The star of Pascagoula. [volume] (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1873-1878, 1877-08-10

During the first week of July fifty.on
packages were received, averaging 15'
pounds each, at a valuation Of $42,075
Said a heavy dealer: "When the war be
tween Russia and Turkey broke out
great speculative fever ragged here, anC
scores of men with unemployed capita
invested heavily, based IN a probable
war tax by Turkey or a closing of the
port at which most of the opium was
shipped. The price was then run up tc
IS gold, in bond, or SO in currency but
the port of Smyrna being so remote from
the seat of war, the market has since de-
clined to IS so gold, the most of the out
side spectators lost their all in six weeks
time. One man, a very clever fellow,
invested his last dollar. | urged him to
sell when the top price was reached, as
surfing him of a profit of $4,000, but he
persisted in waiting for more, and is now
a bankrupt"
Smyrna and the contiguous country in
Turkey contain all theOpium plantations.
The present crop is reported as unusually
large, with a probable yield of 5000
chests, or 1880 pounds, which is
largely in excess of last year. A consid-
cradle amount comes to America, the fol-
lowing being the receipts for two years at
New York and Boston 1875, l,776 cases;
1876, 1859 cases. The receipts at Phila-
delphia are unknown, but are set down at
800 cases a year, mostly used by two
large houses for the manufacture of nor.
Phine. The new crop is being gathered,
and may be decreased or entirely de-
strOyed by a cold snap or heavy rains.
The task of gathering this year falls upon
women and children and old men, all the
.able-bodied men being off to the wars.
is as low as it has been for twelve
years, only once in that period having
declined below s. gold, duty being paid,
when there were several large crops in
succession. The consumption in this
is about 1000 cases, or 300. 900 !
year. Wholesale druggists, and
hose who deal in opium as a specially
the large increase in the amount
% the heavy manufactures which have
prung up within a few years for the max
ng Of tinctures and morphine. At the
anne time they reluctantly admit that a
much larger amount enters into personal
Ise than heretofore. NOTABLY is this
he fact" said a dealer, Gin the
Outhern states. Since the close of
he war, men once wealthy, but impov-
rished by the rebellion, have taken to
ating and drinking opium to drown
heir SORROWS" The South American
nd East ladian countries and California
onsume a large amount of opium also,
wing to their great coolie population. 1t
5 further conceded that in certain quar-
ers in this city, on Baxter, Division,
Water and other neighboring streets, it
used to an alarming extent. One re-
all drug store On Division street does a
cry large business in this line, retailing
t in small quantities, from five cents a
up, and every few moments poor,
.alf stupid men and women may be seen
merging from his rear door with cups
nd tin vessels containing the black paste
is to furnish them hours of for
ettulness. can opium eater" said the
ruggist, "will use himself up in about
We years, and usually in three years he
I'LL become idiotic and fit for nothing
ut the hospital" Some few manufac-
urers employ opium in the preparation
f a bogus Turkish smoking tobacco or
heap cigars, which are mostly used by
he Chinese. The market at present is
overlooked and is rated as nomi-
al, in a jobbing way, at "a to $3.50 gold
4 bond.-N Y. Tribune.