Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1873-06-14
TOBACCO MARKET.

Upon what data do they base their
calculations, who argue that Clarks-
vile is too firmly established, as to-
bacco market, to be shaken by rivalry
or the want of facilities for the trans
portation of the leaf to this point ON
the Cumberland When New Orleans
was inc rsvz,,ssciv "a y q t..o .; sc
raised in this section, Clarksville was
the shipping point and the river teem-
ed with craft to convey it down the
Mississippi. But our patriots and po-
litical economists have chosen New
York as the great tobacco mart, and
as railroads to that point, have super
ceded the river as commercial chan
mel, the revolution has placed every
village, on the lines of railroads, oman
equal footing with GAINESVILLE, SO far
as location is concerned, and the prop
per energy and public spirit can make
of every such village tobacco mark
ct. Thousands of hoghseads now 60
to Hopkinsville, which would once have
been brought here. Russellville is
making an effort to erect itself into
tobacco market, and what's to prevent
Its success? 1t is on the same line Of
road with GAINESVILLE and will soon
have another outlet to the North and
South, doubling its local advantages
and its capital and energies are
guided by enlightened public spirit. it
too, will become a formidable rival.
Wherever tobacco is congregated, buy
ers will go, and planters will haul to
the nearest accessible point to save
time, labor and cost'of transportation.
Then, if GAINESVILLE wants to sustain
Its character and business as a leading
tobacco mart, it must do something to
induce farmers to visit it for other
purposes than the mere privilege of
selling their crops here. 1t must
prepare itself to furnish to the grow
er of tobacco, such articles as are of
prime necessity to him. Now he sells
his tobacco here often without coming
in person; receives his pay and sends
to Louisville for his supplies. And
why does he do this? Because, in
Louisville he can get all that he wants
-cheapened by competition and skill
and labor saving machinery. Henceit
is that GAINESVILLE has, as a tobacco
market, no special hold upon the sec
ton that grows it. And if Hopkins
vile, or Russellville will pay as well as
GAINESVILLE. those who are nearest to
the two former will go there-the case
would be different however, did Clarks-
vile hold out inducements such as
draw trade from this vicinity to Louis
vile and Cincinnati.
We make these remarks not because
We attach any particular importance to
the tobacco trade as a specially, con-
tributing in any perceptible degree, to
the wealth and prospective growth of
the town, but with the hope of Undue
ing those who think differently, to re-
fleet upon the facility with which
that trade is being seriously lessened,
and to devise the means by which it
may be increased and, with it, the
prosperity Of the town. Louisville,
and St. Louis are tobacco markets,
but a glance at the machinery employ
ed in diversified manufactures, will
satisfy any one that their tobacco trade
is a mere incident, and that the direct
profit from it, is derived from its man
ufacture. They who stem tobacco
here, are benefactors to the town be-
cause they employ and pay laborers
and thus indirectly, promote various
other interests. Apart from this, what
are the benefits derived from the trade
A few dollars TO inspectors and auc-
tioneers; a few dollars to the few en-
ployees of the warehouses, and the
tale is told. We wish the trade could
be quadrupled, but even then, with the
present indifference of capital and en-
terprize to the future of the city, we
should gain nothing in wealth and
population. Carloads ofgold currency
might pass through the city without
leaving a dollar as a memento, unless
it had to be stored here, prior to re-
shipment, then, like the tobacco trade,
it would pay trifling toll ON its way to
points where enterprise and public
spirit, will make it available to the
great ends of local and general pros
perity. This illustration is no exag-
geration of the course of the tobacco
trade in this, and every other town
through which the staple passes, leav-
ing no trace of benefits conferred, in
the shape of multiplied population
and progressive prosperity.