, 1842-05-07
THE RADICAL.
BOWLING GREEN,--.MAY I, 1s4e.

OtA "
of Louisiana, we are enabled to present
in another column, a "New Orleans
Prices Current" of a late date, to which
we invite the attention ofthe Farmer, but
more especially the Tobacco Planter.
As the season has arrived when the
Planters usually have their Tobacco in
readiness for shipment, it is natural to
suppose that they feel a solicitnde TO be
advised of the market presenting the
greatest inducements for shipment; and
as there are probably many who are Sc
situated as not to be able at all times to
possess themselves ofthe requisite means
of information, to enable them to come to
a correct conclusion on this subject, we
have collected, for their consideration,
such facts as will, we believe, point out
the proper means Of ensuring the best re-
ward for their labour and attention.
When tobacco bears high price, the
planter may safely ship to eastern mar
kets; but when the price, as at present,
is comparatively low, prudence would
dictate that he should incur the least
possible expense on its transportation and
sale, otherwise the entire proceeds may
be consumed in charges.
The natural markets for that portion of
the country bordering on the upper
Mississippi and its tributaries, are st.
Louis, and New Orleans. If the advan-
tages held out to the tobacco planter, by
each of these great marts, were equal,
we should, from many considerations,
give a preference 10 the former. But
when there exists, as will be shown by
annexed comparative statements, a MAZE
rial difference between them, our duty,
as public journalists. %compels us to di-
rect his attention TO the one which we
believe best calculated to promote his in
~terests.
The inspection oftobacco in St. Louis,
is ofrecent date. The quantity sold is
quite small, and the competition in its
purchase is usually limited to the enter
prising merchants of that city alone, who
take it on speculation, for re-shipment,
either to New Orleans, New York, or
Boston; consequently the price paid at
St. Louis averages |. and 2 cents per
pound less than the same descriptions of
tobacco will command in New Orleans.
For a series of years the sale of To-
bacco in New Orleans, has constituted
an important item of her trade; and as
nine tenths probably ofthe tobacco grown
in the West finds its way to that market,
we think there cannot exist a doubt but
it possesses facilities for the sale, and a
competition in the purchase of tobacco,
which cannot be attained by a place hav-
ing comparatively no established reputa-
ton as a Tobacco Market. Again, the
charges for inspection, storage, selling
&C., at each place, are about the same;
and as the rate of freight from Louisia-
ma, GAINESVILLE, and most of the other
shipping points on the river to St. Louis,
is only about two dollars less than the
freight from those points to n. Orleans,
and while the difference in Insurance
will rarely exceed fifty cents, and will
not, in a majority of cases exceed TWEEN
ty-ive cents, it is very apparent that
the saving in the expenses upon a ship
ment to, and sale at, St. Louis, will rare
ly exceed $3.50 per hogshead, and will,
in most cases, fall below that sum. The
difference in the amount of sales between
st. Louis and New Orleans, usually av-
. erages from Is to 80 dollars per hogs
head, which may be illustrated, thus:
A hid. containing l5OOlbs Tobac-
co, passing as F, sells in New
Orleans at Sc. $4,000
The same Tobacco passing as F,
sells in St. Louis at 81. $4,000
Difference in sales, $4,000
Deduct excess of expenses TO q 20
New Orleans, say, ~
Leaving the Planter a nett gain of $27,5o
per hogshead, on his shipment to New
Orleans.
The shipment of produce TO market,
its sale, and the return of proceeds, are
SO perfectly understood by commercial
men, that they have reduced the entire
operation to a science; and are prepared