The Osceola times., 1877-08-11
Pounds.

During the first week of July fifty.one
packages we're received, averaging lb0
potinds each, at a 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 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
SO 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 s. so gold, the most of the out
side spectators lost their all in six weeks
time. One man, 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 the opium plantations.
The present crop is reported as unusually
large, with a probable yield of 900
chests, or l,350,000 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 !;
1875, 1889 cases The receipts at Phila-
delpbia are unknown, but are set down at
500 cases a yeaI, 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 cold map or heavy rains.
The task OF gathering this year falls upon
women and children and old men, all the
able-boded men being off to the wars.
| Opium is as low ss it has been for twelve
years, only once in that period having
| declined below IS gold, duty being paid,
when there were several large crops in
succession. The consumption in this
country is about 1000 cases, or 300, 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 for 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, "in 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-
tiers 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
very large business in this line, retailing
it in small quantities. from five cents
dose up, and every few moments poor,
halfstupid men and women may be seen
emerging frem his rear deor with cups
and tin vessels containing the black paste
which is to furnish them hours OF for
gettulness. "An opium eater" said the
druggist, twill 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 overlooked and is rated as nomi-
nal, in a jobhing way. at "a to $3.50 gold
in bond.-N y Tribune