Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-10-10
10, 900 inhabitants.

poverty is practically unknown ex.
cept in the slums of Christiania
About 5000 persons are sent TO pris.
on every year by the Norwegian
courts. During the last ten years
the average has been 3,O45. of whom
2565 were men and 4S0 women. In
spite of the growth of the population,
the actual number of convictions ex-
hibits decrease during the last thir-
ty years, the average number during
the five years previous to the adoption
of the Gothenburg system being 179
per 100000 inhabitants, and ISL dur
ing the last five years. The decrease
in crime, however, has also been at
| tributed TO the improved educational
| facilities.
More than 2O,00O000 kroners have
been distributed among the benevo-
lent institutions of Norway by the be
nevolent liquor monopolies during the
thirty years in which they have had
charge of the traffic. The disposi-
| tion of the money has covered a wide
| range. In looking over the list of
beneficiaries ! find homes for friend
| less, museums. orphanages, sailors
| homes, homes for repentant Magda-
| lens. total abstinence societies, tree
planting societies. public libraries, la
| borers' rests seamen's snug harbors,
schools for trained nurses, theatres,
parks. maternity asylums, art schools
homes for discharged prisoners. day
| nurseries, reading rooms, free laun-
dries, free bathing houses. children s
play grounds. historical monuments,
preservation of historical buildings,
musical unions. young mems Chris
tian associations free gymnasiums.
homes for aged people and other simi-
lar institutions.
When the plan was inaugurated in
Norway, after seven years of expert
ence in Sweden. it was discovered that
several saloon keepers had vested
rights in licenses granted by royal
favor or by the municipal authorities
years before-some of them in past
centuries. These rights have been
purchased In nearly every instance
from the profits of the Gothenburg
agencies and cancelled Several per-
sons holding municipal licenses in
Christiania Burgen and other large
he ground that they had been carry
ing on respectable saloon business
for years without complaint from the
public or the police. and had invested
their entire means in buildings, fur
nishings and stock in trade. The
Samlag bought out as many as would
sell on reasonable terms, including
their stocks OF liquors and in several
cases employed trustworthy saloon
keepers as managers and bar keepers
at their agencies. Other saloon keep
ers who We're more obstinate, appeal
to the courts for protection. but judg-
ment was rendered against them in
every instance without a farthing of
damages. In Chrstiana the chief
hotels and restaurants have been al
lowed sub-licenses to sell whiskey and
ouher distilled liquors to their many
guests either in their rooms or at
their meals. but in all other cities and
towns If hotel guest wants a drink
he must go to the nearest samlag
agency and be served over the coun-
ter like any ordinary customer or
send a messenger out to purchase a
bottle.
The sale of wines and ales is not in
cluded in the franchises of the Goth
enburg societies and is practically
without restriction. Special liceDs-
es, however, are required, and can lie
Obtained from the police authorities
upon the payment of compare lively
small fee. Hence such saloons are
numerous, and the local treasures
derive considerable revenue from
them All the Norwegian brewerics
and beer saloons appear to be flour
ishing, and during the summer even
ings an immense quantity of light liq-
uor is consumed at the outside cafes
and the public gardens and music
halls, but there is comparative little
drunkenness. 1t takes long time
for an ordinary individual to become
intoxicated upon the light Norwegian
beer At the same time We're all
the wine and beer shops under such
restrictions as the Gothenburg system
affords it would no doubt be IA great
blessing to the community and i'm.
prove the condition of the poor, who
waste a large part of their earnings
at the beer saloons. The advocates
of the Gothenburg system look for
ward to day when the beer and wine
trade will fall into their hands, and
are already endeavorlng whenever
possible. to purchase the permanent
licenses that have been granted by
the crown in past generations. Sew
eral of the samlags have special
fund for this purpose, to which por-
tion of their annual profits Is applied.
WILLIAM Q. CURTIS.