The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-17
MADISON WAS PROUD !
OF ITS D|SPENSARY
Yielded Nearly $4,000 Net
During It's Short Life
WAS AID TO TEMPERANCE
Charge-Graft Practically ImpOs-
sibIe Under Arrangements
In Madison County


Huntsville, June 16.-(special) Madison
county's dispensary was in operation 2z1s
months and in that time made reputa-
ton for itself which now makes the de-
sire for its return almost unanimous
1t succeeded IS saloons and has been sue
ceeded in turn by 36 soft drink stands,
which make soft drinks side line.
The dispensary here was regarded as
the best regulated and most successful
In the state. 1t promoted temperance, 1t
was a great help to the schools and II
more than doubled the county's annual
expenditures on the public roads.
Probably the feature of the dispensary
here was the care taken to eliminate the
possibility of graft and the system seems
to have worked perfectly. In the first
place only men of the highest character
operated 1t. There was system of check
ing the accounts SO that 1t would have
been almost impossible to manipulate
them without the collision of the probate
Judge, the dispensary commissioners, the
dispensary manager the board of county
commissioners and the city officials of
Huntsville.
The Madison county dispensary was
created by special act of the legislature
and fathered by State Senator R. r.
Spragins 1t began business February II,
1907. and ceased January l, 1909, under the
operation of the statewide prohibition
law. 1t was under the direction of a dis
pensary commission consisting of three
members, of which the probate judge
was ex-officio chairman and two members
were appointed by the governor.
County Advanced Money
Madison county advanced $4,000 to buy
the first stock of goods. All of the stock
on hand in the local saloons at the time
was bought by the commission because
they said they wanted to be liberal with
the men who were put out of business.
After this the commission met on fixed
day each month and liquor statesmen were
heard and purchases made of the lowest
bidder, other conditions as to quality
being equal
Purchases were usually made in car
load lots. When the goods arrived they
were cnecheu over ny lHc diSpchSuiy
manager and If correct the bills were APP
proved. The probate judge then had
checks drawn at once whether discounts
were available or not.
Purchased a Ticket
When a customer went to the dispen-
sary he first purchased a numbered ticket
for the amount of goods he wished. This
ticket was presented to the clerk, who de-
livered the goods and dropped the ticket
in glass case sitting On the counter.
No one ever touched any cash except the
cashier. At the close of the day the
number of tickets gone from the cashier s
packet and the number in the glass case
had to tally with the bank deposits, which
had to be made by the manager at the
close of each days business. He de-
posted all money to the credit of the
Madison county dispensary and could not
draw out cent. No check on this fund
could be paid unless signed by the pro-
bate Judge.
The accounts were all kept by the
clerks In the probate office. They were
open at all times to public inspection.
Once a month the accounts veer care
fully checked over by city officials. An
itemized account of the dispensary BUSH
ness had to be presented to each grand
jury.
The law provided that the first 5000
profits each year had to be turned over
to the county schools. After this the
net profits were divided between Madi-
son county and the city Of Huntsville
at the end of each quarter.
Sales and Expenditures
During the 2z1h months of the dispen-
sary's operation the schools got $9s75,
and the city and county each got $50, S3S 49,
The total sales during this period were
229o9. and the total purchases of liquor
$4,000, divided as follows by months: