The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-18
STATISTICS OF LIQUOR TRADE.
One Drinking Place for Every Ninety
Mon In the Country-Iow Appears TO
Lead Kentucky in tho Business-Intor-
csting Figures.

According to the official figures as
cleaned at Washington by Correspond
ent Curtis Of the Chicago Record, there
are POSSESS retail liquor dealers In the
| United States holding licenses from the
commissioner Of internal revenue and
4.555 wholesale liquor dealers. There
are 0,4S6 others who deal only in malt
| liquors at retail and 5.655 who sell only
| malt liquors by wholesale, making a
total of 229,OS4. In addition to these
there are LAO rectifiers and 1,771 brew
ers, making a grand total Of 232. 295 per-
| sons or firms who hold licenses from
the government OF the United States
to make and sell Intoxicating drinks. OF
Assuming the population Of the Unit
ed States to be 65, ,OOO, 900. this gives an
average Of one liquor dealer to every
2S0 men. women and children. Assum-
ing again that two-thirds of the pop
ulation are women and children temp
erance people who do not patronize
saloors. it will be seen that there Is
one drinking place for an average or
ninety-three men in the country. This
is a good text for temperance advo-
Gates.
The largest number OF saloon licenses
issued in any one state was 41,176 in
New York. Illinois has the second place
with 1888. Ohio 15.S1I. Pennsylvania
14.ll3 and California 12.752. Among the
prohibition states Iowa seems to have
the most prosperous liquor traffic. She
has 10 rectifiers, IS breweries, 76 whole
| sale liquor dealers. 4,631 retail liquor
dealers, 3,S wholesale dealers In malt
liquors, 16S retail dealers in malt liquors
only. making a total of 5.213 engaged In
the liquor business. Kansas comes next
with $50 persons and firms engaged in
making and selling liquor, including 1
rectifier. 2 brewers, 13 wholesale and
2,225 retail liquor dealers 80 wholesale
and go retail dealers in beer. 1t Is a
curious fac. that there are 635 more
persons and firms engaged in the liquor
business in the prohibition state OF
Iowa than in Kentucky, where the
manufacture of whisky is considered a
fine art and its consumption an accom-
pllshment.
In the state of Maine 11lS persons
are licensed to manufacture and sell
liquor. in the territory of Alaska "a, in
Oklahoma 575 and in Indian territory
90 Utah Is az free from the whisky
buciness as any other state or territory
There are less than 400 saloons, or one
to every $40 of the population. by the
last census. But this estimate Is not
quite fair to Utah, because the popula-
ton has grown rapidly during the last
five years and is now believed to ex-
ceed $4,000. which would give one sa-
loon to every S75 people. The First dis
trict Of Illinois. In which the city of
Chicago is located. had the honor Of be-
ing credited with the largest number or
liquor licenses-rectifiers. 1876; brewers.
81; wholesale liquor dealers. 261: retail
liquor dealers, 1867: wholesale malt
liquor dealers, 203: retail malt liquor
dealers, 734, making total Of 1882. The
Fourteenth district of New York comes
second. with 1870.
Alaska. Indian Territory, North Da-
kota and Vermont are the only states
and territories without wholesale liquor
dealers Alaska. Florida. Indian terri
tory, Maine. Mississippi, North Caro-
lima, Vermont and Wyoming nave no
breweries.