The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-07-29

The big tobacco sale and lunch
came off yesterday, and was one of
the grandest affairs ever gotten up in
this city. The large and commodious
National Hall was crowded with plant
ers, shippers and buyers to the num-
Der of about four hundred persons, and
the greatest interest was manifested
by all in attendance. The famous
Crescent City Silver Band was in at
tendance, and enlivened the audience
with their unrivaled music. Many of
our first citizens and business men
were in attendance. showing, by their
presence, the great interest they took
in the occasion. Owing to the great
length of the proceedings, we shall at
once proceed to detail the business of
the meeting.
At 11:45 AN. the assemblage was
called to order by Isaac Keen, Esq,
on behalf of Mr.. Nisbet, the Presi-
dent, who was unable to remain, who
announced the order of exercises, and
stated that the first business 10 order
was an address from Hon. John Law.
JUDGE LAW
Then read the following address, en-
titled, -
ToBACCO-ITS HISTORY AND PROGRESS.
AS early as this continent was dis
covered, tobacco was used by the In
dams, and the practice of smoking
was the habit Of all the tribes.
The use Of it was prohibited by
James the First of England, and he
published a work on the subject, and
at the same time issued proclama-
ton forbiding his subjects to use it in
any way. But it was of no avail; his
subjects cheWed the weed and smoked
it. in spite of the proclamation. Now
all the so7ereigns of Europe derive a
great revenue from tobacco, and while
great use of it, the Government tax
here is fully as much, if not more,
than is taxed abroad. fcr
When Columbus discovered this
country, he landed on the coast of
Cuba. The plant was unknown to the
Europeans The sailors who accom-
panied him went on shore, where to
their great establishment, they found
the natives putting smoke from their
mouths, and nostrils, which they
afterwards learned was derived from
the combustion of the dead leaves of
tobacco. The smoke was inhaled
through a hollow cane, one end of
which was introduced into the mouth,
or in case. the cane was forked, the
forks were introduced into their
nostrils, and pulled away. Some of
the sailors were inclined, so amazed
were they, as to believe they had a
furnace in. their stomachs.
The use of the weed now prevails
throughout the world, but nowhere,
| probably, so much so much so as@on
| this Continent. OF the origin of the
name, it is impossible to say. Some
| suppose, from the Island Of 1ob0go ;
| others, from tobdcoS, the name given
by the Indians to their pipes. 1t is a
matter of small consequence. 1t is
almost in universal use throughout
the world, call it what you may,
whether of luxury or necessity;
and being once INDUCED in, the
habit is not easily broken-it is
stronger than that of the drunkard.
As an evidence of this fact, single
circumstance, related to me by an old
and highly respected gentleman at
| Vincennes, who had resided there for
many years, engaged in the petty bust
ness, and died a number of years since
at very advanced age, informed me
| that when travelling through the Prai-
RE, from st. Louis to Vincennes, with
two French guides, they got lost in a
severe snow storm, and for three days
1 and nights wandered about, their pro-
| visions being expended. Hungry and
weary, they reached an Indian lodge.
! What do you suppose the first ques-
ton they asked was?-Why, that the
| Indians should give them some to-
| bacco."
Tobacco is now largely cultivated In
| Europe; but the tobacco of the United
States is considered decidedly supe-
| Tior to all others, being more highly
| favored. OF the 81, 100000 pounds
of unmanufactured tobacco imported
! to England in 1860, upwards OF
| 30,000,000 was from the United
States. The yearly value is prob
ably over S2Q,000,000, and rapidly
increasing.
Within a radius of fifty miles from
| Evansville - north, south, east, and
west = there is probably the largest
crop raised IN the United States, for
the same length and breadth. Most
of this is shipped to this city; and the
quantity is yearly increasing. In 1861
we shipped IL, 151 hogsheads; in 1867
we shipped 32,019; in 1868, 1898. Oh
course the amount, owing to the sea.
son and the amount planted, vii
cause the difference.
What, then, is to prevent this city
from being the great tobacco mart Of
the West? We are right in the cen.
tire of its growth, and no competitor:
but at Paducah and Louisville, anC
these are not formida ble-easily over.
come. Let the tobacco planters learI
that the prices paid arc liberal
equaled, If not more, than obtained
elsewhere, and we shall, to our grea'
profit and interest, reap the advan
tage of such traffic.
In 1910, Kentucky raised 30, 436, 80!
pounds of tobacco; in 1850, 55,5O1
| 196 pounds; In 1860, los, 102,00C
pounds-doubling nearly in ten years
In 1870, the probability is, she vii
have doubled the crop of 1860. Sht
Z has my sincere wish that she may d.
so. 1t is a simple question with thu
producers of tobacco" Where can
6 sell my tobacco for the best prices
taking into consideration the ex
penses2p IF at Paducah, take i
there; if louisville, take it there;
e Evansville, bring it here. l have NJ
. interest IN tobacco. The amount
, smoke or chew is very small; but if
IN any department of business, [ cal
e aid my friends and neighbors il
bI1TtCfpor nm oY7Ys o14v, L