The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1920-02-11

stories where once 10 or II open sA-
looms were in full operation. With
tho exodus OF persons who predicted
that the capital city of Mississippi had
seen its best days, and the grass would
soon begin to grow in its main streeta-
They have lived TO see these streets
paved with brick. cement, wooden
blocks, and other modern and cost
ly surface and not vacant house In
the town. Former advocates OF the
open saloon now agrees that Jackson
and many other communities in the
state have made wonderful strides
since the abolition of the liquor traf-
fic. Prosperity is general, as Is in
Dictated by large bank deposits. and
the interest rate on money for loan
has dropped from 10. to s per cent.
Pittsburgh, Feb. 10-F'ive hundred
cells out OF a total 81 TAO in the coun-
ty jail were vacant the end of the
year, and statistics show very clearly
that the situation is due almost en-
tirely to the operation OF the prohi-
bitten law. What is to be done with
all the vacant room has not yet been
determined. but local supporters Of
prohibition say that the situation
means n tremendous saving of the
don, Edward Lewis. shows that In the
first six months OF 1919. when the sa :
looms were open. there were 1863
commitments, while in the last six
months, under prohibition, there were
3.125.
Fitchburg, Feb. 18.--For a period
OF more than two weeks not an arrest
Tor drunkenness was made in this city
and on one day no session OF the po-
lice court was held. Police officials
here say they do not remember time
when there was 80 little activity In
this direction. All of this tends to re-
duce the running expenses of these
institutions,
Winooski. Vermont, Feb. 9--Abol-
ishment of the municipal court in this
town 10 looked for as a result OF pro-
-hibition Since the first of July the
number of cases to appear In this
court has been negligible and may
be very easily taken care of In the
Burlington fVermont) court which is
also without cases great deal of the
time When liquor was sold the
Wtnooski court was one Of the busiest
In the state. Since the advent of pro-
hibition only few minor cases have
occupied It's attention each month.
1t is expected that legislative action
to abolish the court and transfer its
business to Burlington will be taken
at the next session Such action will
save the people approximately $4,000
a year.
Batavia. n. Y, Feb s.-That pro-
hibition has promoted prosperity
among workers aided production,
given stimulus to the retail trade and
been an aG-round help to the com
munity is the report of the investiga-
tor OF the Anti-Saloon league of New
york, who says that formerly s270,-
900 was spent here yearly for iinuor.
Despite the forecast of the bigger in
terests that prohibition would ruin
the town financially, the majority OF
the retail merchants have been won
over to prohibition as Its benefits have
oeen noticed. All have found a de-
cided increase in sales, and a higher
quality OF goods demanded. MANY
dealers say that bills are paid more
promptly and several large new en-
terprises have been undertaken here.
The banks show marked increase In
savings deposits. 1t Ia believed that
prohibition will materially reduce
municipal expense, as the demands
Tor charity and the percentage Of
crime have decreased notably