LIQUOR LAWS AND MATERIAL PROSPERITY.

Evening Star, Issue 3789, 16 April 1875, Page 3

LIQUOR LAWS AND MATERIAL PROSPERITY.

To the f 4itor - A IR, ~I con tiuue my extracts A" 00 * letter of Mr Orne. “Atthe close of the year the State resolved' ?A fAio fP Prohl u lto x l T h( luor law should be put in force throughout its limits. For the purpose a State police was created, and during two and w al « y ß r^ fr ° m May I st .* 1865 ’ ® November, 1867—there was prohibition all over the State, During ten years, from 1840 to 1850, valuation of Massachusetts was nearly 30 millions annually, and about the same from 1850 to 1860, the increase for the two terms showing a very slight difference Snwfo o{ increase, as Massaohusetts had increased but little more on a valuation of nearly 600 millions from 1850 to 1860 than she had from 1840 to 1800, on a capital of 300 millions.” Mr Ome leaves out of the calculation and comparison tbe periodl of jthe war, and takes up his figures again at 1860. From then to 1867, thetwo years of prohibition, the valuation shows mi increase of 174,051,512 dok, being three tunes as much as during any other period increase of 87 millions annually, nearly in her history M a State. The law was enforced from November, 1867, till May, 1868. After tfte elections the sale of liquor was unrestricted. During that year of six months’ free sale and six months 'prohibition, compared with the two previous years, there was a falling-off of 33 millions. During the two years of prohibition the personal property ef the State increased otnt* CeQ k increased only 2§ per

In Massachusetts, tmder prohibition, the State increased her valuation 84 per cent, a-year, which is 6 per cent, more than the whole country has done. This extra 5 per cent, is the product of labor. Now a 5 per cent, on the valuation of the whole country in 1870 would make the sum of 708,949,336 dole., or nearly two millions each day for the year in favor of prohibition.” Mr Ome gives a number of figures, showing bow certainly population follows capital. He says; Massachusetts, under the prohibitory law, increased her valuation in one year eightyfiQVini '* k, er , population in one year, 69,401. The population, in the first year under the license, fell off. as compared with the previous year, 54,672> F I will only trouble you with two more quotations. Speaking of Virginia, he says : “ All tne trouble she has now is want of capital. Jrrombition would give her capital, and capital • would give her population. The internal improvements of the >tate are carried on with foreign capital, A State that prohibits the sale or liquor will have capital enough to carry on her. improvements without the aid of foreitm capital.’ The statistics here collected are taken from the State documents. Should anv one doubt “™i I am ready to furnish the evidence.” , The figures and statements I have quoted from Mr Ome’s letter afford materials which Jrv- B i? t , esme “ and reformers may well ponder. Ihis Colony is going into the foreign market for large loans, while every year throwing away ln .““ e hquor traffic more than our borrowed millions.—l am, icc., tv „ Observer. Dunedin, April 9.