Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-06-04
WHAT STRONG DRINK cosrs.
Great Fortunes Spent Yearly for Az.
coholtc Beverages and Coffee.

W6Au 0uhON0 DRINK COSTS.
Great Fortunes Spent Yearly for AL!
coholic Beverages aud Coffee.
The New York American Grocer Of.
Wednesday last produces q number Of
interesting facts to show that the "hard
times have contributed to a notable
diminution in the use of all kinds Of
beverages-particularly spirits" 1t is
conceded that causes other than
hard times may have had some effect.
Bicycles, for example, may have lessen
ed the patronage of saloons. But thefig-
ures demonstrate, according to the Gro
Ger, that the consumption Of alcoholic
stimulants has not increased, while the
use Of the milder beverages has barely
been steady" In 1892 and 1893 the
consumption Of spirits per citizen was
one and half gallons, OF wine nearly
half a gallon. of beer fifteen gall
Ions, while in 1896 the average con-
sumption of spirits was one gallon, Of
wines one quart and of beer fifteen gall
Ions. The figures seem to show a sur
prising decrease in the amount of whis-
ky and wine consumed. 1t may be OBJ
served, however, that the Grocer fails
to note that the internal tax on spirits
was considerably increased by the tar
iff of 1894, with the result, no doubt, OF
decreasing the lawful distillation. The
higher the tax the higher the premium
on secret production and consumption.
1t is not impossible that the apparent
decline of consumption IL due in part
to increased fraud on the internal rev.
enle officers. The decrease in manu.
fact,lres in the last few years has in-
cluded also Industries in which alcohol
is an important raw material. so that
part of the decreased consumption of
spirits is thus accounted for.
The official reports show that our ILL.,
263, 5000 people in 1896 consumed H.
O51, ,S77 gallons of spirits, or no more
than 5S, S,6S0,OOO consumed in 1887. Asl
about II 100000 gallons of spirits are
annually used in manufactures, accord
ing to the Grocer, the quantity actual
ly used as II beverage is about 6O,OOO,-
600 gallons. Barrooms make sixty
drinks out of gallon and get at the
lowest calculation about $3.50 for it.
The nations whisky bill in 1896 was,
therefore, $27O,OOO, 600, as against $780,
100000 in 1893. when the consumption
was 1O1 100000 gallons. The govern
ment lost S14, 900 of revenue by the
decreased consumption. Reer is more
largely consumed now than formerly.
The consumption per citizen twenty,
years ago was but six and half gal
1rnS ;,,
The total consumption of beer in 1896
was 1,OS0, 0,G2G, 1G5 gallons, on which tlle
government received n revenue of $685.,
139.141. The aggregate amount of the
national beer bill is estimated at $541,-
963,34S. Wine is little used by our peo-.
pie. In 1887 we produced 27,7O6, 600
gallons and imported 4,G1S, 900 gallons,
whereas in 1896 we produced but 14,-
$4,000 gallons and imported 4,101 ,OG0l
gallons-a large decrease. The nation's
bill for wine in 1896 was $40, 73O, ,OOO.
The total cost Of our alcoholic bever-!
ages in that year the Grocer places at
1851 .693, ,S32, some $14O,OOO,OOO less
than in 1892 Good times" it infers.,
''foster the use of alcoholic stimulants."
AS popular stimulant coffee ranks
next to beer. In 1896 the people, 1t is
estimated, drank 962 ,OsS, ,6S2 gallons Of
coffee, made from 4S1, ,O44, ,346 pounds o,
the berries and costing $12O, ,261 ,OS6.
The average consumption was 9.61
pounds in 1892 and SO4 pounds in 1896.
OF tea, the consumption in the latter
year Is placed at AGO. 7O1, 600 gallons,
made from 93,S4O 600 pounds of tea
imported at retail cost of $31, Ill.,
1872. Cocoa was imported to the extent
Of $2,630,900 worth, much of which
was used for confectionery. The ag-
gregate drink bill of the nation in alco-
holic and nonalcoholic is figured at ST.
DIG, 10000, or $14.31 per citizen.-Bal.
timore Sun.