The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1908-02-12

II
than LOCO men left the city in search
OF work. The local papers were full
OF advertisements offering TO rent
property at so per cent Of the former
rental. sIxty-four large brick stores
ON the best streets were vacant
Al a period of most active enforce
ment of tie law in Kansas the Attor-
ney General of the State wrote:
"These cities, are all in debt, and the
financial condition OF the country is so
low. the times so hard and money SO
scarce that the people Of these cities
have concluded to acquiesce in the
policy Of collecting license taxes
from the llquor-vending Institutions"
In Rhode Island the depressing eff
feet of the laws was 50 severely felt
that after one years trial the mer-
chants, manufacturers and property
owners united in petition, signed by
the best men of Providence, represent
ing $40, 100000 of property, asking the
abolition Of the law.
In Atlanta pol business houses and
912 dwellings were vacated through
local option. Where room or build
ing became vacant under prohibition
It stood unoccupied or was rented at
a lower figure than before, The de-
cline in rents throughout the city was
from 15 to so per cent. There was no
demand for real estate. house on
the court house square, which was as
sessed for taxation at $4,000, sold for
$4,000. A house and lot in most de-
sirable portion OF the city. the house
alone costing $4,000 to build, was
sold by Charles Beernan for 10000.
Tue Weems property on Capitol ave-
me, one OF the artlstocratic streets
which was held before prohibition at
SIS. 900, was sold for $4,000. Sales
at similar reductions were frequent.
Smaller places have suffered even
moro severely under prohibition.
Within few months after its adop-
ton weatherford, Texas, had 81
waxahatchie, Texas. 60; Sulphur
Springs. Texas. "A. ,and Crockett.
Texas, 90 vacant buildings, and rents
had dropped Is to Al per cent.
The following letter shows the re
suits in one town:
Temple, Texas, March IS, 1904.
prohibition has very materially de
creased the rents in Temple, a great
many buildings being vacant that can
not be rented at any price. The Moss
Rose building. formerly renting at $50,
is now renting for 500; the Peoples
building rented for $50, now renting
for SIS; the Square building, rented
for 500; now renting for $50; the
Eagle building rented for Sc, now
renting for s25. These are Just few
examples; We could mention a great
fnany Others. Experience has taught
us that prohibition is not what is was
represented to be. Very truly,
~, B. WATERS, Mayor"
The Denlson, Texas, Gazetteer says:
.sNhen prohibition carried in this coun.
ty we were assured that the houses
vacated by saloons would rapidly fill
up with other lines of business and
that the city would be more prosper
Gus than ever. Instead of new bust
mes coming, number OF commercial
houses have moved away. ]. Lanman
who was conducting a restaurant and
rooming house for years. says his bust
ness Is played out and he will leave
the city for good; Lantz, one OF the
largest and E'.,st successful furniture
dealers In the city. has sold out his
stock and 1t will be moved to sher'
man; Pole, the shoe man, is closing
cut lis stock to quit business; the
Herald Shoe Co.'s stock has been dis
posed of to Knight; the Pollock Trunk
Co. is going back to Dallas; Brazelle
dealer in confectionery, fruit, tobacco
and cigars, has quit; the Tip-Top cloth
ing and furnishing stock was closed
out at cost and the proprietor has left
the city. We hear OF other merchants
who contemplate winding up their at,
fairs"
The Inland Grocer says: MERCHANTS
in dry counties complain that their
former customers drive a dozen miles
farther to reach wet town than
would be necessary for them to do
business in dry section. and their
business goes to large extent to the
wet towns. In large Ohio city in
which district local option prevails
merchants in the dry districts com
plain of diversion of their best trade
to the wet districts. In one dry sec
ton we observe on Saturday night
BARRIERS who had been usually hard at
work. sitting idly before their shops,
green stuff being removed from grocer
windows to the garbage can and a
sunday quiet on the streets which