The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-04-05
PENNSYLVANIA COUNTY Is
PROSPEROUS AFTER FIVE
YEARS WITHOUT LIQUOR
Industrial Depression Has Minimum Effect Temperance
Territory, and Liquor Imports Virtually
Cease in the County

Cease in {
! Lewistown, Pa, April 4-Mifin
County IS a conspicuous example OF
what 1t means to be without license to
sell intoxicating liquors. 1t has had no
license for five years, giving ample
time to Judge by results. The facts
are here set down without bias or
prejudice.
Licenses were refused by the court
five years ago in February. The de-
cree explained the action of the court
on Weighing the number and character
of the petitioners for and remonstrants
against the licenses. the latter being
in a majority. Judge J. NJ Woods. a
Presbyterian elder. is the president
Judge, and Ave years ago the temper
ciate judge. and the two decided against
all licenses
/ Two associate judges have been
elected since, but the conditions have
not changed The same condition was
brought about later in the counties of
Judge Woods district, Huntington and
license
/. Conditions have improved each year
here since the bars were closed For
n time considerable amounts of beer
and whisl1ey were shipped in by whole
salers IN other places, and the drinking
element would also secure a supply at
Mifriin and Miffiintown In Juniata
County. Juniata has since been
added to the dry" list. and there has
hen FaI IT,, =
OF intoxicants received here.
Drinking Almost Ceases.
Some OF the county officers have been
vigilant in arrestinS those who tried
to handle Booze" and even agents of
the wholesale firms fell victims when
their zeal TO dispose of the stuff led
them to venture too far. Today the
consumption of beer and other strong
drink is confined largely to the four
fraternal organizations with, side
boards.
/ A drunken man is rarely seen here
and is looked on as derelict Each
fall n firemen's field day is held when
the firemen OF this and surrounding
counties meet to celebrate. and large
crowds gather. These meetings have
been singulnrly free from drunken
ness. and during the last meeting not
an arrest was made.
Lewistowns lookup Is a cluster OF
cells in the basement OF the Town Hall.
I and has been used principally for
ldrunks or tramps. The absence of ar
rests for drunkenness is noteworthy
The lookup figures are not SO very re-
liable, since there have been different
officers with different degrees OF vigil
lance But during the three months
of the present year there have been
Just eight arrests for drunkenness
This showing occurs In n town OF 600.
, with 5000 more Inhabitants nearby
with trolley conveniencea
! Drunk~nness NotieeabIy Absent
The community has had marked in
dustrial depression for more than a
year. the leading industry manufactur-
ing railroad products, almost exclusive
~. Idleness usually leads to drunken
ness and crime. but Il is not so here
Men no longer think II necessary 10
take drinks as they go to and from
their work or to meet in barroorns and
treat each other in the evenings Us
uallv they take their families to the
moving picture shows.
/ II is believed that the demands upon
charity would have been much greater
under license during the past winter
1t is noticeable, particularly by persons
who have been away from the town
for some years. that the school chill
dren are much better clothed than
formerly
Bank deposits Mt hrst showed an in
crease OF almost so per cent. but ow-
ing to the depression there has been
a falling off. Bank deposits In three
banks here have increased from 1886 goo
to s1.122.0eo under the dry" regime
In addition, the Russell National Bank
which FIVE years ago was a private in
stitution and did not publish state
ments has 1850 GOO on deposit. Two
, q
erected during the five years.
"Dry" Conditions Aids Busise~s
Business is about up to that of FIVE
, years ago Notwithstanding the indus
trial depression No business man at
tributes any dullness to the absence
of license. Seventy Ave per cent OF the
merchants would say that no-license
has been beneficial to business. and the
other Is per cent would base their
opinion mainly on the fact that they
are opposed to sumptuary legislation.
The sentiment among the people gem
orally is stronger against license to-
day than ever before.
During the last Ave wears fenr
streets have been paved. and more paw
ing is under contemplation during the
present year. Other substantial i'm =
provements have been made The
Civic club is becoming more active
The churches have grown wonder
fully in membership and especially
in attendance. Sunday School attol-
dance has almost doubled. All this
notwithstanding the town has not pro.
vided Y. NJ. G, A. building or
other substitute for the closed bars,
Three hotels quit business. but hotel
accommodations are better today than
at any time in the history OF tho
town. Order is maintained in the
town by two policemen, one n day
time and the other at night, with
little TO do.
} The county commissioners have just
paid $4,000 of the county debt. re-
ducing it 10 $4,000. A further re-
duction is promised next fall. All il
all. Miffiin Countys people are thrift
~, making the best of the unfavorable
business conditions. They are happy
and conteated and would not want TO
return to license. If local option
bill is not adopted, the liquor ques-
ton will figure largely in the election
of president Judge this year.