Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1916-08-05
HOTELS HARD HIT
Former Butte. Montana. Bust
ness Man, Describes Troubles
OF Colorado Metropolis, Which
Sadly Misses $275. O0OaYear
Revenue From Nearly 500
Saloons

The word Of the man on the inside"
is always interesting, and the fol
lowing story Of the failure of prohibi
ton in Denver, Colo, as told by the
Butte tMCnt) Miner is not only inter
esting but instructive as we'll.
George L. Symons, for years a we'll
known citizen Of Butte, where he has
been engaged in business and who is
recognized as one Of the best posted
men on current events who visits the
larger cities Of the country has writ
ten very interesting letter here to
Jesse Silverman, one or the CaDlice
Commercial Co., pertaining to the eff
feet on business prohibition has had
in Denver. once one OF the greatest
convention and business cities in the
West. Mr.. Symons is we'll posted on
business conditions generally and his
letter, which follows, will prove Of
interest locally. Says Mr.. Symons:
Il arrived in the "Sunlight city" last
evening. The change, since prohibit
ton has taken possession of the state
strikes one forcibly, to say the least
Il had occasion, this morning, to
talk with Mr.. Rector, one of the ia
nous Rector brothers, He says the
loss to the hotels has been very
marked and that business in general
has suffered severely In the past
Denver has been one of the most
popular convention cities in the cOun-
try. Mr.. Rector says the conventions
are now all making Salt Lake their
headquarters: This means that the
hotels here-and business in general
must suffer during the summer sea-
son.
Property Owners Complaining.
"The property holders are complain
ing of the usual change that follows
Authenticated income and in
creased taxes. AS an instance, an
apartment in the exclusive residence
district, renting formerly for $r25, was
offered to permanent tenant recently
at $15. There is an alarming percent
age or the vacancies in the business
district and the finest office buildings,
with two exceptions, are half empty
found within a radius Of sc blocks a
hundred vacant stOrerooms
Denver formerly had in the neigh
borhOod OF 400 to $50 saloons. The
city and county derived from these sa-
loops revenue in the neighborhood
OF S275.O00, besides the returns to the
merchants and business men of the
city for groceries and merchandise
consumed by the saloon people in
their business. This would run into
the hundreds Of thousands, not count
ing the expenditures Of the individuals
employed by the saloon people.
Ihere is only one source from
which the city and county can replace
this $275,OO0 Of revenue-increased
taxation. The loss to the merchants,
the hotels, the mountain resorts and
outlying camps cannot be replaced at
all. The greater number Of the con-
ventioas, the hotel men claim. will not
come here, and the city can only
pocket the loss.
"Get All You Want"
"At the same time. Denver is expert
encing one Of the many failures Of pro-
hibition that doesn't prohibit. One
can get all he wants to drink-but by
the back door entrance.
In conclusion, the people of Denver
don't want prohibition. The city has
existed, since its birth, upon broad and
liberal principles. The saloon bust.
ness, as it existed here. was conduct.
o. ,hn