Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1908-06-27
Prohibition In Kansas.

of 100000 inhabitants - has
caused unprecedented prosperity
in all lines of business. The
brewers throughout the country
are. persistently asserting that
because the city closed the saloons
it is goingto ruin; that real estate
values are depreciating, people are
moving away, hundreds Of build
|ings are vacant, taxes have been
increased, bank deposits are drop
ping off, and the city is without
funds to Pay running expenses.
These assertions, which have been
-fauted before the public in page
advertisements, in newspapers and
huge posters on bi!l-b'ards,' have
all been proved untrue. A con-
servative estimate made by bankers
of Kansas City, Kan, is that the
city is saving two and a half
million dollars annually by the
enforcement of the prohibition law.
The banks we're never in better
Ioondition than now. The deposits
of March 5, this year, were $14, 1872. {,
666. 81, as against 91O, $3.50, 1871.
June 6, 1906, an increase of35 per
cent. in the % months since the
sa 'oons were closed. The post
office receipts increased Is per
cent. in the year subsequent to the
closing of the saloons New build
ings in 1906, Of which there were
sos, cost 81, 900, 600. In 1907, 944
buildings were erected at a cost Of
81, 472, 900, while at the same time
in additions outside the city 500
houses were built. The same, year
twenty.ssY new manufactures
! were added: "a the the industries
! of the cityrsr Al the buildings
formerly occupied by the saloons,
which. are suitable for other than
SWEET" goods are now coupled by
q legitimate business. There was
never greater activity than now. in
the. building of churches. The
number of foreclosure suits has de-
|ereased since the saloons, while
Icity improvements are being great;
lily increased. The assessed valuation
Of all property taxable in the city
which represents 20 per cent.
/ of the actual value, was, $12.83l,-
$50 for 1906 and for 1907 it. was
l$13, 875, $40. The increase in 1885,.
! 61O. The bonded indebtedness
decreased s245, 900 in 1907, when
There was no ns elXgeepu from liquor
".jOints. +" Last year with, nOsalOOu
1.-THE city taxes were reduced 20 cents
on each 500 of assessed, valuation.
Because of increasing population
| it was found necessary to issue
5000, 900 in school bonds to build
new buildings, and $3.50, 900 more
is to be issued soon for similar pur.
poses. The police judge says there
is less drunkenness since the closing
saloons that in the history of the
city; this is to be taken into consid,
Grafton in connection with the fact
that Kansas City, Mo-, with hun
dreds of saloons, is separate d from
it only by imaginary state line.
Grocers in all parts of the city
report better sales. Fewer cases
of poverty are reported, and the
secretary of the Associated Charities
says moral conditions are better
than ever before. known. The
records, of the County Court show
fewer cases on the docket than for
years. In 1905, with saloons,
eighteen homicides were reported,
while in 1907, without saloons,
there were thirteen hOmicides. OF
course this includes murders and
accidental killings. Since July 1,
1906, and every one the 256 saloons
was closed, the remarkable results
detained are an increase of more
than three and three quarters of a
million dollars i'm banE d..YnOcik.