The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1914-02-21
OUR SMOKE
AND DRINK BILL

Frank Fayant. shows that the smok-
ing and drinking bill of the American
people now reaches the enormous fig
ure of $2,70O000,000 year.
"Since the time when Columbus BRAY
ed the unknown seas IN search of the
treasures of the Indies, man has dug
out of the earth $15, 5000, 100000 of
gold" he says. "Since the panic of
1907 the American people have spent
for alcohol and tobacco $15,000,000,-
900. Or, to put these two statements
in the form of mathematical equation
the product of 420 years of human
toll, sacrifice and bloodshed, of daring
discovery and exploration of continent
tai Wilderness, of cruel wars OF ag-
erosion and conquest, of wonderful
engineering triumphs, in the never
ending search for the precious metal,
equals six years eaSy-golng eXpendl-
ture of the American people for the
weed that soothes and the cup that
cheers.
GLOW much is $2,700 100000? 1t,
thousand years before the time of
Moses the Lawgiver, the ancient Egg
ptians had begun boarding a treasure
of gold at the rate of dollar a min
ute, and if ever since then--every min
ute, day and night, these thousands of
vears-the accumulation of this trea-
sure had continued, the golden hoard
would today be 500 years short of the
S2,700,000,000 we spent i'll one year
for alcohol and tobacco"
Mr.. Fayant says that the bulk of
this money is spent by wage-earners.
It 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. It is ia times the
great pay roll of the Steel Corpora
ton.
Sir George Paish, the English econ
omist, estimates that the American
people are saving the great sum of
$4,000 100000 year-that is, that we
are putting this money into new rail
roads, factories, farms, homes and
other productive investments, and
thus adding TO the national wealth.
But we are spending this sum every
% 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 tobacco and alcohol as we have
laid by in the savings banks in all
these years of prospe rity and thrift.
Every month we spend more than we
add to our bank savings in a whole
year.
More than half the total wealth of
the United States in Incorporated in
manufacturing and Industrial compan-
les, banks and other financial instut-i
lions, railroads., telegraph, telephones,
and other public service corporations.
The combined profits of all these bust
nesses are less than the expenditure
for smoking and drinking. The S27,-
100000, 900 annual outlay is greater
than the total cost Of all our govern
ment, from the Presidents salary
down to the cross roads schoolhouse.
1t is three times the national debt 1t
is more than all Europe is spending
for war and preparation for war.
"If our habits do not change, says
the writer, eve shall consume more
alcohol and tobacco in the next 80
years than could be purchased for the
entire wealth of the United States to-
day-the total value of everything
possessed by everybody from the At
lantic to the Pacific"
A quarter of the $27 100000, 900 is
spent for tobacco, and three-quarters
for alcohol-that is, the drinking bill
is three times as large as the smoking
bill. Of the two billions spent for
drink S1,170,000,000 goes for beer,
$500 100000 for whisky, brandy, gin,
rum and other 'strong drink, and
S13O. OO0. 900 for wine. The 500 .0O0.-
900 tobacco bill is thus divided: $446,-
100000 for cigars and little cigars,
$73 100000 for cigarettes, $157 900 0G0
for smoking and chewing tobacco, and
$24 100000 for snuff.
Mr. Fayant's figures show that beer
is the drink of the American people,
and that cigarettes are rapidly be"om-
ing the national smoke. The consump-
ton of cigarettes has increased 500
per cent. in ten years.