Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-07

thoroughly mix the balls containing tire
numbers reaches into the cage and draws
one out This is opened and the number
drawn announced by the mayor OF tue
city. who officiates at all of the drawings,
and the action Is repeated until four num-
bers have been taken from the gage. These
four figures placed In the order drawn
constitute the winning number. which Sc
cures the capital prize of Si.OO. III your
ticket contains the last three numbers or
the winning number you get $50. Should
the number you hold be nine above or nine
below the winning number you draw q
prize of $1J. In addition to the above
there are ninety prizes of $40 and 800 OF e
each.
The crowd at these weekly drawings is
quiet and orderly, no police are III attend
ance and there is never any demonstra-
ton. For tie benefit of those who are
not able to be present the winning num-
Der is pasted on boards located for the
purpose throughout the cities of Panama
and Colon. Although the Panama lottery
is a stock company, il is probably owned
and certainly controlled by its founder, j..
Gabriel Duque This progressive gentle
man is native Cuban of Spanish origin.
He secured an exclusive concession from
the federal states of Panama in 1884 to
establish lottery on the isthmns, and
Immediately began operations In 1891,
finding that his concession was threatened
and that it was advisable from a business
point of view to have others interested in
what had become an institution of national
interest and Importance, he organized 4
stock company. The capital stock con-
sisted of 2.G00 shares of a par value Of
S1G0 each. of which Duque retained enough
to leave him in absolute control The
stock has proved a good Investment. and
there is none for sale now at any price.
Pays Large Dividends.
The company is at present paying 20 per
cent dividends each quarter on one drawing
weekly, and the promoters expect to inau-
gurate two weekly drawings in the near
future. which it is calculated will double
the earnings of the company. The director
general of Panama justifes the existence
of the lottery company by claim ng that 1t
furnishes large number of poor people
with an opportunity to make an honest
living, and that as the native PanamaDisn
Is natural gambler the lottery furnished
him with the least objectionable form for
gratifying his propensities in that direction.
The ticket sellers, whose names are legion,
are paid per cent of the total amount or
their sales for their services and in
great many cases accept lottery tickets In
lieu of cash.
1t was recently suggested to Mr.. Duque
that possibly the existence of a large gam
bling institution on the iSthmus might not
be in accord with Uncle Sans idea of good
government. 1t is said he does not appre-
hend however, that the advent of the
United States government officials will re-
suit in any interference with the lottery,
and as the republic of Panama has agreed
to recognize all existing concessions. 1t is
difficult to see how the United States gov
eminent. under its present treaty with
Panama. could put stop to the gambling.
even If II We're so disposed. In all proba-
bility. therefore. Mr.. Duque will continue
the sale of lottery tickets, for the present
at least.