The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-12-29
GEORGIA'S WIT RESERVE
EVERYBODY STOCKING UP FOR
PROHIBITION DROUGHT.

EVERYBODF STOCKING UP FOk
PROHIBITION DROUGHT.
Procession Of Bugs and BOTTLES From enc
200 Condemned saloons 60 the Homes
Of ProbibIaIOuists NM Others-SOme
Vendors Moving. some Co SELL Soda.
ATLANTA, Ga, Dec. 2s.-Nearly every
saloon in the State is displaying the follow
ing legend:
Hush. little barroOm.
Don't you cry,
YOull he a drug store
BY and by.
Meanwhile Georgians are buying whiskey
as II possessed with the idea that when
prohibition goes into effect on January 1
liquor will disappear from the earth. An
endless procession Of bottles and jugs has
been moving from the 800 saloons and whole
sale liquor houses Of Georgia for the last
three weeks.
The liquor is not being bought for i'm
mediate consumption. but Ia stored away in
anticipation OF the great drought that will
strike Georgia after the first day Of January.
1908.
IA curious feature OF this whiskey buying
isl that 10 is not confined to whiskey users.
A. a matter OF fact s~sloOnists state that
persons who do not use whiskey are showing
more anxiety about laying In a supply than
those persons who use il regularly. In
many cases prohibitionists rave stocked
their closets with a supply OF in~toxiOantsnot
for use as n beverage. but so that IL may be
handy in case Of necessity.
1t is said that ON last Thursday the cash
sales OF one Atlanta firm which operates a
distillery and sells any quantity from a
quart up aggregated over $4,000. And
nearly all OF this whiskey went into the clos
cts of Georgia homes.
IL should be borne in mine that the State
prohibition law really affected only a few
counties in Georgia. Under the local option
law the prohibitionists had succeeded in
voting whiskey out OF l25 counties before
they moved for a State prohibition statute.
When the Legislature passed the general
law saloons were in operation in Georgia
only at Atlanta, Augusta. Macon. Columbus.
Savannah, Albany. Americus and Bruins
wick. In a few other counties, possibly
twelve, there we're no saloons, but dis
pensaries were operated by the county and
municipal authorities, and the profits used
for local government purposes.
Although saloons existed in 40 few coun-
ties they paid a great sum in taxes. a. since
the prohibition forces became so strong
there has been n steady increase in the
license.
For instance. in Atlanta there are 1872
saloons and each paid a license OF 81 1000
TO the city and $500 to the State. The
Atlanta license. however. was the highest
in Georgia.
According to figures given at the State
Capitol there are 400 saloons in Georgia
ana they pay the State s24O. 900. The
municipal license paid by these saloons
mounts to about $3.50. 900. so that the State
and municipalities lose about 81 900. 600 In
revenue by the prohibition law. In addi-
ton TO these $40 saloons there are live large
brewerles located at Atlanta. Macon, Au-
gusta, Savannah and Columbus. There are
also six large grain distilleries in the State.
And the breweries and distilleries go u
with the saloons.
Il Is estimated that the $40 saloons and
the breweries and distilleries represent an
investment Of about 81, OOO, 600. This esti-
mate, OK course, excludes liquors and beer
on hand and applies only TO bar fixtures
and to plant ard appliances used by brew
cries and distilleries 20 manufacture.
II il also estimated that there are 1000
persons in Georgia who are directly or
indirectly connected with the whiskey
business and who must leave the State il
they wish to continue in the liquor traffic.
or II they remaln must engage in other
lines Of trade.
The wholesalers will move TO other States !
and continue the liquor business. The
majority Of them have arranged 10 open
at Chattanooga, Tenn, and Jacksonville,
Fla. and they hope to do a rushing express
business in Georgia. The indications are
that than will NOT ha dioannoinfaA Gnpna
OF the retailers will go TO other States and
OPEN saloons, but the majority will remain
in Georgia and engage IN other lines of
business, generally cigars. tobacco n
soft drinks.
The prohibition law falls hardest on the
brewers. who have invested largely IN
valuable real estate and machinery. IL
is said that the brewers are experimenting
with a "jagless' beer and will put IL on the
market soon after January /.
There has been no decrease of rent, al
though hundreds OF houses have been
made vacant by the prohibition law, In
Atlanta all central saloon properties nave !
been taken FOR other lines Of business at
increased rentals. and reports indicate
that the same is true in the other cities
OF the State affected by the law. OF course
there has been a decrease in the rental
Of the properties occupied by the dive"
saloons, but many business men seem TO
think this IL a good thing. as IL will force
owners to improve the property and thus
make the streets on which the dives" are
located respectable.
The general opinion seems TO be that
the law will be strictly enforced except in
a few localities. Some trouble N expected
in enforcing the law in Savannah and
Augusta. The prohibition sentiment is
not so strong in those cities and il is pre-
dicted that there will be many blind tigers
The negroes ara viewing the approach Of
prohibition with dolervl faces.
II il safe TO say that the white persons
who nave their closets stocked with liquors
and who let the news get abroad among
the negroes will have no trouble with the
servant problem after January I, 1904.
THEATRICAL MANAGERS UNITE.