The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-04-23
PETERSBURG LETTER.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.
s - 5FcsgSEs
acknowledgements and Quotations.
PETERsBURG. April 22, ]

q Owing to the bad weather, which has
prevailed for several days, there has been
4 less activity in business matters than
usual. To-day, however, o number of coun-
try people are to be seen on thestreets, and
we may hope for q revival in a short time.
In one of my former letters the opinion,
derived from intelligent sources, was x
pressed that the present year wouldwitness
the EMANCIPATION of q healthier trade than.
has existed since the war.
The aggregate products Of the country
NAV not, indeed, be in excess Of pre-
yious years but both mercantile and agri-
cultural operations will be conducted on.a
safer basis. The credit system, which has
wrought injury to SO many OF both classes,
is so nearly abolished as to be restricted to
parties of the most %nndoubted character.
AS q general 'rule-and it has always been
,thus-farmers run u~nguardedly in debt
: whenever they get the chance. In former
years they were generally able TO meet
their liabilities, which the force of habit
now induces them to incur, with less GER
tainty of being able to pay ut the specified
time. That this practice has been arrested
is. of happy omen; and farmers will now
learn to be more economical, and conse-
uuently become more thrifty. 1t was with
reference to this aspect Of the matter that
the opinion referred to was expressed.
The cotton market has been we'll sustain
ed at former quotations, though it isthought
to. be somewhat weaker to-day in sconse-
aulence of Yesterdays advices from New
i York and Liverpool. 1t is not, however,
quotably lower. sa
The tobacco market continues equally ac-
tive. It is ~apprehended by some that when
the heavy receipts of May and June com
to hand, prices may give way to some e1-
tent, except in regard to shipping tobacco.
Should this prove to be the case, it will.go
! toshow the depressed condition Of the manu-
featuring interest, which, it may well be
feared, cannot permanently flourish under
the heavy burdens imposed on it by the
!. Government, E
AS both cotton and tobacco are now bring
ing such fine prices, o number of planters
are adopting the policy Of cultiyating both.
In bestowing an equal amount of labor on
each crop, they act somewhat on the princi-
pie of mixed husbandry--namely, that the
reason may suit one better than the other.
The net profit on a bale Of cotton OF present
prices is from fifty to sixty dollars, and
- pldlkSl6 III Ilut on tAdV 1dbV AO OG1S SASH
will pay as well.
A noticeable feature in cur tobacco trade
is the large number of hogsheads-estima-
ted at notices. than o thouoaId-which have
been sent here from Richmond since Christ
mas to be sold. or re-sold. Thie may result
from a want of equilibrium between the two
markets, the receipts inthe one being proba-
bly, In excess OF the demand, and in the
other falling short Of it.
Corn has advanced seyeralcents since our
last weekly report. This is to be ascribed
: to the recent heavy demand for it from the
North Carolina planters, who always buy
more or less, but more now, in. consequence
of having devoted themselves last year al
most exclusively to the production OF; cot
ton. The tendency is upward, and small
sales have been madetwo cents higher than
our quotations. Holders, in fact, are. askIs
ing it already, but We prefer not to quote
beyond the fair ruling of the market.
With these general remarks ne submit
the following list of quotations
Gtton-0rdinary,2 5 to$26c; middling,
,27to2sc. ; choice selections, 80 to 500. Re-
ceipts light.
Tobacco.-Lugs, low. 81 to So good, 81
to ss yellow, fine, SO to $40. Leaf, short,
common, 81 toss good, s12 to &l8;; work
ing, bright, $40 to S25; fancy $22 to ST.
Wrappers, common, BIO tosl5; good, soto,
$50; fine, $50 to s75. Shipping, Jugs, com
mon, as5.to Sc; medium, 81 to So; good, SO
oslo; Leaf, medium, SO to $l2 good, $l5
to $40. ST
Floms-Market very firm. Fine, $40 to
slo.5o superfne, sl8to 1880 ; extra, sl4I