The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1877-08-16
During the first week of July ity,one

During the first week OF July lltty-One
packages were received, averaging $50
pounds each, at a valuation of $42, ,O75.
Said heavy dealer: "When the war be-
tween Russia and Turkey broke out Il
great speculative fever ragged here, ana
scores of men with unemployed capital
invested heavily, based on probable
war tax by Turkey or closing OF the
port at which most of the opium was
shipped The price was then run up to
IS gold, in bond, or 80 in currency but
the port of Smyrna being so remote from
the seat of war the market has since de-
clined to $5 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
suring him of profit of $1,000, 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 9 OOO
ehests, or 1,350,0O0 pounds, which is
largely in excess of last year A consd-
cradle amount comes to America, the fol-
lowing being the receipts for two years at
New York and Boston 1875, ,776 cases !;
1876, ], ,259 cases. The receipts at Phila-
delphia are unknown, but are set down at
500 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 bv cold snap or heavy rains.
The task Of gathering this year falls upon
women and children and old men, all the
able e-boded men being off to the wars.
Opium 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
country is about 1000 cases, or 3OO, 900
poundsa year. Wholesale druggists, and
those who deal in opium as a speciality
ascribe the large increase in the amount
to the heavy manufactures which have
sprung up within few years tor the max
ing of tinctures and morphine. At the
same time they reluctantly admit that a
much larger amount enters into personal
use than heretofore. Notably is this
the fact" said a dealer, Gin the
southern states. Since the close OF
the war, men once wealthy, but impov-
erished by the rebellion, have taken Ia
eating and drinking opium to drown
their sorrows." The South American
and East ldian countries and California
consume large amount OF opium also
owing to their great cOolie population. |,
is further conceded that in certain quar-
ters in this city, on Baxter, Division,
Water and other neighboring streets, ii
is used to an alarming extent. One re-
tail drug store on Division street does q
very large business in this line, retailing
it in small quantities, from five cents 8
dose up, and every few moments poor
half stupid men and women may be seer
emerging from his rear door with cup'
and tin vessels containing the black paste
which is to furnish them hours OF for
getiulness. can opium eater" said the
druggist, "will use himself up in about
five years, and usually in three years he
will become idiotic and fit for nothing
but the hospital" Some few manufac
turers employ opium in the preparation
of Il bogus Turkish smoking tobacco %
cheap cigars, which are mostly used b,
the Chinese. The market at present i
largely overstocked and is rated as nomi
nal, in jobbing way, at "a to $3.50 golC
in bond.-N Y Tribune.