Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-03-08
Outside Point of View

We have the statement Of the New
York Sun that the official figures for
the consumption Of alcoholic beverages
in this country show that the per
capita consumption OF spirits fell from
2.5o gallons in 1910 to 137 gallons in
1909
Since the drinking of spirits is al
most entirely confined to whiskey, rum.
gin and brandy. II Is apparent that the
consumption Of the liquors which con-
tain the largest proportion OF alcohol
has been reduced about half.
If the figures for the closing decades
of the eighteenth and the early decades
of the nineteenth centuries were avail
able, says the Independent, they would
show that there was even moro "hard
drinking at this early period.
The consumption OF wine has moro
than doubled from 1910 to 1909. In
creasing from 30 to 10 gallons. A
large part of this increase is due to
the consumption Of native wines.
When the per capita consumption OF
beer and ale is considered the greatest
change is apparent. This has increas-
ed from 1876 gallons in 1910 to 1927
gallons in 1909. To how great an ex-
tent this change Is due to the Germ an
immigration. which first came to this
country in large numbers about 1s4S.
is Of course proble1natical. Many OF
the wine drinking races. like the Ital-
ians. after brief residence in this
country become consumers Of beer.
Altho there has been great in
crease in the total consumption OF in
toxicants during the period from 1910
TO 1909. there has been a change from
those drinks containing a high per-
centage OF alcohol TO those containing
a low percentage-and this IS the one
cause for encouragement.
To avoid the prohibition laws of t.
south and some other states. be
has been made by the best brewers
this country, that contains so small
percentage Of alcohol that it is large
recognized as "a temperance drink
Such beer seems to have a use wit
the element in all society that cares 4,
| be "cheered but not inebriated." TIL
man or men that want the drunk tc
come quick" never will buy or con-
sumo very much OF this temperance
drink but they are 80 few in number
comparatively. that these astonishing
figures bear out the argument Of real
improvement in the habits Of the coun-
try at large.
Since the adoption Of the Gothenberg
scheme. in Norway and Sweden. Off
cial figures show the same encourag-
ing results. It IL the same as in the
United States. greater consumption of
light wines and beer less Of whiskey.
brandy. etc.
/ And in all this our prohibition
friends can get little comfort. except
ing as all good citizens rejoice in less
drunkenness. The fact stands out in
this country The total acreage" of
prohibition is larger than ever before
but the consumption OF ale, wine and
beer in 1909 was the largest per capita
ever known in this country. There's
food for thought" in all this.
It's not IOWA alone. agricultural
Iowa, that has lost a small percentage
in population. Collier saws: 10 Davies
county IL the north esieT1, 1a::a:e: .:
Illinois. It lies just across the rive,
from Dubuque Iowa and Wisconsin 10
its northern neighbor. It's chief town
is Galena. where General Grant spent
his early years. It is splendid corn and
cattle country. Two lines Of railroad
cross it east and west-the Illinois
central and the Chicago Great West.
r. M