The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-08-02
Figures That shock MoraIists, but
Cause Government officials to
Wear Pleasant Smiles.
INTERNAL REVENUE RETURNS
THAT SHOW INCREASED CONSUME
TION OF LIQUORS AND TOBACCO.
Enormous Gain I'm Production of CT
sars, Cigarettes and Spirits-Re-
port on Precious stones.


Special to the Indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2.-Cigars and Gig
arcttes by the billion, whisky and beer in
gallons and barrels. respectively, by the
million, and smoking and chewing tobacco
and SNUFF by the millions of pounds were
consumed In the United States during the
past year.
Moralists will be shocked by the figures
embraced in the report of the commissioner
OF internal revenue for the fiscal year 1903,
but the government officials charged with
the duty OF collecting internal taxes wear
q pleased smile as they observe the in
creased production of beer, whisky and to-
bacco. thus guaranteeing a bullying ma
tional pocketbook.
The figures showing the returns for the
past year whisky, beer and tobacco are
Interesting. They demonstrate that the
breweries, distillcries and tobacco houses
of the United States contributed So, 0l6,1 3l
of the total of 500, 1882 representing the
aggregate of taxation from internal sources
during the past fiscal year. Compared with
the preceding year the internal revenue re-
ceipts for 1893 have dropped off about $i0.-
100000 This decline is due to the repeal of
the war taxes by the last Congress. The
output OF beer increased nearly 100000
barrels. but the taxes collected on the
product dropped from 81, 9Ss. 9o2 to $751;,
$50. On the other hand the distilleries of
the United States produced about 10.OOO,OO
more gallons of whisky in 1903 than in the
preceding year, the receipts increasing
more than 100000. making total OF
$1sl. 100000 for 1908.
The quantities Of whisky. beer and tobac-
co. including cigarettes, produced during
1902 and 1903 showing the increase in the
latter year. are as follows:
Spirits (whisky). 1872 1909 Increase g:
Beer, barrels -. 4447Ss32 46.o50.730 All. ssS
Cigars number GsS .ios &C., $50. 7ss
number -..assi. sls. 7s7 .sss $50. s54.sn
Tobacco, chewing
and smoking,
pounds -. 2sse.ssss s1o.sst.ess 49, 800
enun. pounds. Hsn.156 1s,s4o.17 1.1ss.s11
Poker and other games of chance in
which playing cards used must have
had a boom in the past year If the report
OF the commissioner of internal revenue is
60 be believed. In 1902 the taxes on playing
cards amounted TO sS64.677. and in 1903 to
e422. $50, an increase of 1922. $50.
What would happen to u.s." said an old
official of the Internal Revenue Bureau,
were
not for the returns on beer, whisky and to-
bacco? The government must be MAIN
tanned. 1t costs about s6O0O0O,OO0 per an
mum to run the ship of state. The receipts
from customs this year will foot up about
e32s O0O, 900. and from internal revenue $780,
100000. the total income from both sources
amounting to s55S, .OO0."
rT~l.- n A. T-nfx- ca
Geological Survey on precious stones will
soon be made public. The production of
precious stones In this country i'm 1902 ag-
gregated s31s, 800 in value, as compared
with s2S9.05O In 1901 and with 40 in 1900
The total value of the precious stones i'm
ported into the United States during 1902
was SIS. .776. which sum was $55O.2O9 more
than that for the previous year. and twelve
times the value of the importations in 1885,
The report contains. in addition to much
that is of great economic value to the pre-
cious stones industry. many interesting and
curious statements of a more general ma
ture The statement is made. for example,
that the largest pile of diamonds ever
brought together was collected at the De
Beers mine In South Africa in July, 1900.
The directors of the company were DESTROYS
of knowing the quantity of diamonds neces-
eary to fill measure of &c cubic inches.
Diamonds of all kinds were piled up just
[, as they had been mined. aud il was ascer-
tanned that cubic meter of diamonds
weighs u,976.o0o carats and has an approx
Innate value of S7s250.OOO francs, or s75,-
$4,000.
The peculiar business methods of Oriental
merchants is illustrated by the manner of
buying rubies in Burmah In the examina-
ton of rubies artificial light is not used.
the merchants holding that full sunlight
alone can bring out the color and brilliancy
of the gems. Sales must therefore take
place between the hours of 9 and 3. and
the sky must be clear The purchaser.
placed near window, has before him a
large copper plate The sellers come to
him one by one. and each empties upon
this plate his little bag OF rubies The pur-
chaser proceeds to arrange them for yalu-
alton in a number of small heaps. The
first division is into three grades. according
TO size. and each of these piles in turn is
again divided into three groups. according
to shape There are thus twenty-seyen
grades In all. in addition to the larger
Stones that are set aside for valuation
and sale singiy. The bright copper plate
has curious use. The sunlight reflected
from it through the stones brings out q
color effect with true rubies different from
that with red spinels and tourmalines.
which are thus easily separated. The buyer
and seller then go through very peculiar
method Of bargaining by signs, or rather
grips. In perfect silence. After agreeing
on the fairness OF the classifications. they
join their right hands. covered with a
handkerchief or the flap OF garment. and
by grasps and pressures mutually under
stood among all these dealers they make.
modify and accept proposals of purchase
and sale. The hands are then uncovered
and the prices recorded. The large
single stones are valued according to color
and shape. A ruby Of thirty-six and one
half carats from the Megek mine some
years ago brought 5000 rupees (s300OO at
Calcutta
Tobacco was introduced i'm the Philip
pines soon after the Spaniards took pos
session. seed having been brought from
Mexico by missionaries" says a report of
the Insular Bureau OF the War Department.
sLittle effort was made by the government