The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-11-22
WHERE THE SALOONS ONCE
STOOD
fChristian Science Monitor)

| fChriStian Science Monitor)
Recently Il survey was made in
New York, or that part OF the city
known as Manhattan, to discover
what has become of the saloon of
pre- prohibition days. 1t was shown
that Of the 5000 establishments that
held liquor licenses in the year 1916.
there are now only 349 places that
show no outward change. But it is
| explained that those places which
continue to maintain the appearance
of saloons are selling So-called
near beers and beverages supposed
to contain less than One-half Of
| per cent alcohol. OF course it is
not claimed that this pretense is
any more than a flimsy disguise.
No doubt many of these remaining
bars are the source of much of the
poisonous synthetic liquors which
| find their way into the hands of
addicts and private bootleggers.
Gradually it is becoming more and
more difficult to replenish liquor
stocks from lowering running
boats off shore. Heavy losses
through seizure are rendering the
traffic more and more precarious,
with the direct result Of increasing
the price of all contraband alcoholic
mixtures.
But the figures quoted supply
what should be Il convincing answer
to the assertion that the prohibi-
ton issue should have been left to
the several states to determine as
they saw fit. New York state and
city officials have not lent sympa-
thetic aid to the enforcement of the
federal law. And yet it appears that
under twenty years of as strict reg
ulation of the liquor traffic AS it
was possible to enforce under state
and municipal laws the number Of
saloons and groggeries in the city
was reduced but 81 per cent, where
as under five years Of indifferently
enforced national prohibition the
number was reduced 70 per cent. 1t
is shown that in 1896, when the IL
quor traffic held full sway in New
York and was recognized as con-
trolling influence in city politics,
there was one saloon for every POP
inhabitants.
The most striking change is OBJ
servable along Third Avenue, the
former stronghold Of the brewery
lcontrolled saloon. In the year 1916,
which is easily recalled because Of
the presidential campaign, there
were 252 saloons, "A liquor stores,
and II drug stores on this street.
To-day there are but al such places,
OF which % are saloons which have
not been altered in their outward
appearance. The decrease in the
number of saloons has been almost
lisa per cent. The 2ll saloons and
"A liquor stores which have been
misplaced have given openings to
1853 stores engaged in Legitimate
commercial business. The assessed
value of the property affected has
increased $9s,759,OOO, or approx
mately ga per cent, as compared with
21.4 per cent increase in the as
sessed valuation of Manhattan real
estate as whole.
That is an incomplete picture of
the change that has been wrought
in Il single American city by pro-
hibtion 1t does not attempt to
show the greater changes that have
been wrought in countless homes
That is another and still better
story. The record could be dupli-
+, Gated, proportionately, in every COM
munity in the United States. II
should provide an unanswerable ar
gument against all the pleas for the
return of the saloon as Il dispenser
of alcoholic drinks of any kind 0,
description.