Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1845-01-02
in Franco.

The correspondent of the National Intelligencer,
from a late official report, gives the most important
facts connected with Government monopoly of the to-
bacco trade:
Many particulars of the recent report of the direct
or of the tobacco administrale Qegie) deserve notice
for your readers. The preliminary statements FIJI Sc
ventcen quarto pages. Five only of the eightv-six
departments of France yield the plant. There are
ten royal establishments for the whole quantity, do
nestle and foreign, manufactured of which consid-
erably the greater part is foreign, chiefly American.
Of f~orty-fve million pounds in leaf, procured by the
administration IN 1S4l, twenty-six were excite. About
~thirty-Six millions are worked up annually thirty
three for smoking and shutting. The mean cost of
the leaf to the Government Is a frank and nine sous
per hIogrGnnme 1.-TWO pounds } it sells at nearly sir
francs. Last year the profit for the treasury was Sc
venty-four millions of francs. The tax is paid with
out a murmur, saith the report it may be regretted
that the poorer classes dc not spend their earnings on
an article more nutritious or useful but the State,
adds the official article, has a right to draw as much
as possible from the source of revenue, voluntary and
easy. Besides three hundred and fifty persons employed
in the culture and the Offices, and twenty-nine thou
sand vendors licensed and ruled by the Government,
there are five thousand one hundred operatives in the
factories. They are settled about each establishment;
subjected to a strict discipline, well paid, and well
treated in every respect; the children, averaging four
hundred, receive religious instruction and elementary
education. A large quantity of tobacco must be laid
up for years to give the best product, and answer the
constantly growing demand. The proper amount in
store should be of value nearly, fifty millions of francs,
which the national treasury alone could cover. The
administration has undertaken the manufacture of CT
gdrS and cigarettes to supersede those of Havana and
Manila. A class of youth educated at the Polytech-
mic school is d~raughted for superintendent or agency
In all the processes of the establishments. Science
and art are combined, so that the French product may
obtain and deserve the highest repute. The process
for the cigarettes is described. The strictness or e-
igency of the French reggie is stated to be so well un-
derstood In America with regard TO quality, that,
when the tobaccoes there, after public and official in
s~pection, are classed, the first and dearest qualities
are always designated 'French tobaccocs." The
plant, observes the report, has become a necessary of
life in France, Germany, Holland, Belgium, Spain,
and Great Britain it Is no longer a mere habit or
fashion, any more than tea in England. The con-
SUMPTION of IT must. therefore, be ever on the in
crease its great and rapid advance In France proves
the general allegation. The tobacco manufacture is
found to be a healthy employment: phthisical cases
are extremely rare in the French establishments they
are sometimes cured by the atmosphere. In other
branches of industry, consumption carries off one
fourth of the laborers; 1t is more destructive than the
plague, or the worst of epidemics. The Government
meditates the extension of the tobacco culture in
France; the districts that afford the best quality are
cited. A century and a half ago, the province of
Guyenne was renowned for its leaf; the culture is to
be pursued and specially favored in Corsica and Alge-
ria, where the growth may be rendered excellent, and
perfectly adapted to the French manufacture agents
have been sent thither to superintend the culture and
crop; a supply is expected that will cover the annual
deficit of the French growth.
The exclusive, rigidly maintained and enforced
right to buy a necessary of life to the amount of so
many millions of dollars, for a population of thirty
four millions, cannot but involve oppression and NAL
practice. The profits of the vernment-excessive
in themselves-imply a general wrong. The reggie is
charged with purchasing inferior material, compel
ling consumers to absorb the sold stufs'' before the
new contents of the stores are let out, and employing
other expcdients of gain which exclusive power, and
certain impunity. and the zone interest," of The .raa.
snrY almost necessarily induce. 1t is argued that free
competition in the purchase and manufacture would
assure cheaper and better products, and might ere
long yield a larger revenue to the Government. Your.
tobacco growers have not fair play in the European,
markets, and something may be done for them where
they suffer by tariffs alone but the reasonings and
dispositions of the ministers and Chambers in France
preclude all expectation of the REIMBURSEMENT, or any
important modification of the monopoly.
More PANIC FAcTs.-The Concord IN. H) Patriot
contains the following:
Notice was given to the House Of Representa-
tives yesterday, by a member from Manchester, that
he should introduce the application of the great
Amoskeag corporation for permission TO increase their
capital stock to the extent of FOUR HUNDRED THOU
SAND DOLLARS"
This is pertinent illustration Of the ruin which tho
success Of Mr. Polk is likely to work among the SUBJ
.~stantial manufactures of the country. How many
more establishments are to be ruined in the same way
we do not know.