The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-10-30
VIRGINIA TOBACCO TRADE.

Special Report to Commissioner Douglass. 1
Mr.. Israel llimball, chief of the division Of
tobacco, snuff, aud cigars, in the Internal
Revenue bureau, who recently visited the
principal tobacco manufacturers in Virginia,
under orders from Commissioner Douglass,
yesterday submitted to him the following
interesting report:
INTERNAL REVENUE BUREAU, |
WASHINGTON, October 90, 1871. j
SIR: have the honor to report that in
pursuance with your order have, in COM
pany with Supervisor Prcsbrey, visited the
cities of Richmond, Petersburg, Lynchburg,
and Danville, Va, with the view of asccr-
tanning, from personal inspection Of the to-
bacco manufactures in those places, and
| from conferences with the leading manufac-
turers, the present condition of the tobacco
manufacturing interests Of Virginia, the
operation of the internal revenue laws as
affecting those interests, and to receive such
suggestions as the manufacturers might see
fit to offer with regard to any changes in
the law or notifications thereof, or of the
regulations of the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue touching the various subjects con-
nected with the manufacture, shipment, cx-
portation, sale, &C., of leaf and manufac-
tured tobacco.
We spent considerab BILE time visiting the
manufactures, inspecting the machinery
employed, modes of manufacture, of
packing, stamping, canccling stamps,
keeping of books and making the
daily entries therein required by law.
These examinations were in most
cases very satisfactory, and convinced us
that not only were the manufacturers
thoroughly acquainted with the require
ments of the law and the regulations, but
that as a rule they are complying with the
same. AS the Commissioner has never
prescribed any particular form of die for the
cancellation of stamps affixed to wooden
packages, each manufacturer uses die of
his own getting up, and the consequence is
that the form of dies is as various as the
number of manufacturers two having
the same kind of die; and in very few
cases which have found do these dies an
swer the requirements Of the law. | am
more than ever convinced of the need of
suitable die for the cancellation of tobacco
stamps, and believe that such a die should
be prescribed by this office, and all manu-
factners required to supply themselves
with the same, and in all cases to use it.
| have further to report that everywhere
we went we were received cordially and
treated courteously. AT our suggestion,
in each of the places named, a meeting Of
manufacturers was held, and from two to
four hours spent in discussing the various
points of interest which the subject sug-
gestcd. was pleased and gratitied to find
a general sentiment among the manufac-
turers of friendliness toward the govern
ment, and recognition on their part,
which they did not hesitate to embody in
their resolutions, of the expediency and
propriety of collecting considerable por-
ton of the revenue from tobacco in its va
rious forms, and from the manufacturers of
and dealers in tobacco SO long as the gov
eminent deemed it necessary to collect in
tenal revenue taxes.
OF the one hundred and eighty-iive
manufactures of tobacco now in opera
ton in the State of Virginia, one hundred
and twenty-four are located in the four
cities and towns above referred to, viz
Richmond, Petersburg, Lynchburg and
Dauvillc; so that the views Of the manu-
facturers Of these several places may fairly
be assumed as representing the views of
the manufacturers of the whole State.
The particular points discussed at each of
the meetings alluded to were first, in regard
to a uniform rate of tax on all descriptions
and grades Of manufactured tobacco
second, with regard to the removal of
tobacco in bond and its storage i'll export
bonded warehouses third, the sale of raw
or leaf tobacco directly to consumers--the