Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-06-07

Mr.. EDIroR-You are right in saying that your
Correspondent n planter on Staunton Riveri who
writes complainingly of the Boardof Trade mis-
apprchends the object of its establishment
We will briefly show what will be accomplished
in reforming the evils of the Tobacco Trade. with
out infringing on the rights and privileges of any
body not even on that poor and much abused class,
the planters.
A Board of Trade exists in all cities and towns,
the trade of which is of sufficient Importance to
Justify an attempt at harmonizing conflicting in
terests-to reduce from confusion a regular sys-
tem--to facilitate the transactions between the
rous parties, looking to the protection of the rights
Of aH and to aid the necessities of n constantly
charging commerce.
The conflicting interest in the present case ali-
ses between the buyer and the commission mer-
chant. The time consumed at the warehouses by
the commission merchant when he is crying
tobacco sales. using the occasion to make speeches
irrelevant, in which the Of the planter was
tckled md his fancy pleased with the idea that
his tobacco was well represented, but which
detained the buyer all day at one more ware
houses, from business Mt his factory equally i'm
lucrative upon his attention, whilst frequently the
ulanter himself with his team, was forced to lie
over day to enable him to see his tobacco sold.
and get the proceeds all this has been rcmedied
by the appointment Of public criers at the rare
houses, who have been on duty since LIST Of June,
giving satisfaction to planters and buyers; they
get through with heavy breaks by half past
o'clock p. IN, at all the warehouses each day, and
they obtain prices for tobacco equally as high if
not higher than under the old system of selling.
So thus falls to the ground the idea that par
tcular commission merchant can. ut public auc-
ton, get higher price for tobacco than another;
in fact it has been the capitni that has been traded
on long enough, and it is a subject for congratun-
ton to the planter and to every else that it is
an exploded lallacy.
regular system of charging n certain per
tage the amount Of sales has been established;
which confirms with the usage of every city and
town Of any Importance in the Union. This WAS
done to bring order out of confusion, as tor in
stance: three hosshcads Of tobacco. under the old
rate of commissions. was sold follows. one for
5000 one for SlC0. and one for $50. Each hogs
head pays one dollar cGmmissiul,, which is the
half of per cent for the first one per cent for
the second and two per cont for the third. thus
actually making the party getting The Unrest prize
pay tue heariest commission, reversing the order
of things az they exist elsewhere. The commis-
sion merchant gets So for selling these three hogs
heads of tobacco, pays the planter his money,
after making out an account of sales makes n sim
liar entry of the transaction on his books, en-
ploys a c,lle tr to collcct the money from the
buyer, and fie Iuen'ly has to hold the check given
by the buver for weeks and years sometime
to all eternity. if he could support him>el'
that long in doing much work for the e0or-
nous Of one dollar The commission ha.
been put at q per cent, very properly and,
we think, no planter land am sure "a Planter
on Staunton River" who writes so courteously, J
will object t" paying living compensa,ion for
those who represent his interest. The planter has
no idea OF the value Of the market for his tobacco
because he sees only his and mayhap his neigh
bors crop; the Commission Merchant 10 necessary
to him to keep him advised as to the markets,
what his tobacco should be brought in, how
prized, when to sell the different qualities, the
price it brings, and last but not least. he has to
assist him with money while his: oropais in tho