The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1877-06-05
RBMARK& .
HON. JAMES WATSON
OF MONROE COUNTY.

hON. 81 n M US w n 1OOIN, :,
OF MONROE COUNTY,
In the House Of Representatives, on the
y Blu to Create the Office of State In
spector, Prouide a Warehouse and
Regulate the Inspection Of Leaf To-
bdcco
Mr. SPEAKER: hope the members of
this House have given this bill the con
sideration which its Importance deserves
/ hope the provisions of this bill have
received the careful scrutiny and atten.
ton which we will find they are fairly
ssa atR u Shep Ss asSssPa 81 RS A
ed and controlled commercially by their
operation, and the effect which their PAS
sage will have upon the financial and ag-
ricultural interests of Ohio, and also the
principles involved in the 29th section
Of this bill, Recognizing the right OF a
State and the duty of State to foster
and promote by appropriate legislation,
and by material aid, our great mechani-
cal, manufacturing, commercial and ag-
| ricultural interests-th four great pill
lars on which rest the growth of the
commonwealth and the prosperity of the
people sa 'H fia @
And first, as TO the magnitude Of the
product to be governed and controlled
| by the provisions of this bill. II mem
bers will take the Report af the Secre
tary of State for the year 1875, and turn
to pages 362 and 1853, or to page $40 ot
Executive Documents, part first, which
they will fnd on their desks, they will
there find condensed statement of the
tobacco production of Ohio for period
extending from the year 1870 to the veal
1874, inclusive They will there ascer
tain that tobacco is one of the staples o.
the State; that seventy eight of the
eighty eight counties of the State are
more or less engaged in the culture o.
the tobacco plant, and that many O
them are largely indebted to it for The
maintenance of many of their people
and the earnings and profits which give
life to their trade, and comforts ant
cheer to the homes OF large nambers o
their citizens. .-a-t
Let US examine for moment the Re
port of our Secretary of State, and learl
the lesson which it teaches We int
that in the year 1870, 20,4S4 acres o
ground were planted in the State, pro
ducing 2l,056,279 poucds OF tobacco
being ar average of 1927 pounds pc
acre which, at an average of FIVE cent
per pound, gave .he sun-bronzed farme
. reward of ISL 35 per acre, and added
largely to the available, active CONNER
cial capital of the State.
! In the; year 1871, 2S.S62 acres wer,
planted in this native American plant o
1.-The genns Nicotiana; the production wa
SO, 1T $50 pounds Of tobacco, an aver
age of 1858 pounds per acre, which a
the same price of five cents per poun'
rewards the husbandman, who perform
ed the labor, by giving him S62 6o pc
acre for his care and skill, and placed il
that year upon the tax duplicate of tn
State the large sum of Sl,S0S,SS7 so.
In 1872, 46.227 acres were planted il
| tobacco, producing 34,9o0,9 1896 pounds o
tobacco, which the same previous aver
age gives to the broad shouldered son
of toll, and the tax duplicate of tn
State, 81, ,745,048 80.
/ In the year 1873, 43,S50 acres wer
planted in this State, producing tn
enormous amount Of 39,572,55S pound
Of tobacco, an average of 902 pound
per acre, yielding, at five cents pc
pound, to the honest, toiling Grangers o
the State, and to finance, commerce ant
the tax duplicate, the magnificent sum o
/ SL978,627 90-an amount amply stuff
cient to justify the friends of the bill il
asking forit, from the members of thi
House, careful, thorough and ia
vorable investigation, and as we hope
xnanimeus support. lH fa
Let US further, for moment, look a
the annual and aggregate clearances o
Ohio and Maryland tobacco from tn
port. of Baltimore for forty years, from
1887 to 1876. The system was inaugu
rated in 1928: