THE UNITED STATES DRINK BILL.
The Statistical Report of the consumption of liquor in the United States for 1900 shows some appalling figures—$1,172,493,445. The New Voice makes the following striking comments:— During the year we spent almost as much money for drink as the total value of all our exports of merchandise to all the world. We spent for liquor $320,000,000 more than for all imported goods. The sum spent by us for liquor last year, together with cash in the Treasury, would wipe out the whole public debt, and leave $95,000,000 besides. We spent for liquor last year $400,000,000 more than the entire output of coal in the country at $5.00 per ton. We spent above $400,000,000 more for liquor than the entire valuation of the corn crop of the whole country. We spent more for liquor than the entire gold coin of the United States. We spent almost as much for liquor as the entire receipts from all the railroads from all sources. We spent six times as much for liquor as for the public schools of the nation. Our drink bill was about nine times as much as our pension bill.