The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-03-27
Correspondents OF t.,e Richmond p,spa,ch.l

Correspondence of Tie Richmond Dispatch.l
DANyIEIE. Va. March %, 1878.
Having spent SEVERAL days very pleasantly
| IN this growing town q ought TO traye writ.
ten csty, but there are so many settles" these
days that we may as we'll have few to,ons, }
have gathered some items that have inter.
csted me and may interest your readers.
Pitfsylrania county. formed from Halifax
In 1857. is thirty-Ave miles long and twenty
six broad, is we'll watercd by Starnton, Ban.
lister, and Dan rivers. has fertile soil, and
Is one of the most productive counties in
the State--especially in tine tobacco.
Its population tn 1910 was 2S,393, and I'm
1870, 3l,343. It was one Of the largest
slaveholding counties In the State, having In
1860 1880 slaves. 1t has 239,ols acres of
improved land, 80, 56S acres of woodland,
and 66, 1876 acres of other unimproyed land.
Tue present cash value OF its farms is
$500, 30; of It's farm productions, S1,599,-
1874; of animals slaughtered, or sold for
slaughter, $iG9,2S3; and Of its live stock,
$475,il1.
1t produced in 1870 124,57e bushels of
wheat, 30I ,657 bushels of corn. 52.7S7
bushels of oats, and 4,2s2,5il pounds of to.
bacco, besides an abundance of other pro-
ducts.
Danvillc was established by law In 1893 on
the land OF John Barnett, adjoining Winn's
falls. Well situated just above batteaux
navigation on Dan river, and with canal by
which The boats can pass the falls, its river
transportation was very important in other
days, and is considerably used now, although
the railroad carries the bulk OF the freights.
The watcr-powcr of Danville Is very tine,
but has not yet been utilized to any great OK
tent. Tobacco is king in Danville, and its
rapid increase in population and general
prosperity is chiefly due to a brisk trade in
the weed.
In 1910 the population Of Danvllc was
about 1890; now it has upwards of 5000
people, and Is rapidly increasing. Then II
had only two tobacco warehouses and four
factories now it has six large warehouses,
80 priZe-houses, and 20 factories-scvcral of
which are among the largest in the State.
These factories work an average of 70 hands
each (making about 1900 hands engaged
herc) in preparing the weed for chewersand
smokers.
These factories alone consume great deal
of leaf tobacco, and make heavy demand
for it; but there are, besides, a number of
agents from other cities who buy in Danville
and ship to their factories.
The following figures, which we clip from
the Danville Tobacco Leaf ian enterprislng
paper devoted to the tobacco iuterest), give
some idea Of the progress Of the trade:
"In 1866 the sales at the warehouses and
to private dealers are reported ut 100000
pounds; in 1867, at 100000 pounds; in
1868, at 100000 pounds; in 1869, at 1900
0U0 pounds; i'll 1870, ut 81 ,232, 900, the
pounds not being noted; in 1871, ut $780,
for - siS coz - ofrnn nj
$3.50 per hundred in 1872, at 1905, $3.50
pounds, for Sl,I4G, 4l3. being an average of
Sl2.3i per hundred pounds.
From 1>t June. 1871, to 1>t June, 1872,
Danvilc and the county manufactured in
smoking and plug 2,Sll ,G26 pounds. During
tie months of June, July, aud August Dam
vile and the county manufactured in plug
and smoking 1,il4,lI pounds, which is Il
gain over the amount for the same period of
1871 OF 10000 pounds.
"fhe tax paid at the Danville Office, which
collects also in part from Henry and Frank
lin counties, stands thus for three months
July, S293,G34.70; August, SIG, 320.S7 ; Sep
tcmbcr. $01 ,3S3.7O."
l had the privilege yesterday of visiting
| several OF the warehouses and seeing the to-
bacco sales. They do not sell by sample or
hy the hog>hc&d, but the leaf is brought III
loose. assorted, labelled with tue name Of the
owner and the quantity, and placed in piles
for the inspection of The buyers. The crowd
comes in, the buyer handles the tobacco,
(prclty roughly. il seemed TO me- makes his
selections and fixes his prices, and the anc-
ton goes on With Il CHATTER and excitement
that would not disgrace the Gold-Room in
New York. As much as 10000 pounds per
| dav ott'n changes hands III these warehouses,
and besides this, considerable quantities are
| sold privately. | was at first surprised to
| learn that great many farmers living twen-
| iy-liye or thirty miles from Danvillc, and near
| the railroad, haul their tobacco here in
| wagons in preference TO shipping it here or
| to other markets by the cars. They say that
| hauling it in loose they save hoyshead:,
| freight, travelling expenses, and hotel bills,
aud carry home more clear money than they
| could by shipping at their der0;s.
Besides PittSyvania county Danville
| draws tobacco largely from Halifax, Henry,
| Patrick, Franklin, and other Virginia coun-
ties, and from that magnificent tobacco re-
| oion across the North Carolina border. This
| is the region Of the famous fancy wrap
per" which brings such high prices.
| saw one lot sold at SO per hundred, and was
| told that prices were often up above 500.
| This tobacco trade eniivens every other
branch Of business, and the stores Of Dan
Vile are large zone Of them claims to be
larger than any establishment i'll Richmond)
and seemingly. very prosperous.
The Danyiile tobacco men seem consider
| ably elatcd ut running ahead of Lynchburg
| and Petersburg in their sales, and seem hall
Inclined to think that they will outstrlp
big Richmond" before long.
| Danville has eight churches, one female In.
| sltutc, two female colleges, one public graded
! and high school, and six private schools
Your correspondent only had opportunity OF
visiting the Roanoke Female College, which
| has about eighty students and seems to be
giving great satisfaction under its present
able and efficient administration. Rev. John
| periencc in teaching, and Professor Samuel
Averett is proving himself rs efficient in
| managing aud teaching young ladies' ms he
| was brave and skilful in rowing the seas as
chief executive officer Of the famous Con
| tedpr,te cruiser Florida.
IVES present on Sunday at dccp!y-lnlcr
estin~ anniversary meeting of the Sunday
School Missionary Society Of The Baptist
church, aud heard admirable addresses made
| by Professor Avcrctt and Captain John L
| Averett. The anniversary sermon was
preached in the morning by one of your
Richmond preachers.
This church has released its accomplished
pastor, Kcv. Z. Hume, Jr, from filling theII
pulpit on Sundays in order that he may gave
his time until June to the memorial Work
which lie is doing with great ability and sue
cess.
The pulpit will in the mean time be sup
piled principally by Rev. j. i. Turpin, OF
Richmond, who has recently given up the
law for the ministry, and is preaching with
great acceptance I" tho people.