, 1843-04-01
From the Missouri Reporter.
The Tobacco Trade.
NJ Err III.

In this article it is my intention to
show why St. Louis should be the great
depository of the crop of tobacco in the
State of Missouri; and l. here deem it
proper 10 observe, that / am a non-resi-
dent If that city, and hold no property
there. l~aissnuri is differently situated
from most tobacco regions of the West.
In Kentucky, for example, the tobacco
cannot be concentrated at any one point,
for the reason that it is grown on differ
ent rivers, and there is nc established CT
" or commanding point so situated as
would render it convenient for the tobac-
from all portions of the State to be
Inferred there. But Missouri, enjoy
ing the advantage Of having two large
rivers flowing from one extremity Of her
limits to the other, receiving in their
course tributary streams from all por-
tions of the State, and at last mingling
their waters1in.one common channel
thus affording1 Uhcommon advantages for
the concentration ola great portion ofher
tobacco at a single point. St. Louis be-
ing situated below the junction of the
Missouri and Mississippi rivers, all to-
bacco now shipped has to pass that place
to reach New Orleans; and if planters
would make that the depot for their tobac-
CO, great advantages would flow to them
from it, which can be perceived by con-
sidering thu. character OF the tobacco pro-
duced State, and the inducements
whic1 6thus be offered for heavy
dealers 10 embark in this business. The
climate Of this highly favored State is
well adapted to the cultivation of this ar
ticle. Here the fine silky leaf may be
cultivated on the billy lands, near water
courses, now considered of but little val.
uc, and from the peculiarly of the eli
mate, this tobacco is capable of being
grown, ifsuffered TO get perfectly ripe
OF the finest and sweetest flavor, ~calcula.
ted to make pound Jumps equal to any
made in Virginia; also, a kind in much
demand for the French market, now
wanting annually 1900 hogsheads o.
western leaf, and for cutting in the east.
ern markets. The strong thick leaf, fol
the English markets, can here be grown
to great perfection, and when it is suffer
ed to get ripe, and is well managed the
British manufacturer, and the Continental
carrot makers, to use this tobacco, in
stead of Virginia. The opinion is enter.
tanned in Europe that the Western to.
bacco does not contain much Of the es-
~sential oil that is found in that produced
in Virginia. This is true to some extent
The tobacco grown in the southern part:
of Kentucky soon natures, and is often
from the intense heat of the sun, neces.
sarily cut when green, to keep it from
spelling. 1 will here observe to The
planters ofthe West, that they generally
cut their tobacco before it sufficiently
latures. Missouri can produce, how
ever, the fine, rich. oily Leaf, with equa
Substance to the James River tobacco
Virginia. Let the Missourians. cultivats
and cure their crops well, send them tc
st. Louis for inspection, and, in a few
.lyears, they will find established mer.
chmts from the East and from Europe
permanently settled at St. Louis, direct.
INF their capital and talents to this trade.
Tim would planters, from this competi
tio. be enabled to sell their tobacco al
prtes corresponding with those of Vir-
gina. The merchants dealing at St. Lou.
is Aeuld have great advantage over
shippers oftheir Western tobacco. From
the4 they would ship their tobacco d.
rect OF having it opened at Orleans
thus hving the heavy expense. there,
and venting the injury tobacco always