The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-04-11
RICHMOND, Va, April 8, 1878.

Editors Dispatch: have cut this out OF
the Tobacco Neaos, of Louisville, KY, issue
of the 9th instant, by far the most reliable
and trustworthy tobacco journal IN this
country. hope you will reproduce it in
the Dispatch. Tt is question whether we
had not in. Richmond better come back to
sales in warehouses, as in old times:
samplins Bright wrappers In. Rich
mond, Va.
GROWING EVIL WHICH SHOULD BE cor
RECTED--FALSE PACKING AND UNIFORM
-SAMPLING.
AS an independent and disinterested re-
preventative of the tobacco interest, we
deem it not only our duty to chronicle pas
sing events which are OF interest to the
trade, but to call attention., and so far as
may be in our power, to correct any abuse,
no matter Of how long standing; for while
time sometimes makes dark light, it never
makes wrong right.
In pursuance OF this line OF policy which
we have seen proper to mark out for our
selves, it now becomes our unpleasant duty
to call attention to the false packing OF Vir-
sinia wrappers, and the unfair, or, TO say
the least, the careless sampling Of them by
the Richmond inspectors.
Our western manufacturers, who use
them largely, say there is not one Richmond
package Of wrappers out OF five that comes
fully up to sample, and that while it is per-
haps not as bad as formerly, yet it is still so
bad that some manufacturers have already
quit that market, while others are looking
about to see how and where they can get
Just what they buy. Now, this state of AZ
fairs should not be, and il it is continued,
Richmond will in time surely lose her posi-
ton as leading market for wrappers.
This false packing is done by putting
short and mean tobacco around the sides
and on the head and foot Of the packages.
so that when the inspector draws sample
from the centre he gets the best. II the in
spector would take part Of the sample from
the sides, head, and foot Of the packages,
this false packing would soon cease, as the
packer would find it no longer profitable.
In Richmond the buyer never sees the
package he buys, and consequently can
know nothing about the packing. All he
has to Judge by is the sample. The inspec-
tors should therefore be all the more care
full.
AS is known to many, the manner OF SELL
ing in Louisville, st. Louis, and Cincinnati
is quite different from that in Richmond.
In these markets every package is stripped,
and the buyer can fully examine the pack
age at the time of purchase, and if there
has been any false packing he will be almost
certain to discover it.
1t is well-known fact that Virginia
package of wrappers will sell probably
much more readily by sample drawn here
than by one drawn in Richmond, and will
command better price.
In calling attention to the difference be-
tween the sampling OF this and other west
ern markets and Richmond, we must not be
understood as making an invidious COM
parison. We personally have no interest in
wrappers, and it is not our maxim, as to-
.bacco-trade journal, to specially commend
this market or to detract from another. We
owe our patronage to no particular locality,
nor do we have any special interest in any.
We are, therefore, q free and independent
sheet, and we will ever be found ready to
accord praise or to apply censure as occa-
sion may demand.
We personally know many of the Rich
mond tobacco trade. More honorable and
agreeable gentlemen than whom it has not
been our fortune to come in contact with.
We lodge no complaint against them per-
sonally. 1t is Of their bad system Of SAM
ping, out OF which grows false packing,
that!EcompIaint is made. Were this same
loose method OF taking samples in vogue
here we have not doubt but that the same
evils would grow out Of it, and we would
be as ready to cry out against it.
The system now in existence in Richmond
cannot be altered day too soon for the in
terest and fair name OF that market for
bright wrappers.