Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-09-20
YORKYILLE DIsPENsARY.

some special work.
YORKVILLE DISPENSARY.
A representative of the Rock Hill
Journal. who was in Yorkville a few
days ago, took occasion to make some
Investigations with regard to the con-
duct of the whisky business In this
place, and published the result in his
paper Of yesterday. He deals with the
subject somewhat superficially, but
fairly, so far as he goes, and his ar
ticle is quite readable. He learns.
among other things, that the blind tiger
business has about been wiped out; but
that the consumption Of liquor is
steadily increasing, not only among
people in comfortable circumstances;
but among those who can indulge only
at the expense Of food and clothing for
their families He finds that the daily
expenses Of the dispensary are IS, and
the monthly net profits mounting up
like this: June s241.44; July. $314.11; Au-
gust s354.62. His article winds up with
summary of his conclusions followed
by statements Of number Of citizens
with whom he has talked as follows:
From what could gather through
interviews with merchants, the dispen-
sary has not only brought about no In
crease in trade, but has greatly lessen
ed cash sales. Some merchants Will
tell you about what they believe the
town Is gaining or may gain by reason
of the attraction furnished, while 9TH
ers will talk the other way, but when
you pin them down to facts they know
Of their own personal knowledge or by
trustworthy reports to exist they can't
specify. I was able to get hold OF less
than a half a dozen instances Of custo-
mers. coming to Yorkville on this ac-
count. This was offset by about an
equal number of opposite instances.
Most of the merchants say they have
lost in cash trade; that many Of their
out-of-town customers pay their cash
for whisky and get their groceries. etc.,
ION time"
When 1 asked Mayor Willis for an
expression he turned sharply In his
chair from his desk on learning was
from Rock Hill and said:
IF you people put in dispensary over
there you will make the mistake Of your
lives; you will never be able to make
up for the damage you will do. York
ville's benefit has been very doubtful,
but Rock Hill Is so differently situa-
ted; conditions in so many important
particulars so different that what
might do for Yorkville in this particu-
lar would work sure damage to Rock
Hill. With your cotton mills and your
Winthrop college the advertisement to
the world that you had gone into the
whisky business would be foolish to
say the least, If you counted no other
consequences.
Eyes, I do know Of one man who is
coming here to trade now simply for
the reason that he can get a drink
conveniently. But on the whole be-
lieve Yorkville is losing in a business
way. In many instances money that ts
now being spent for whisky should go
to pay accounts and would go that
way if the dispensary were out of the
way. I don't know 1t to be q fact, but
there is much drinking and disorder
now on the roads leading out Of York
vile in all directions, though there is
no more Of it in town, and the thing
has had the effect Of killing out. the.
blind tigers. I have heard a number OF
substantial people say that. hereafter
they will come to Yorkville only when
they are obliged to do so. It Is my
humble advice to Rock Hill to fight
the establishment Of dispensary from
the standpoint Of the prosperity Of the
town II from no other"
Superintendent c.. F. James, Of the
Tavora Cotton mill, a small one, em-
ploying 100 hands, says conditions at
his mill have improved. He had much
trouble from tigers Zone was located
in the mill village for time), but that
there was much less drinking now and
he gets better police protection.
The management Of the York Cotton
mill property, embracing a large VII
Iage just out Of town, says the dispen-
sary has been a decided curse to their
people; that they are much worse on
than with the tigers. There Is much
more drinking now than formerly and
this Is telling on the quality OF the
work.
Mr.. Beard, Of Beard & Carroll, who
do large time business: "The dispenA
sary hasn't improved business condi-
tions so far as I can see-certainly not
for u.s. I can see the small accounts
up, the cash going to pay for
whisky"
]. W. Carr, druggist: believe 1t will
help. have observed instances Of mill
people running accounts and spending
their cash at the dispensary, but l
can't say but that this money would
have gone to the tigers anyway. I
know of one or two cases Of men who
formerly traded in Rock Hill now COM
ing here to trade on this account. I
have heard of but don't know Of
instances the other way. The better
class of farmers are business people
who won't be influenced one way or the
other by the dispensary; they continue
to trade here for business reasons.
J. e. Lowry. farmer, ex-mayor and
ex-candidate for the legislatures: II
think Yorkville has taken step in the
right direction, and believe Rock Hill
and Fort Mill will do right to follow
suit: that thereby the tax burden
would be greatly reduced. I frequent
Iy visit my place six miles out of town;
[ notice no difference now in the drink
ing on the road. believe business con-
ditions will improve 20 per cent. in the
next twelve months"
Mr.. Williams, speaking for j. M.
Heath & Co.. the largest business In
the town, said: I'VE prefer the dispen-
sary to the tigers for the good effect it's
having on Negro labor, but can't see
that 1t has improved trade. We are
for not now being bothered
with that nasty, low-down blind tiger
business"
Thomas w. Speck. jeweler: II had