Drug Problem In The 1911 Boundary

One of the things I try to look for, while searching the old newspapers for things that might pique the interest of people of today, are items that resonate with today. Things that people and institutions faced then and now. Because showing these helps people get a feel for the history and those who made that history. And the target of marketing is to make you feel.

So when I came across an article that pointed to the negative effects of drugs on society I had to point it out.

What drugs am I talking about? Not Opium or its derivatives, no. I’m talking about the second most prevalent drug we see in our world: Nicotine.

What follows is the ‘News Of The Day’ from the Feb 24, 1911 Evening Sun. You can read this and more in the newspapers on our Old Newspapers page.

NEWS OF THE CITY

A “Snuse” Famine Creates Excitement Among the Industrial Workers

A serious disturbance in the southern British Columbia industrial world was threatened during the first half of the present week.

The blame rests with the local tobacconists.

It appears that they had allowed their snuff supply to dwindle down to a cipher, and before the stock could (be) replenished things became quite animated in this neighborhood.
In the logging camps up the river councils of war were held, and lengthy resolutions, demanding an ample and immediate “snuse” supply, were unanimously adopted.
A refusal of these demands meant a general strike, and the tieing up of the entire lumbering industry.

Even at the Granby smelter the winter of discontent was rampant, and had not vigorous measures been taken to relieve the situation the consequences might have been disastrous.

The telephone wires between this city and Greenwood, Phoenix, Midway, Republic, Danville, Cascade and Gilpin were kept warm with the orders for “snuse.”

Before any could reach the city, however, the fact leaked out that the postmaster had recently seized a small contraband package of this commodity, and a deputation of “snuse”-famished men waited on him and endeavored to induce him to part with it.
He valiantly refused, even though lynching was hinted at.
The latter calamity was happily averted by the prompt arrival of our augmented police force.

The “snuse” market is once more normal, and no one who witnesses the peaceful tranquility that reigns here today, could possibly imagine that the city only a few days ago passed through a crisis.