Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-01-12
WHAT SALOONS COST.
TCarrOll Herald.7


The high price paid for the privilege
, of running saloons since the Moon law
has gone into effect calls attention TO
the economic phase of the saloon ques-
ton. And it really is full of interest.
In the town nf Manning. where the
population is between 1,400 and 1900,
there have been seven saloons. I'm
der the Moon law there will be but one,
The Herald does not claim to know al!
g bout the cost of running saloon. but
it knows enough about business in
general to realize that the business re-
quires capital, managerial ability. men
to assist and a whole lot of Things that
cost money. 1t has been figured out
that the seven saloons at Manning
have cost nearly $4,000 a year to OPP
crate. Items are given as follows:
Rent for seven buildings, $500 each.
$500.
Livin, expenses, seven p-oprieto:s,
$1,000 each, $1,000.
Bar tenders, SO week each, $3.50
Mulct tax. S420.
Heat and light for seven rooms, $50
each, s1.050.
United States licenses. $40 each, $3.50.
State and county tax, SITS.
Ice, s1.400.
Incidentals. $500.
Interest on ilves tment. $500.
Insurance. $40.
Total, s25.s55.
1t may be assumed that the profits
on sales are 100 per cent. Some say
more. some less. But If dealers were
to double their money it would be
seen that it would be necessary for the
seven saloonkeeperS of Manning to sell
over $4,000 worth a year~before they
would make a cent out of the business.
OF course the estimates above may
not be accurate but they must be in
the neighborhood of approximation.
From the standpoint Of economics the
situation is decidedly interesting.
One who has given the economic
phase. OF the question study says
that John Frahm, who succeeds to the
business with, one saloon. estimates
that his expenses will be at least 49,
900 year. II the profits were 100 per
cent, as estimated above. the sales
would have to aggregate $4,000. for Of
course to pay for :hs stock and meet
expenses it would be necessary to sell
twice the amount II the expenditures.
Now $4,000 a year would be $4,000
month, or nearly $3.50 a day. If the
saloon was to be open for twelve
hours it would be necessary to sell 200
glasses of beer every hour OF the day.
This would be over three glasses a
minute. Under the law the saloon may
have but one door. and the length Of
the bar Is limited to sixty feet. Custo-
mers necessary to dispose Of three
glasses minute. just enough to pay
expenses only, would make a constant
stream Of men entering and depart
ing from the single door that could he
handled only with careful management
and good judgment. Then when a
rush came!
There is food for thought In the above
observations. In the first place, there
is an enormous amount of money di
verted from other channels to be used
to Stake mems thirst. Again, there is
an immense amount of capital used in
the traffic. much more than commonly
supposed. Then. too. to run q saloon
successfully as business enterprise
requires judgment and executive abil-
ity. much as other lines demand. Con-
ditions under the Moon law are more
exacting and greater business ability
will be required. There will be a weed
ing out Of incapable business men and
gradually the traffic will drift into sue
cessful hands.
We have not considered the question
from the standpoint of temperance tho
that opens up lines for thought that
, are so interesting.