Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 August 1908 — INCREASE OF SALOONS IN INDIANA. [ARTICLE]

INCREASE OF SALOONS IN INDIANA.

Decrease in Rural Districts But In* crease In the Cities, Says Bureau of Statistics. A vast deal of information in regard to the number and location of saloons in Indiana and the manner in which they are operated, gathered by Mary Stubbs Moore, chief of the Indiana Bureau of Statistics, has been made public. These reports, which were supplied by county auditors show among other things a decrease in the number of liquor licenses issued for saloons in the towns and country districts and a marked increase in most of the .large cities. It is shown also that out of the 3,002 licenses Issued for saloons during the first six months of the calendar year 1907 the bonds in 274 cases were furnished by brewers and that 717 saloon-keepers were bonded by brewery agents. Surety companies furnished bonds for 592 saloon-keepers These figures in regard to the signing of bonds were gathered only after careful investigation. It is not believed that entirely accurate results have been attained in all counties, but the figures, it is believed, give a very fair idea of conditions. During the six months’ period in Marion county, 407 licenses were Issued. In two cases, the bonds were signed by surety companies, 232 bonds were signed by the brewery companies and 170 by brewery agents. In Vanderburg county, where 200 saloon licenses were issued, the bonds in 199 cases were signed by the agents of breweries. In addition to the figures in regard to the saloons in which the brewers are interested, other reports show the number of licenses issued both by counties and cities. Comparlsion of these figures indicate that the chief increase in the number of saloons has been in the large cities. While it is known that much territory in Indiana has gone dry, due to the efforts of the Anti-Sa-loon League, there has been no marked decrease in the number of saloons. While many townships have been cleared of saloons altogether, more saloons have been established in other sections, particularly in the thickly populated portions of the State. Figures for five years, showing the number of licenses issued each calendar year, are as follows: 1903, 4,835; 1904 5,163; 1905, 5,277; 1906, 5,253; and 1907, 5,214. It will be seen that there has been only a slight decrease in the number of saloons in the last three or four years. This, too, in spite of the fact that there has been a remarkable increase in the extent of dry territory. One explanation of this is had in a comparison of the number of licenses Issued in the last five years in the cities of the State. The figures follow: 1903, 3,443; 1904. 3,700; 1905, 3,829; 1906, 8,894 and 1907, 3,983. It is seen tbs* there has been an increase in the number of licenses issued in the cities. A better idea of this increase may be had by taking the figures for some of the larger cities of the State: Terre Haute, number of licenses issued in 1903, 180; number In 1907, 278. South Bend, 1903, 162; 1907, 211. Indianapolis, 1903, 628, 1907, 745. Evansville, 1903, 285, 1907, 296. East Chicago, 1903, 62; 1907, 206. Some of the counties which have shown a noticeable increase in the number of licenses issued are: Knox, Vigo, St. Joseph, Greene, Marion, Vanderburg and Lake. —Indianapolis News.