Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1860-06-01
For the Chronicle.
Tobacco Exchange.

! Mr.. EDIToR:-I noticed in your las. issue an ar
tice signed Civls, which took decided ground
against the Tobacco Exchange views which were
decidedly wrong, and shall try to prove il.
had hoped that nothing would be written about
this at ALL but that the planters might come and see
for themselves, the manner in which the Exchange
is conducted. This can't be done by merely readl
ing the various articles which its advocates and
those who opposed to it, may fit to write IN
relation to it.
CIvIs begins by asking, "whether any mode of
selling tobacco be farer than the old way, is
any other method of selling more likely to produce
the full value of the tobacco2" panswer, mol The
advocates of the Exchange do not contend for any
other the sales to be conducted exactly in the
same way as before. We have the same Inspectors,
they inspect precisely in the same way. Their
samples are neatly tied and labeled rs before; then
very carefully handled and carried to the Exchange
Office, well wrapped in a blanket and there placed
in the sample box which is deposited there (under
lock and key,) 10y the ware-houseman, leach one
having box of his own,) and not thrown in pei.
mel, heller skelter, rs Ciyis would have his d,y
goods consisting Of hundred different articles)
thrown in to his Calico Exchange. Oh, Civis! what
a mixture you would have; what a multtm in
marbao!
Again. if after the tobacco is offered and does not
bring much as the planter thinks it ought he has
the opportunity to call it in that he has afford
ed him at tho warehouses. There is no change
whatever in the sale of tobacco at the Exchange
from the old way. l can't see any, perhaps the
cleared-eyed Civis can. l contend that there are
many advantages accrping from the Exchange, both
to planter and buyer. For instance under the old
method of selling at the warehouses-ony once a
week--partcularly on occasions of large sales,
planters were very frequently put to great incon-
venence, to say nothing of the heavy expense of
remaining in town at one of the hotels, away from
their families two or three days, waiting to have
their bills made out and get their checks for the
proceeus of their tobacco. b.,
This difficulty, which is no insignificant one by
any means, is obyiated now, under the new.way of
selling three times week at the Exchange. They
can report their tobacco by letter for certain day.
and leave home in the morning of the sale day,
rive here at l0I o'clock, A. NJ by the cars their
tobacco Sold receive the proceeds of same attend to
what other business they may have in town, leave
on the 3 o'clock train, and take tea with their
families. Those who live convenient to the railroad,
and this proportion will be largely increased soon
as the road is finished to Russeville which will be
early next fall before the beginning of the next
tobacco season.
/ The buyers are greatly benefited by it also. In
stead of consuming five days in the week. trudging
from their homes and offices to the different ware
houses through all sorts of weather, snow, cold,
rain and hot sun; sitting hard benches all day,
going without their dinners, then trudging home
again, tired and worn out with hunger and fatigue,
to their families in whose society they are unfit to
enjoy themselves, omaccount of their feeble con-
ditions. They are now able, under the new method
adopted by the Exchange TO attend the sales, go
, home to their dinner-which is very convenient on
account of the central location of the Exchange
ofce-rcturn again after dinncr if the sale is con-
tinued which is rarely the case, because it is so
: much more expeditions than the old way; then have
sufficient time to attend to their other business and
90 home perfectly treSh
The benefits resulting from the Exchange in favor
of warehousemen are incalculable. In the same
} length of time they are enabled to do twice the
, amount of work, the number of hands employed
being about two-thirds of that formerly employed.
This arises from the distribution Of labor throughout
each day Of the week. They are able now to finish
their weeks work without working all day Sunday,
as they have been doing heretofore. Some may
think this exaggeraton, but it is certainly true and
they can have opportunity of judging for them
5 selves by going 10 the warehouses.
Some interested persons have gone so far as to
circulate the report among the planters that this is
all trick gotten up by the buyers to swindle them,
the planters. Now, this is outrageous for men of
sense to be guilty Of and who have the reputation of
being men of veracity and prudence. Allow me to
say to the planters of the country that the gentlemen
who are opposing the Exchange with such blind en-
thusasm are the same who, it will be remembered,
upon occasion proposed TO the Board of tobacco
buxers to fit up room at their warehouse, and fur
IL Al, In =fxy 10 a
appropriated to the purpose of an Exchange.
Now see what they saying and doing for the
, people, both in the town ard in the country TO
crush out the very thing they tried 30 hard TO get
up If forsooth, they might be allowed the honor Of
originating it.
Does this not look like taking the people by the
pose, and leading them in whatever direction may
most contribute TO their personal prosperity, with
ont reference to the general gOod2 VIII the people
of GAINESVILLE and vicinity suffer themselves to he
led in this way, through walls and over precpces
ia order 10 crafty the domineerng disposition of
I few individuals who would control the balance?
Ciyis, in speaking Of the Exchange says, "The
stimulus in obtaining high prices is destroyed
This is not so they feel the same interest which
has always actuated them.
i After the sales commence at the Exchange, there
are always two of the representatives from each
warehouse one TO superintend the arrangement OF
the samples, and the other 10 take down the sales,
MhlCh was tue case az the NdchouSc Inc lhtltt-
encc which planters have for warehousemen is gov
erncd by personal friendship prOmptness and atten-
ton to the discharge of their duties as warehouse
men, convenience of location, both to depot and
river, safety, Sc.
The difference in prices is, Of course, regulated
by the difference in the grades Of tohceo this diff
ference if any there be- is IN favor Of the Exchange
because there are more buyers there than at the
warehouses,
will venture to say that in less than six months,
all the tobacco sold IN Clarksyie will be sold AT the
Exchange. Louisville has her Exchanges New Or
: leans does not sell Mt the warehouses; Lynchbufg,
: Riel nond and Baltimore each have an Exchange.
New York has also, AID why not establish one in
Carksville2 il ought to have H. and believe will
/ The planters are again earnestly invited to attend
some Of the sales the Exchange and satisfy them
selves and thereby enable themselves to correct the
misstatements that have been made 10 them in the
I. country. by individuals who are interested in iis
downfall Yours respectfully, G.