The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-11-28
The Tobacco Interests.

The Tobacco interests.
we desire to remain Ia entire harmony ano
friendship with our agricultural friends,
whose importance aud worth none couio
more highly appreciate than ourselves; aud
tbey would, no doubt, agree with Us that lit
lie advantage is to come to anybody from
any alienation of feeling between tobacco
planters and those who perform the business
Of guarding, and selling, and buying tobacco
We can hardly believe that convention
composed of representatives OF al interests
could fail to harmouize upon regulations
reasonable and fair TO all.
AS we understand 1t there IS no great
coutes, in the matter Of inspection as 10
quality. The two brands "passed" and
"refused," now prevailing, signify nothing
with regard to the numerous grades OF y
commodity that sells for FROM 50 to $3.50.
and even 5000 per hundred pounds. The
terms we're employed at the time when 1t was
deemed unwise to allow the aggregate crop
TO exceed a certain quantity, and the grace
20 fall below "passed." So logically the
"rcfused" met the fate of the damned, and
was burned By the common hansman be-
fore the public. The producers OF the re
frsedn lost their years labor, and went
home feeling that they had met Just fate
under the Tobacco gospel Of the day in
which they believed. ..
II is not so now. The "refused" IS not
burned, and we have retained the phrase
ology while we have rejected the faith OF
our ancestors. There is no reason for IL.
But the conflict seems to. be. about strip
ming. sampl;pg, and storage. II the parties
to tine affair cannot settle these points they
must lack somewhat the moderate and rea-
sonab!e mental condition which cannot fail
to reach Just conclusions in settling practi-
cal questions.
There is one point, however, to which we
wish to call attention. That is an apparent
attempt TO put under the ban western to-
bacco. To do so would tend to drive from
This market that rich western tobacco trade
which this State has expended millions OF
dollars to win. For what was the Chesa.
peake and Ohio railroad built if it was not
built for this?
Suppose it be driven away, will that oene-
fl. the Virginia farmer? Does he not want
to see Richmond prosper that We may have
great city to supply, whose necessaries OF
life will afford demand for all the farm pro.
ducts, and which will pay so large part OF
the State debt, now so burthensome upon
bim:
We may be permitted to suggest in all
kindliness to our fellow.citizens that they
may leave the whole question Of grade to
the purchaser. He knows good tobacco
from bad as well as the farmer himself.
He would soon sink all his money if he
did not. With this fact that is undeniable.
and with that competition whose keenness
and activity can only be increased by in
creasing the amount of tobacco sold here,
what farmer can suppose that his tobacco
would not bring its proper value in the mar
ket: Will brand prescribed by the farmer
with the intention of damuing the tobacco
he does not produce make his better or max
it bring him more money?
We have little doubt that the practical
questions at issue can be readily settled by
the parties. And we do trust that the far
mers will not deem it necessary that laws
tending 70 drive away the western trade
from Richmond shall be maintained or
passed for their protection. MIR. RAG.
LANDS report assumed that We had alb
sorbed the North Carolina trade. Very
true; but if the North Carolinians
value his compliment as they should, may
they, too, not set up for themselves aud de-
mand the brand North Carolina" in the
Richmond market II the ] am hoier than
thou" is the notion to be carried out, we do
not see that they would not be justified in
seeking another market. where what they
may claim for themselves may be acknowl'
edged.
We speak only of general principles. II
all concerned will dismiss prejudices and
consider the whole tobacco question with
reference to the interests Of all, and of course
the State in her commerce as we'll as her pro-
ductiop, We have 10 fear but the matter can
be adjusted upon plan at least approaching
fairness.