The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1921-06-09
LUXURY BUYERS
BIG SpENDERS
People of U. S. Buy Candy,
Tobacco, Soft Drinks
and IeWeIry.
SPEND S7,2OO,OOO,OOO YEAR
Prosperity Present Despite 100000
Jobless, Government Report Shows
Factories in Every Part of Coun-
try Taking Additional Workers.

Washington, June Candy tobac-
TO- soft drinks, jewelry, and minor
luXuries now are being purchased at
the rate of $780, 100000 a year in Chi
cago. 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 a 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 a gradual
increase in the manufacture and dis
tribution of clothing, automobiles,
steel textiles, farm products, and
practically all commodities.
Furthermore, the germ of Il nation
wide building boom is shown in rising
values of building permits. In the y
cities reporting the value is about
$500 100000 monthly for new construc-
ton. 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 luXuries.
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 S2O,OOOOOO daily now is 60
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
SGOOOO,O00 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 American are apparently
feeling the call of the open road. The
sale of new automobiles now is put
ting nearly 100000 a month in the
governments Golfers, indicating pur-
chases of approximately S7O,OO0O00
worth of cars.
The tax collectors are getting nearly
S100OO,000 each 30 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 60 into the little glass
jar kept by the soda dispensers now
bring the government nealy $7OO0000
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 2G,OOOOOO packages or
1,3000O0,OO0 sticks.
The country is spending $20,000O0O
a month for candy.
June, the month Of brides, marriage
engagements, and solitaire diamond
rings in 1920 discouraged jewellers.
This June, however, the government
will collect approximately $1,50O,0OO
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 iewelry stores.
Smokers now contribute approx
mately S24O0O,OO0 monthly to the gov
eminent in taxes on cigars, cigarets,
tobacco, and snuff.