The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1899-01-06
Some startling Figures.

d
ception of the magnitude of the
liquor traffic in our country. In
1896, according to the reports of
the Internal Revenue Depart
ment, there were over 121 600
registered saloon keepers and
liquor dealers in the United
States. Allowing twenty feet
frontage to each saloon, which is
very modest estimate, if they
were placed side by side they
would reach in one unbroken line
from New York to Chicago.
The consumption Of spirituous
and malt liquors and wines of
1896 was LILO, ,379, 44S gallons.
The consumption of malt liquors
alone was 1,0SO, ,626, 165 gallons.
AS there are about fifteen glass
es of beer in a gallon, that would
would make over sixteen billions
of drinks of course, these figures
are beyond all comprehension.
A million Is vast number; few
people have any idea how vast it
is; and when we talk about six
teen thousand millions of drinks
of beer, it is like trying to com
prehend the lenght Of the geolog
ic ages, or the distance Of the
nebulae. And yet that was the
amount of malt liquor that pass
ed down American throats in
1896.
OF course in business of such
magnitude as this the money in
volved is enormous. The in
ternal revenue receipts for the
fiscal year 1897 were from spirits
$50, ,OO8, ,543, from fermented liq-
ours, S32, Az, 1862; or a total Of
S114, 480, ,705.
1t is estimated that nine hund-
red millions are spent for liquor
annually in the United States.
The entire mineral product of
1896, including gold, silver, iron,
copper, lead, zinc, quicksilver,
and aluminium, was about $3.50,
100000. That is to say, more
than three and a half times as
much is spent for drink as the
value of all the metals from our
mines. The amount spent for
liquor is more than four times
the value Of all the bituminous
and anthracite coal produced an
nually. Three times the value
of the woolen manufactures, as
given in the census of 1890, was
spent in that year for drink.
The American hog is consider
ed great institution. We have
sometimes been almost ready to
go to war with France and Ger
many for putting restrictions on
our pork and lard; and yet the
entire export Of these products
to al. the world is only about
eighty three millions of dollars in
value, or less than one-tenth o1
the liquor bill. We could alb
solutely give away all the pro
visions and lard which we now
export to foreign countries, and
save the whole amount on beer
The two great cereal crops o1
the United States are corn and
wheat. The value of the corr
crop of 1896, according to the re
port Of the Department Of Agri
culture, was S491, OO6, ,967; wheat
1910, ,602, $50; a total Of 1901, ,6O9,
SOC; or nearly hundred millions
less than the drink bill. The
whole number of buildings and
loan associations in the United
States is 5,838. and their tota
assets are about $3.50, 900, 600
only one-half as much as the Ii
quor bill.
The interest on 5000, 900, 900 al
4 per cent. would be equal te
twice the income Of all the uni
versities and colleges in the
United States, as reported to
the Bureau of Education.
Perhaps these comparisons
will give a clearer idea of the
vastness of the liquor traffic than
can be obtained many other way.
Add together the value of the
useful and precious metals yield
ed by our mines, of all the BIZ
luminous and anthracite coal pro-
duced and Of all the woolen manu-
factures of the United States,
you are still 800, 900, 600 short Of
the money spent for intoxicants.
The industries referred to in
this comparison are useful in
dustries. Every ton of iron
manufactured, every ton Of coal
drawn from natures great store
house, represents SO much pro-
fitable employment for labor.
Every ounce Of copper, silver, or
gold adds that much to the
nations wealth. Every blankets