The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1903-01-14

board OF control OF the dispensary has
fled its annual report. It is almost
entirely statistical and deals with the
business Of the Establishment. The
only suggestion OF the board is that it
must maintain large stock Of goods.
The report is very brief and to the
point, outside OF the tables, and reads
as follows:
Columbia, January 9, 1908.
To His Excellency, NJ. B. McSweeA
ney, Governor of South Carolina:
We have the honor to submit here
with statement of the business done
by the State and county dispensaries
during the fiscal year ending Novem-
Der so, 1902.
By reference to the several state
ments hereto attached you will note
that zathe total cost for the year of Ii
quors, beer, wines, ETC., has amounted
to 81, ,664, $40. II, and the total sales
Exclusive of fresh beer-have been
50, 406. 243. SO.
The net earnings for account of the
school fund for the fiscal year, which
have been placed to its credit, have
amounted to S123, 500. 81.
The net profits that have accrued TO
and have been equally divided between
the counties and towns have Eeen
s443, 1873. 76. We have paid from our
assets into the school fund one semi
annual payment of $4,000 and will,
within two weeks, pay $4,000 more,
looking to reduction of the school
fund, as required by Act Of the Gene
raj Assembly, approved February 2G,
1902. In addition to that We have
paid the quarterly earnings as they
have accrued in favor Of tie school
fund for the nine months since this
Act became effective, which have
amounted to s92, 1881, making the
total payments for the school fund for
the year amount to s142, 755. 81. Add
to this the amounts paid to towns and
counties we find that our grand total
Of payments for the year for public
purposes amounts to $685., 954. 81.
You will note that the total net
earnings of the State and county dis
pensaries for the several funds above
mentioned amount to 1858, 1913. 33. The
Act approved February 26, 1902, re-
quires Us to reduce the school fund to
s400, 600 by the first of January next,
and if school fund" is interpreted to
mean "stock in hand, 'swe have 5e
report that this requirement is impos-
sible of accomplishment if We are ez-
pected to meet the public demand for
the various kinds of liquors, beer and
wines, etc. Since the State is attempt
ing to enforce monopoly of the sale
of liquors, we have felt it our duty 80
try as nearly as is consistent with
good business principles to supply
every legitimate demand for the popular
brands of liquors, and if We keep in
stock reasnable supply Of each kind
it necessarily involves the investment
of large amount of money. You can
readily see that if we do not maintain
our stock of these brands required by
consumers and not furnished by us
will be imported from abroad for per-
sonal use, Or by blind tigers.
We have now in county dispensaries
alone stock Of s406, 1913 G5, which is
not excessive for this season OF the
year. We have real estate, fixtures,
etc., at the State dispensary in Colum-
bia, which cost $50, Ills and if his
amount is deducted from the maximum
amount allowed by the Act referred
to our total stock of merchandise and
supplies would be only $40, 663. 88,
which would be s65, 312.l7 less than is.
now in the local dispensaries, and
nothing in the State dispensary frcm
which to supply the county dispeHs-
aries. It is, therefore, our opinion
that the State cannot maintain the dis
pesnary system upon working capital
Of only $500, 900.
In conclusion We are glad TO be able
to report that Judging from ali ia
formation coming to rs, the dispeBs-
ary system has largely increased ia
popularity as being the best solution Of
The sale of intoxicating liquors.
Respectfully submitted: L. ). Wsd-
liams, H. H. Evans, A. F. H. Dukes