The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1877-08-09
During the first week of JU

D1l1LlS b1lC uIcG WGCA VI y uly uIGy-OuO
packages were received, averaging $50
pounds each, at valuation of $42, ,075.
Said heavy dealer: "When the war be-
tween Russia and Turkey broke out
great speculative fever ragged here, and
scores of men with unemployed capital
invested heavily, based on 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 to
S8 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 $5 80 gold, the most of the out
side spectators lost their all in six weeks
time. One man; very clever fellow,
invested his last dollar. I Urged him to
sell when the top price was reached, as
surit1g him of profit of $4,000, but he
persisted i'll waiting for more, and is now
bankrupt"
Smyrna and the contiguous country in
Turkey contain all the opium plantations.
The present crop is reported as unusually
large, with a probable yield of 5000
chests, or 1,350,000 pounds, which is
largely in excess of last year. A consid-
eIable 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
800 cases a year, mostly used by two
large houses for the manufacture of mor-
phine. The new crop is being gathered,
and may be decreased or entirely de-
strOved 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 Wafs.
= L, e.
years, only once in that period having
declined below So gold, duty being paid,
when there were several large crops In
succession. The consumption in this
country is about 3, 900 cases, or 100000
pOunds year. Wholesale druggists, and
those who deal III opium as a speciality
ascribe the large increase in the amount
to the heavy manufactures which have
sprung up within a few years for the max
ing of tinctures and morphine. At the
same time they reluctantly admit that
much larger amount enters into personal
use than heretofore. ''Notably is this
the fact" said a dealer, i'm the
southern states. Since the close of
the war, men once wealthy, but impOv-
erished by the rebellion, have taken to
eating and drinking opium to drown
their sOrrOws." The South American
and East Iadian countries and California
consume large amount of opium also,
owing to their great coolie population. 1t
is further conceded that in certain quar-
ters in this city, on Baxter, Division,
Water and other neighboring streets, it
is used to an alarming extent. One re-
tail drug store on Division street does a
very large business in this line, retailing
it in small quantities, from five cents a
dose up, and every few moments poor,
half stupid men and women may be seen
emerging frem his rear door with cups
and tin vessels containing the black paste
which is to furnish them hours of for
gettulness. 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 bogus Turkish smoking tobacco or
cheap cigars, which are mostly used by
| the Chinese. The market at present is
largely overstocked and is rated as nomi-
nal, in jobbing way, at 81 to 81 80 gold
! in bond-N Y Tribune.