Weekly national intelligencer., 1853-03-26

Though this province afterwards the department Of
NoTd) has subsequently maintained its rank after
Alsace in the importance of its crops the culture of
bacco in this region has since reached the degree of
prosperity that would be indicated by the above table
1901 the crop Of the whole department three
million lbs less than the average crop during the above
period Of eighteen years for the reimbursement of Lille
alone But the average crop of the province of Flanders
prior to 1871 cannot be fairly estimated from the data
furnished by the above table, for it will be remarked that
from 1875 to 1882 during the American war; the
crops were more than doubled The average fell mate
rally after 1882 but did not reach the low figure atwhch
it was maintained previously.
In the province Of Arois the culture Of tobacco has
been attended to for two hundred years This is of
the places in which the culture and manufacture has al
ways been free during the monopoly of the farmers
general Its products have been very important in
amount, but it is agricultural employment to which
the inhabitants cling with much tenacty The tobacco Of
Arto resembles that of Flanders and like was disposed
Of by the planters to the manufacturers of Dunkrk
mixing with other tobaccos in the IMPOSITION of the first
quality snufs exported into Germany The farmers
raj purchased here part of their stock and IL supplied
the demands Of consumption in the popuous provinces
which produced it, None was exported in leaf for the
crops Of Belgium and Holland supplied the factories of
Amsterdam Cologne, Frankfort, and Ofenbach with
much OF this quality Of tobacco desired.
Though Gusnne Of the earliest Of the old pro-
vnces that undertook the culture Of tobacco and
nued by special privilege for many years after the
tabshment Of the State monopoly, exercised by the
farmers general these last finally succeeded in obtaining
its suppression and for many years preceding the abo
ton of oil privilege in l791 this province had totally
abandoned the culture. | have data upon which to
estimate the former importance Of the culture there
was certainly inferior to that Of Alsace Flanders and
even Of Arois The small districts Of Messn Lorraine
OF Gex, In burgundy, and portion of Franche Compile
enjoyed the privilege of culture and fabrication,
against the farmers general but the culture Of the pro-
ducts in these places not ID sufficient amount to have
left important statistical resuH.
In January 1890, the constituent Assembly abolished
the old provinces Of France and divided the whole terri
tory into purely administrative departments as they exist
at present and the 2st February 179 the National
Assembly decreed that every person should be liberty
TO cultivate manufacture, and sell tobacco throughout
the whole extent Of the kingdom that the importation
foreign manufactured tobacco should continue TO be
hibted and that foreign leaf tobacco might be imported
upon paying duty Of 25 ivres per quinta equivalent
to $413 per 1l0l lbs with reduction Of onequarter
on tobacco imported directly from America in French
bottoms"
Now commences period Of seven and half years
TO 2lst September, 1898, during which the cultivation
manufacture and sale Of tobacco continued absolutely
free During this period Of absolute liberty the depart
ments Of Bas Rim, which had formed part Of the ancient
province Of Asace and Nord which had formed part of
the ancient province Of Flander maintained the re-
putaton Of the old provinces both as producers and
manufacturers In the Importance of the value and
amount Of production they left all the other
far behind. The Bas Rhin takes the first place to
quantity did Alsace under the old regime These two
departments supplied than two thirds Of the aggre
gate production Of eghtysix departments into hich
France had been divided They owed this superiority
the character of their SOIL emneuy adapted to this cu
ture and to the skill in cultivation obtained in an unn
terrupted experience Of two centuries The Department.
of Lot and OF Lot Gdronne forming mart Of the ole
province Of Guienne immediately resum cd the culture
tobacco upon the abolition Of the royal monopoly; anc
with these dozen Of the other amons
which, the departments OF he et Vaoiss (3retarne
Haate Saons (Franche Compte,l and NOssle lorraine