The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-03-17
Homes Are Happier. Money
Formerly Wasted in Booze
Going to Provide Comforts
POPULATION OF JAlLS
SHOWS LARGE DECREASE
Commonwealth Will Save
100000 In Year Because Of
Fewer Prisoners-Labor 10
More Reliable and Efficient

Business in all lines except one
that OF the commonwealth prosecuting
law breakers and boarding prisoners
in the laiIs of the counties and cities
has shown wonderful increase since
Mover Der /, last, when prohibition
went into effect in Virginia. Were
citizens of the state called upon today
TO again vote on the question OF pro-
hibition the majority against tho
saloon would he several times that
given IN favor of prohibition in Sep
tenn her 1914.
The effect OF prohibition, In the
little more than four months since
Virginia passed over into tho column
Of dry states, on business nAnufac-
turing, Wholesale and retail: on labor.
on home life, and on every human
activity, has been little short Of
marvellous, Even the enemies of pro-
hibiuon in Virginia admit this, and
many Of those who bitterly opposed
the Anti-Saloon league and other
prohibition forces are convinced that
prohibition is the greatest force for
good that ever manifested itself IN
Virginia.
Money Not Wasted.
Homes that were unhappy, and
some of them lacking even in the
smallest comforts have seen great
changes brought about. Husbands
and fathers, on whom depended the
support OF the families, who former
~ spent much OF their earnings over
the bar, now take home their pay
check or pay envelope. Clothing and
food and fuel and oliler necessities OF
life. and some Injuries now go home
instead of a drunken breadwinner.
Bills and rents that formerly went un-
paid now are met when due Money
wasted before prohibition came is
now made useful. and some OF 1t is
left over. after current expenses and
past due obligations are met. to 60
into the savings departing Of the
banks that a fund against Ill health
or Ill fortune may be present.
Real estate men, agents handing
the rentals of hundreds Of dweilinG
and business places. report a much
better business. In the city OF Rich
mond. in which there were $50 Ii
censed saloons, more than rs per cent
OF the buildings vacated by the liquor
business on November 1 have already
been rented and occupied by legtti-
mate. useful business concerns. On
the north side of Broad street. long
Familiarity known as the wrong
side" Of Broad because Of the num-
beers Of DRINKS, buns and loafers, all
placed by other business. The ono
yet to be reoccupiej is undergoing
remodeling and Improvement prepara-
tory 70 its occupancy by business
house for which the work is being
done On the south side and in the
lower sections of the city nearly all
the former saloons are devoted to
useful business.
More Cash Trade and Better Accounts.
The wrong side o. Broad" Il no
more, Before the saloons. with their
hangers-on, went out of, business, wo-
men and children stunned it and few
men of the better class ventured on
that side except when absolutely
necessary. Both sides of Broad street
now devoted to business are popular
Business houses on both sides of
the street and elsewhere in the city
are doing greater cash business and
their charge accounts are In much
better shape than ever before.
Representative business men, head
ing the several lines of trade. are
unanimous in their assertion that
business was never better; that pro-
hihition has gone far toward the
marked improvement
L. o. Miller. head Of the Miller d
Rhoads department store. one Of the
largest south of New York city, yes-
too busy 10 tell much about how much
prohibition has helped He asserted
that the effec, Of prohibition on the
retail business in the last four months
has been very beneficial
There is more money to be spent
FOR useful things" he said, less
wasted. there is marked absence in
the number of loafers and buns.
can't conceive anyone doubling that
-. / ,,i1 ~. 49, 49, Ial
Profit. since Closing par Larger.
Colonel John Murphy. owner Of one
of the south's largest hotels. who had
a large bar business connected with
the hotel until prohibition came. as
serts that his business has improved
since the closing OF the bar. He SAYS
that he is making more money now
without the income from the liquor
business than he ever made before.
II voted wet" said large employer
of labor, but IL the question ever
rises again ] will vote for prohibition.
There has been less difficulty In get
ting labor: the workers are more
steady. more reliable and more effi-
! clent. There are fewer absentinG
themselves from work after payday
Other large employers of labor. heads
of large Industrial plants-the locoma-
tive works. the cedar works and the
tobacco factories--eNpress themselves
i in similar vein, AS Ii has been N
Richmond, SO in other cities in the
commemorative. sga@ 9s ,,s,.s sessssy
bank Deposits Grow.
/ The banks in Virginia have gained
| largely in deposits. the increase u
dc posits in Richmond alone In the last
six months being nearly - par cent.
There are on deposit IN Rtchmoad
banks and trust companies nors tAGn