Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-02
BLUFFS GOES DRY;
SALOONS CLOSE
Great Rush TO Secure Liquor by
People Who Live in Neigh
borhood Of City.
BEST OF ORDER PREVAILS

The prediction that Council Bluffs would
lie n vet town when Il went dry at mid
night was realized. But Il was not wet
from the anticipated flow OF booze. The
vsetting came from a thick canopy OF rain
clouds. The rain fell steadily all eve
ming and an ordinary autumn atmospheric
temperature prevented the formation Of
ice. All Of the big stocks Of wet goods
in the saloons and wholesale houses were
safely under cover.
There were few drunken men on the
streets The police were able to find
only two intoxicated individuals during
the night The stocks In nearly all Of
the saloons we're exhausted during the
afternoon and there were only a few
places open after nightfaii. Long be
fore . o'clock every saloon in the town
had closed lite doors and turned out the
lights The last place to close was the
Grand hotel bar. which went out Of busi-
neHs At $50
Bargain sales Flourish.
Rumors OF bargain sales had been
widely spread and during the afternoon
there was q tremendous rush. Automo-
biles were lined several deep in front
OF some OF the wholesale houses. and
none appeared 70 be going away empty.
Nearly all OF them we're from the ooun-
try, and some of them made Journeys OF
fifty miles. Saloons that had offered
bargain prices quickly disposed Of their
stocks. and before nightfail customers
were offering premium prices. Numbers
OF women drove the farm automobiles
into town and did not attempt to conceal
the purpose Of their visits TO the job
bing houses. They carried out armsful
of cylindrical packages and placed them
In their cars. The sales Of one firm
during the afternoon exceeded 1900.
In not more than three places in the
entire city was there stock left when
the I'D went on. The tens OF thousands
of packages have been carried away by
individuals. who seem to be obsessed by
the fear that II was their last chance 90
get booze.
Dealers told Of INSTANCES OF men buy
ing who had not had the stuff in their
homes for years and who never went
into a saloon.
1T might be needed sometime when
we could not get t." was the customary
excuse proffered.
Chsif Of Police Wen has been advised
that some men have laid in suspicIously
large stocks. even barrier lots. He stated
last evening that he had located the
storage points and would gather up the
stuff at an early date. He stated en-
Iphatically that the whole department
would make the sternest war ON boot
leggers and that they would be shown
no mercy.
Hundred Change Jobs.
The closing OF the saloons puts out Of
employment about 100 men. most OF whom
have families. Less than per cent of
them are drinkers. Many of them have
already arranged for other employment,
and about all OF the saloon owners have
done so. A majority OF the buildings TO
be vacated have also been spoken for,
particularly those In the business sec
ton.
The exodus OF the saloons cuts off
more than one-half Of the cltys revenue
for the general fund. The total appro-
priation for the general flInd this year
is Slo6.ooo. The saloon licenses and fines
have provided about t6s.vco The io-mlll
levy, the utmost permitted under the
state law. brings In apeus $4,000. The
deficiency must be made up in some man
ner or the public service reduced 70
meet the depleted income. This Is the
problem that IL now up to the city eoun-
Gil and the administration that will be at
the head Of affairs next April. There 10
no apprehension. however. and the
present city administration Is not worry
ing.