closed. The exact liabilities of Shires
are unknown, but he is said to be involved,
and it is reported that his Indebtedness will
reach $40, 200.
The doors of Stephen Matters place, on
Washington, near Pennsylvania street, will
not be opened to-day. Mr.. Matter said last
night that he had lost $4,000 within the last
two years. and had decided to close his
place. He had held OH, believing that bust
ness would improve with time, but instead
of improving II became worse. He has Sc
cured most of his creditors, and said his
unsecured Indebtedness would not exceed
5000. He returned some of his stock to the
persons from whom he purchased it.
Michael Burns, the cigar dealer. took back
a lot of cigars sold Matter. Matter will go
into the same business at Millersville.
Another saloon which will be closed with
in a few days if a sale of ii is not made
is the Imperial" This is Junes old place
on the 'leVee," and has been looked upon
as a profitable stand. In the halcyon days
under the Sullivan administration 1t was a
paying investment. Latterly. however, the
close surveillance having cut off its most
profitable business. 1t has been run at a
loss. The place is owned by Michael FEEDER
spill. who purchased ii about six months
ago from the brewery sydicate. Federspill
at the time was running Il saloon on the
southeast corner Of Illinois and Georgia
streets. He had made and saved some
He said last night that at the time he sold
out on South Illinois street and bought the
place on the levee he had 81. 400 In cash. He
paid 5000 for the place six months ago.
and has lost all this and the money he had
on hand at the time OF the purchase. He
saws for three months past he has lost SIS
a day i'm the business. He has a mortgage
for $.0O0 resting upon the stock and fix
lures, but aside from this his Indebtedness
is slight. Federspill said last night: THE
day trade in Il place of this kind is. of
course, very light, and under the police
surveillance We cannot secure the night
trade that would otherwise come. 1 have
been trying 10 sell the place for some time
past. 1t Is not the kind of a place that L
care to run. / have a family. and cannot
conduct this place as IL is expected that il
would be conducted"