Evening journal., 1919-03-03
$4,000 BARS SOON
TO HEAR CURFEW
Many Places Long Famous
in Central West Must
Close Doors
PROPERTY
ALREADY SOLD

CHICAGO, March 3.-Nfore than 10000
LICENSED drinking places In the six
wet" States OF the Central West
Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri.
Kentucky and 0hio-sre TO go out Of
existance four months from today II
America abollshes liquor trafflc, for the
first time in history, under the Presi-
dents war time prohibition order.
Millions Of dollars worth Of property
used as distilieries. breweries, saloons,
wine rooms and roadhouses already has
changed hands and is being converted
into new lines Of industry. according %
reports received here.
Many small brewerles and few large
ones have arranged TO become manu-
factories, cold storage plants or artl-
/ fetal ice factories. In Wisconsin, which
produces a sixth OF all beer brewed In
America, one big brewery has disposed
Of its fixtures and sold It's kegs as
liberty cabbage" containers.
Thi 200 Kentucky distillerles claim
their financial losses will far surpass
those Of brewers because location and
peculiar construction OF distilleries will
not permit Of easy conversion 10 other
industries. Owners OF isolated road
houses, the rendezvous Of gay auto
parties, claim that they too will suffer
heavy financial losses. They say IL
would be impossible TO draw patrons
TO out Of the way places without liquor
inducements.
Wisconsin has 9,655 licensed drinking
places, Illinois, S,iis; Ohio. 5000; Mis-
souri,. 5000: Minnesota, 1900, and Ken
tucky, 1900.
Ohio's saloons are expected to close
May q under an amendment 10 the
State constitution.
Hundreds Of saloons in the six cities |
will be converted into soda shops, cafe |
terlas, cafes, motion picture theatres,
drug stores, haberdasherles and cOsey /
soft drink-dancing emporiums. There /
will be a large increase In the number
Of drug stores, according to liquor
"Saloot fixtures as a rule are suitable
for the drug store" said one big Chicago
dealer. For this reason there viii be
many more drug stores. And now with
prohibition virtually a fact the little
verses we used 10 repeat in Jest can be
said with a grain OF sincerity:
Hush, little barroom,
Don't you cry.
You'll be drug store
By and by.
The closing will mark the passing OF /
many saloons that for years have had /
-. In
port, Ohio, Is what Is reputed 10 be the
largest barrOOm in the world, with 265
feet of bar space; IN Chicago Is the /
smallest, 'the Midget" with a space OF
but five feet: up in parts OF Minnesota
are resorts that almost form a part Of
.he States early history. places where
he pOlyglot flOaters from woods and
lelds, under the shadOwy flare Of kero-
;ene lamps, staged gun battles that
would cheaper the present day movie
iirectOr.
In chicago the trick stairways, cleo
ric currents and fire gOngs that caused
ural visitors at "HeinlegabubSers" 10
'ut strange capers. while regular pa
rous doubled up in laughter, may be
eplaced with barber chairs and bath
'Ooms. II was twenty years ago that
Heiniegabubbler's opened It's house OF
rapdOors, sliding footmats and kissing
Later similar places were
opened in other cities.
Definite plans have not been made for
he disposal of Alderman "Hinky Dink"
Lenna's "Worklngmen's Exchange" +"
which advertised the biggest beer in
lhicago and which sold as many as 60
,arrels OF beer over its 2JO feet Of ma
logany in a single day. Rlgheimer's, on
'Outh Charles street, for years "a meet
ng place Of politicians and hea6quar-
ers for election betting. may retain its
ountaIns and costly fixtures and con-
lnue as a restaurant. More than
100000 has been handled on one cleo
ion by the proprietor.
Sunday closing and other restrictions
aused the number Of saloons in Chi
ago TO dwlndle from 1900 to 5000 in s
ecent years. Chicago will vote on
peal option April 4, and a dry decision $
sould close the saloons a month later.