The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1868-08-01
PETERSBURG, July 81, 1868

PETERSBURG, July lCOC.
Such has been the untriendly action of
the Government in regard to manufactured
tobacco as seriously TO cripple the business
in this city, and probably in all other
places where the tax cannot be eyaded.
Before the war we had nineteen or twenty
factories in Petcrsburg-the most Of them
of the first class-in full operation. Now
the number does not exceed eight or nine,
and the most of these, when they work at
all, work with diminished force. No one
would complain if tobacco was moderately
taxed. 1t is perhaps altogether right and
proper that it should bear portion OF
the public burden but to subject 1t
to the heavy duty it has been labor
ing under is simply to offer pre-
MUM to dishonesty; and all experience
shows that there is no law which the inge-
nuity of man can devise 80 binding IN Its
provisions as to be incapable of evasion.
As in regard to the whiskey tax, SO 1t is
with the tax OH tobacco. 1t is matter OF
public notoriety that the frauds on the reve-
nue. are immense. And as there is wills
kew "ring," so there is doubtless in the
large cities q tobacco ring, equally corrupt.
The honest manufacturer, working for the
home market, does not realize profit at all
corresponding with the capital employed in
the business, and hence one after another
is disseminating the business. 1t was only
a day or two ago that one of the largest, II
not the largest factory in the city was closed
until more propitious times.
There is one branch Of the business, how
ever, that is perhaps as profitable as it ever
was, and that is the manufacture of to-
bacco for the Australian and English mar
kets-principally the former. On this there
is no duty, as the Constitution prohibits it..
The only tax the manufacturer has to pay
is ten cents per hundred pounds for inspec-
ton. There are four or five of our factories
engaged more or less in this trade, but only
one which is devoted exclusively to it. This
is the one belonging to w. Cameron s. Bro
Their, and it is probably the best appointed
factory in the whole State, with the excep-
ten, perhaps, of that Of their brother
Alexander Cameron, of Richmond. These
gentlemen are Of Scotch birth, and were
brought up to the tobacco business by the
late David Dunlop, of this city, one Of the
largest hearted men that ever lived. Ii is
generally understood that they have ac-
quired handsome fortunes. William Came
ron, the eldest Of the brothers, having been
longer in the trade, and having visited Aus
tralia several years ago to make himself
personally acquainted with all the wants
of the markets there, is perhaps one of the
richest men in the city. He lives at u
splendid villa on the Heights" built in
the English style, where he has collected,
among other curiosities, a large number Of
Australian birds and animals.
During late visit to the factory Of
the Messrs. Cameron CLEANED the follow
ing particulars of their operations: They
employ from 375 to 400 hands, and manu-
facture, on an average, 1850 pounds per
day throughout the week. Their daily ex-
penses are $1,000. They have number
of brands, to suit the varying tastes Of the
people; for it is fact in regard TO tobacco
no less than to the fashion of ladies' cos
tunes, the taste is continually fuctuatipg.
| have scarcely ever seen any large opera
ton conducted with such perfect system as
The business of this factory. The opera
ives all do their work with the regularity
# machinery. l was told that the expense
If carrying on q factory, SO far as the labor