The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1913-10-01
Is Something Astounding
To Think About.
REACHES THE ENORMOUS sum
Of $2,700,000,O0O a Year
-LuxurieS That Cost
the Nation Dearly.
FEW FIGURES ON THE SUBJECT

Frank Fayant shows that the
smoking and drinking bill of the
American people now reaches the
enormous figure of s2,700,000 900
a year.
"Since the time when Columbus
braved the unknown seas in search
Of the treasure of the Indies, man
has dug out of the earth $4,000
600, 100000 of gold" he says.
"Since the panic OF 1907 the Ameri-
can people have spent for alcohol
and tobacco $4,000, 100000. Or,
TO put these two statements lin the
form of a mathematical equation;
the product of 420 years of human
toll, sacrifice and bloodshed, of dar-
ing discovery and exploration of
continental wilderness, of cruel
wars of aggression and conquest, of
wonderful engineering triumphs, in
the never-ending search for the pre-
cious metal, equals six years easy
going expenditure of the American
people for the weed that soothes and
the cup that cheers.
"How much is $1,000, 1000? If.
n thousand years before the time of
Noses the Lawgiver, the ancient
Egyptians had begun boarding a
treasure of gold at the rate of dol
lar a minute, and if ever since then
every minute, day and night,
these thousands of years-the accu-
mutation of this treasure had con-
tinued, the golden hoard would to-
day be 500 years short of the ST.
00,00O,000 we spent in one year
for alcohol and tobacco"
Mr.. Fayant says that the bulk of
this money is spent by wage-earn-
ers. 1t is equal to the earnings of
more than 100000 workers. 1t is
two and a half times the wages of
all the men on the railroads. 1t is
fourteen times the great pay roll of
the Steel Corporation.
Sir George Paish, the English
economist, estimates that the Ameri-
can people are saving the great sum
Of $5,00O,O0O,00 year-that is,
that we are putting this money into
new railroads. factories. farms,
homes and other productive invest
ments, and thus adding to the ma
tional wealth. But we are spend
ing this sum every 22 months for
tobacco and alcohol. Our enormous
savings bank hoard is the wonder
and envy of Europe. but we spent
in 20 months as much money for to-
bacco and alcohol as We have laid by
in the savings banks in all these
years of prosperity and thrift. Ev-
cry month we spend more than we
add to our bank savings in whole
year
More than half the total wealth
of the United States is incorporated
in manufacturing and industrial
companies, banks and other imam
cial institutions, railroads. tele-
graphs, telephones and other public
service corporations. The combined
profits of all these businesses are
less than the expenditure for smok-
ing and drinking. The S27 ,000,-
100000 annual outlay is greater
than the total cost of all our Gov
eminent, from the Presidents sal
airy down to the crossroads school
house. 1t is three times the nation
al debt. 1t is more than all Europe |
is spending for war and preparation
for war.
"If our habits do not change"
says the writer, 1--WE shall consume
more alcohol and tobacco in the
next 35 years than could be purchas-
ed for the entire wealth of the
United States to-day-the total val
ne of everything possessed by every
body from the Atlantic to the Pa
cific.'
A quarter of the s27, 100000 is
spent for tobacco, and three quar-
ters for alcohol--that is, the
drinking bill is three times as large
as the smoking bill. OF the two
billions spent for drink s1,170,000,-
600 goes for beer. S70O, 000, 900 for