The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-11-24
BANKS
Of ITALY
War Seemed to Bring Prosperity 70
the People According 70 Reports
From All
Sources.
LOTTERY BUSINESS
Government Has Supervision over
Them and the People Are Eager
to Take
Chance.
ELoTTER,Y
BUSINESS
by Henry Wood, Rome correspon-
dent OF the United Press.l

dent OF the United Press.]
ROME, Nov. 23,.If any ma
tional commercial club or boosters
organization is looking for sure
means OF bringing prosperity to its
country there is nothing better than
to start war as soon as possible.
This. at least, is the advice OF italy,
contained in an Official statemeot Just
given out by Premier Giolitti's Office,
which shows that during its frs. year
of war with Turkey. Italy enjoyed an
industrial, commercial and financial
prosperity hitherto unequaled In its
history.
According to this statement, the
governments revenues from its prin-
cipal sources of income showed an In
crease of $4,000, 900 over the year
previous. OF this increase $4,000, 900
came from taxes on business and In
dustrial establishments, showing that
many new business concerns were
launched.
According to the statement there
was absolutely no diminution In pub
lie work Instead, 1t Ia asserted,
greater appropriations than ever be-
fore were made and expended Thus
there was an increase of $4,000, 900
in the construction OF governmental
buildings and public works in the
various cities of Italy; another in
crease Of s20.o00,o0O by the depart
ment Of public instruction and $5,000,.
900 more by the department of agri-
culture, industry and commerce.
Imports for the first eight months
Of the war showed an increase OF 81.
100000 over the corresponding period
Of the year previous. The increase in
exports for the same time was $780,
100000. Italy's government railways
also turned in an extra profit of 49,
100000 and the metal reserve in the
treasury increased $13,200,000 during
the war year.
As a final argument that the pros
perity of he country was general
throughout the year, figures are cited
from the deposits of the postal saw
ings banks, the great bulk of which
come from the poorer classes. Dur
ing the period from the Inauguration
of the banks up to 1904, the deposits
reached s200,0oo,0Oo From 1905 to
1909 another s120,000,000 was put
away. From 1910 to the close OF 1911,
whiAh embraces only three months OF
the war period, there was still. another
increase Of s60,00o,o0o
Italy's national monopoly on gamb-
ling. which is confined to lottery, net
ted little national revenue Of 81, 400,-
600 during the past year
The report which has just been
made public for the past year shows
that the playing Of the lottery, which
is considered by many the national
vice of Italy. is steadily on the In
crease. A total OF $21, 400 900 was
played last year over the counters OF
the governments lottery banks. The
cost of maintaining the lottery was
81 600, 900. OF the remainder the play
ers got $12,200,000 and the govern
ment the rest.
One OF the curious features of the
governments report on the years lot
terry playing is sort OF a notification
of the proverbial luck OF the Neapol-
itans. Naples has ever been famous
amongst the superstitious classes OF
Italy as the one city for luck, both OF
the good and the bad variety. The
bad variety is supposed to find its
origin In the large number OF people
at Naples credited with having the
"evil eye While no explanation is
given for the origin OF the good luck,
the report shows that OF the s12,200,-
900 won throughout all Italy from the
national lottery during the past year,
1905 900, or nearly half, was won
in the province of Naples alone.
The report also shows that during
the year there were 5S1 infringe
ments Of the law by individuals who
endeavored to enter into competition
with the government by running priv
ate lotteries; there were 1876 arrests
of people who conducted raffles, and
finally there was steady increase in
the number Of government lottery
banks where the lottery tickets are
sold, the entire number now being
1,G96.