Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-06-10
LUXURY BUYERS
BIC SPENDERS
People of U. S. Buy Candy,
Tobacco, Soft Drinks
and JeWeIry.
SPEND s7,2OO,OOO,OOO YEAR.
Prosperity Present Despite 100000
JobIess, Government Report Shove
Factories in Every Part of Coun-
try Taking Additional Workers.

Washington, June Candy, tobac-
co, soft drinks, jewelry, and minor
luxuries now are being purchased at
the rate of $7,200,O00,000 a year in
Chicago, New York and other big
cities of the United States. This is
shown in reports of tax collections
made to the Treasury department.
Indicative of a swing toward ma
tionwide prosperity and termination
of the general economic depression, a
rush to crafty the craving for small
indulgences now is sweeping the en-
tire country the reports seem to in
dicate.
Regular monthly reports to the fed
eral reserve board from its II district
banks show what is called gradual
increase in the manufacture and dis
tribution of clothing, automobiles,
steel, textiles, farm products, and
practically all commodities.
Furthermore, the germ of nation
wide building boom is shown in rising
values of building permits. In the IL
cities reporting the value is about
$300,0O0,OOO monthly for new con-
struction. This shows what business
men refer to as returning confidence
in the prosperity of the future" If the
building boom continues to develop as
anticipated, it should result in the
erection of dwellings and apartments
for 100000 families before fall. This
would probably reduce rents and
again leave the average family more
money to spend for recreation, amuse-
ment, and small lu1uries.
The big pessimistic factor in the
situation is unemployment, which is
roughly estimated to have touched at
least 100000 workers Factories in
every part of the country are taking
on additional workers daily, however,
and unemployment is rapidly decreas-
ing.
At least $20,00O,000 daily now is go
ing over the counters of merchants
dealing in small luxuries, according
to the reports. This is an estimate
based on the fact that the govern
ment now is receiving approximately
$60,000,000 a month from luxury taxes.
Such taxes are based on about one
tenth of the cash received by the mer-
chant.
With the approach of summer. thou
sands Of Americans are apparently
feeling the call of the open road The
sale of new automobiles now is put
ting nearly 100000 month in the
governments Golfers, indicating pur-
chases of approximately $70,O00,000
worth of cars.
The tax collectors are getting nearly
$10,000,0O0 each 80 days via the rail-
road ticket Office. Travel taxes usually
increase during the vacation months,
June, July and August, but last sum-
mer there was very little change over
the winter period.
Pennies that go into the little glass
jar kept by the soda dispensers now
bring the government nearly $7,O0000O
each month, indicating an enormous
demand.
Chewing gum brings the government
the comparatively small total Of $780,
600 monthly. This indicates that the
United States now is chewing monthly
approximately 100000 packages or
1.3OO,O0OO0O sticks.
The country is spending $2O,0O000O
month for candy.
June, the month Of brides, marriage
engagements, and solitaire diamond
rings in 1920 discouraged jewelers..
This June, however, the government
will collect approximately $1.5OOOOO
as its one-tenth Of the jewelers. sales.
This, of course, indicates not COM
pletely the value Of all jewelry sold.
because a tax need not be paid on all
articles sold in jewelry stores.
Smokers now contribute approx
mately $24,0O0C0O monthly to the gov
eminent in taxes on cigars, cigarets,
tobacco, and snuff.