Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1852-08-05
day, is heard in all our principal towns. tho
noise Of tho furnace. and the steam engine. and

Noyp 40 uSoto ia al OuT PttuCeRUA tOWuus Suo
noise Of tho furnace. and the steam engine. and
the sound Of the hammer the saw and the an
vii, employed in repairing or fabricating come
pieces Of machinery needed BY our manufac-
turcrs. Distant realmst too have been made
tributary to the wants Of this interest, and the
supply of these wants has given new char.
acter TO the import trade OF our State. The
sunny fields Of Italy. and the Isles Of the Med.
iterranean, have been made 10 contribute their
sweets, and the burning Tropics their rich
spices and sromatics. in improving tho taste
and flavor Of our Grent Staple. Even tho
arts OF design and coloring have been brought
into requisiton to adorn and bcaut,iy the very
packages in which it is contained. Nothing
has been spared by our manufacturers, which
could please tho eye, captivate the fancy, or
minister to the taste, Of the most fas,idious con.
sumer.
While though this interest has brought ..
bout so great an improvement in the quality Of
Virginia Leaf, and has acted so bene6cially
upon other interests in the State, one thing
connected with it is becoming quite 'i,ible.l
The increase in tho quantity Of Leaf Tobacco
grown. which is suitable for manufacturing
purposes. is not keeping peace with the in
crease in its manufacture. The increase in
the tobacco manufacture has more than kept
peace with the rapid increase in the popula.
ton Of our country. The increase in the busi.
ness of tobacco growing has only kept pace
with the increase in the population employed
in its culture. Tobacco is grown almost en-
tirely in the slave holding portion Of Virginia;
and the labor employed in its cultuo is princi-
Pally that Of slaves. There is no increase in
this species of labor from importation. and ito
natural increase is constantly kept down by
the annual export of slaves to the markets Of
the South There are only certain qualities Of
for manufacturing. From the entire crop Of
the State, though our Manufacturers. havc
heretofore been able to select a sufiicicncy Of
Leaf Tobacco suitable for their purposes. II
is manifest that if the business Of tobacco man
ufacturing should continue to increase in our
State in future. as it has done in the last FIVE or
ten years, and the growth Of Leaf tobacco
should remain nearly stationary, the range Of
selection which our Manufacturers will here.
after have. will have been so much diminished.
that they will be compelled TO employ in their
business a description of Leaf tobacco which
they weuld now reject wholly unsuitable
The consequence of this will be the ruin OF tho
reputation of their brands and tho loss to Vir-
gina of that proud pre-emlnence which sho
now enjoys in her own peculiar manufacture.
To avert this evil, we think our manufactu-
rers should be stimulated not only by the or.
dinary considerations Of self-interest, but by
the strongest feelings of State pride.
We believe that ifthe Manufacturers Of Vir-
ginia would enter into a solemn compact to
work no tobacco during the months of January
February and March, this course would effect
diminution in their business sufficient to a.
vert this evil. The proportion Of tobacco
worked will be kept down to that Of the Leaf
made, for a long timeto come. In the mean
time, the counties Of the Southwest and those
portions Of North Carolina and Tennessee
which border upon Virginia, will have 50
much improved in the cultivation Of Leaf to-
bacco as to supply any increase in the demand
Of Tobacco manufacture which would tako
place under these circumstances. The cessa-
ton Of the working Of tobacco during these
three months. will produce dimnution in tho
quantity Of tobacco manufactured Of about ono
fifth. Tobacco worked at that season Of the
year is generally new Leaf, which is green and
unseasoned. 1t is no, expected 10 keep BY tho
Manufacturers when it is put up. About tho
months of April and May. there is generally
accumulated in the Northern markets large
quantity Of this worthless stuff, which is either
sold at heavy loss to tn 9 manufacturers, or il
held on to until the fall. when it generally
proves to be mouldy, and is unfit for chewing
purposes. 1t sthen sold for sheep wash, snuff
making, smoking. or for some other purposes
different from that contemplated BY tho Man
ufacturer. No intelligent Planter will prize
new leaf during the months Of January, Feb
ruary and March, with the expectation Of its
keeping through the summer. Still less could
it be expected that manufactured tobacco put
up at that season of the year should keep
1t has to be worked in softer order than Leaf
tobacco has to be priced. The injury which
the Virginia Manufacturers suffer from work.
ing tobacco during those three months is not
confined to the losses which they invariably
suffer by their operations during that period
Of time, but it affects injuriously their business
during the remainder Of the year. This large
quantity Of winter work which generally ac-
cumulates uponthe markets about the latter
part of the Spring. though unfit for the con.
sumption of the regular trade. is nevertheless
counted as stock. and the low prices ut which
it is sold. always acts injuriously upon the sale
ofmanufacturcd tobacco Of useful character.
1t is our opinion, that ifthe plan we have re
commended be adopted by all the Tobacco
Manufacturers of our State, it will result in
great present as well as prospective benefit to
their business. Let it be generally known ..
moDgst the tobacco dealers IN the Nortn ana
South that our manufacturers upon closing
their business upon the 25th Of December next.
will not resume again until the 18th Of April
next, and it will at once inspire the strongest
confidence in all Virginia brands. Its pros
pective benefits can hardly be sufficiently esti-
mated. Let it be generally known that no
Virginia tobacco is worked except at periods
Of the year when it can be warranted to keep.
and that high reputation which her fine to-
bacco now enjoys, will to certain extent bc
visited upon her common and medium grades.
and the disastrous results which are now 30
frequently visited upon her manufacturers.
by having unsold stocks which have deprecated
in quality. will then be averted. II may be
urged as it has heretofore been by many, that
the adoption of such change in our business
is rendered impossible by the peculiar nature
ofthe labor which q large majority Of Virgin
ia Manufacturers are compelled to employ
The most of it is either slaves owned by them.
selves or hired for the entire year. We think
though that this difficulty has been much over
rated, The necessities Of many planters and
the convenience Of others, will always. a it
has heretofore done. force into market a large
| quantity of new tobacco. which is condi-
ton unsuitable to be worked. The drying.
| sort;pu and h,lkinU of This tobacco will Qlv0