The Newtown bee., 1903-05-08
COUNTY.
Issued March, 1853.

Fellow Citizens: Having taken much pains to ascertain to what extent this town is concerned in the manufacture, traffic, and use of intoxicating drinks, and finding the facts in the case such as, we think, ought to be made public, we offer for your consideration the following statements:
 We learn from the proper sources of such information, that during the year 1852, there were brought into the town, and consigned to the several places where intoxicating drinks are publicly sold, 2,lOo gallons of foreign distilled liquors. We think it just to conclude, that fully this amount has been consumed by our own citizens, since they have probably purchased as much abroad, as others, not inhabi- tants of this town, have purchased here.
 Of cider, made at four mills last autumn, we find the amount to be not less than 1,5OO barrels, one half of which has been distilled, producing 2,250 gallons of brandy. Of the re- maining half, we allow 100 barrels for vinegar, which will leave $50 tor con sumption as beverage. This, if distilled, would 1900 gallons of brandy, and is, therefore, equivalent to that as intoxicating drink.
 Of other fermented drinks, as wine and beer of various sorts, we have not the means of ascertaining the amount used, though it must be considerable. Leaving these out of account, there fore, or setting them off against what is used for medicinal and mechanical purposes, we find the amount used equivalent to 6, 300 gallons of distilled liquor.
 Now, taking the population of the place to be l, 400, which number exceeds the last census by about 50, we find that $500 gallons for the town would make At gallons for each individual, man, woman, and child. But out of our 300 voters, there are 12O strictly temperance men; and we think it not erroneous to say that One-half of our population are women and children who make no use of intoxicating drinks. But, lest we Over-eStimate in this last particular, we will add to the side of these women and children, the 12O temperance men, making the whole number of abStinent persons equal to one-half the population. The remain ing half, therefore, are the consumers of the aforesaid $500 gallons of distilled liquor or it's equivalent in cider. The cost of this, at the low late of Csc a gallon, would amount to S4OOO But much of it is purchased by the glass, at much higher rate. We believe that the actual cost of all liquors con- sumed by the citizens of this town, certainly if we include what is used for medicinal and mechanical purposes, will not fall short of S5OOO.
 This sum, if expended for the moral and intellectual improvement of our citizens, would support minister of the gospel in each of our four churches on salary of S6OO, furnish each of our seven school districts with a well qualified teacher the year round, pay ing him S25 month, and leave $500 annually to be laid out in building, re- pairing and adorning our schoolhouses, furnishing the schools with libraries, maps, .globes, and other apparatus essential to a well-conducted school; thus furnishing superior advantages for the education of all the children of our town. Or, if this sum were de- voted exclusively to educational pur- poses, it would support a well-fur' l nished, well-conducJed academy in every district in the town. But, in- stead of being thus employed, in the intellectual cultivation of the rising generation, and the moral and religious improvement of our whole community it is chiefly expended in the support o1 demoralizing influences, and for the in crease of idleness, dissipation anc pauperism
 If any one is disposed to call ir question the above statement respect ing the amount and cost of liquors
 consumed in the town, let him conside
 whether he himself is not consumin,
 his proportion. You are doing nor
 than this, if you are averaging half gill of liquor day, or it's equivalen
 in cider, or are drinking at an expens
 to yourself of one penny day; as little arithmetical calculation will cor
 vince you. Half gill day, for eac of 1, 400 inhabitants would amount i
 the year to 1884 gallons: and one cen
 day for each. to the sum of $5, 11O. l 5 you average one gill, or two cent! l worth day, you are consuming mol than your proportion, as one ( I the 700 who, we say, are the consumer
 of the $500 gallons. Many occasions
 drinkers do not come up to this; bl = many there are who far exceed i - They who equal it, cannot with ar grace dispute our figures.
 The direct cost of these liquors
 borne, and tbeir direct intluen f felt, by the consumers alone; but the
 are indirect costs and influences cOmi1 Y from them in which we all share.
 is for persons interest in many I
 spects to livein a moral, enterprisin
 thriving community: and whatev ! tends to prevent public prosperit tends to prevent individual also. . then, the town is suffering through u blighting influence of intoxicatiI drinks; if these are paralyzing t . enegies, and checking the enterpri of a portion of the citizens; if they a causing idleness where otherwise the