The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-04
BALT|M0Rt'S GREAT
BILL FOR ALCOHOLICS
Spends Twenty-Irine Millions Annual
ly-CouId Pay for It's Sewer Sys-
TEN Every Year and Have Lot
OF Change Left.

Baltimore, Md, Nov. Baltimore
spends over the bar for booze each
year Baltimore saloon-keepers have
said 500 enough to pay for It's entire
s23,000,000 sewerage system, with al
most enough besides to pay for the
magnificent new dock built since the
great fire--a total of more than s29,-
600. 900
How many years will Baltimore need
in which to pay for these vast I'M
provements with its net revenue from
saloons?
The city's total income from sa-
looms this year is not enough to pay
interest on the sewer bonds-instead
il is barely sufficient to pay for clean
ing up some of the human wreckage
which the saloons produce.
This vast sum spent for drink rep
resents n per capita consumption dou-
BILE that Of the entire United States.
and shows how far Baltimore has been
debased by a vicious and prodigal way
of life at a time when nearly half
the population Of the United States
is on the water-wagon.
Two thirds OF the saloons OF Bal
umore were personally visited to OBJ
tain information about the city's drink
bill. The saloon -keepers themselves.
or their bartenders, gave the replies.
This Is the result:
Saloons owned by lreweries have
average daily receipts of SIS.
Saloons on rented property. oper-
ated Independently OF the breweries,
have average daily receipts of SS0.43
Saloons operated by men who own
their buildings, as well as business
have average daily receipts of $40.
The totals show that Baltimore
hrT L. 4.
mess day more than $4,000. and in
"a year more than $4,000, 900.
No wonder the saloonists are anxd-
Gus to keep Baltimore wet! Less
wonder still that the breweries which
own nearly one-third of the saloons,
have the choicest locations and the
biggest daily income, are fighting
desperately to retain their monu-
mental graft,
Baltimore spends in two weeks the
value of its eleven municipal markets,
ground and structures, including the
new wholesale fish and produce
markets.
In three months the city spends for
booze enough to buy every public park.
including Druid Hill. Patterson and
Clifton. and every public square in
the city.
In six weeks the city worse than
wastes the entire value of it's fire de-
partment property, including lots.
buildings and equipment and the new
high pressure system
In three months Baltimore wastes In
drink more than the value OF every
public schoolhouse in the city, In
Guiding the city college, the new
Polytechnic. the Eastern and West
ern high schools. the around on which
they are located. and all equipment.
In two months Baltimore wastes for
drink moro than all it has spent to
put electric wires under ground,
Tho money wasted for booze in
seven and one-half months, would pay
for all the land and buildings and
mains and construction of the citys
magnificent water system.
In eight months Baltimore's booze
bill amounts to enough to pay for
every foot Of smooth paving laid in
the last five years. with enough be-
sides to extend that paving to every
s.rset and alley in the city.
Every penny OF this appalling sum
10 absolutely wasted. Turnea into le-
climate lines OF trade it would make
Baltimore the mightiest commercial
center OF its size In the world.
Give Baltimore a chance to grow
by putting an end to the stupendous
economic folly of the liquor business.
A dry majority November will do
the work.
Vote for prohibition