The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1880-01-20
Nothing Like Tobacco.
by Henry Glover. OF the nrm OF shereiy q
Glover, Louisville Tobacco Warehouse.

by Henry glover, OF the nrm Oh Shereiy
Glover, Louisville Tobacco Warehouse.
The peculiarities OF { ,bacco VIII ich
distinguish it from all OF ler herbs nd
narcotics are not more remarkable
than those which place it apart in
commerce and political economy from
other objects of purchase and sale.
As an herb-sometimes called ir-
reverently wsed--it exacts slsvish
attention from its guardians in youth
and maturity, and requires a sort Of
royal nursing to develop those good,
or at lasst popular, qualities which
are latent in its sap and gum and It's
sue.
AS a narcotic it is used, according
to the estimates, by more than eight
hundred million of the human race,
and it's empire over the minds or ap-
petites ofmen is greater than that Of
any other narcotic or exhilarant. In
the two hundred and fifty years of its
career it has extended its dominion
over the greater part of the human
family, exacling an annual money
tribute which would exhaust three
times the wealth Of the Rothsckilds.
Its place in political economy is its
most extraordinary characteristic.
The government of the United States,
in the last seventeen years, has drawn
from tobacco an income Of 332,0n0,-
900, and is now taxing it about SAL
000,0 900 per anum, though the whole
crop sells for only about half that
amount. The principal United States
tax is l6c per ID; the English tax is
75c to S7cperlb; the German tax is
tabout l0tc per lb; the Russian tax is
about l0c per lb, etc.
In Austria, France, Italy, and Spain
the several governments monopolize
the purchase, manufacture, and sale Of
tobacco for their respective populations
and it is unlawful for any subject 20
deal in tobacco without government
license. The result Of this system is,
that agents and contractors for these
government are enabled by collusion to
obtain their supplies in ordinary sea.
sons almost at their own terms, and
enormous profits are realized by the
manufacture and sale. For instance,
France imports five or six milliondol-
lars worth of leaf per amman, and
petdles it out among the population
at gross profit Of thirty to forty
million dollars per annun. This is
also an illustration Of the practice in
Austria, Italy, and Spain. This sys-
TEN, known as the regie or royal mon
opoly. imposes a practical tax probably
quite as great in the aggregate as the
tax in England. Tobacco pays about
a fourth to third Of the revenues oi
France, fourth to third Of the ex.
else tax Of England, and about three.
eighths Of the internal revenue Of the
United States.
The average product Of a hogshead
Of kentucky tobacco pays an average
tax exceeding $500, and the average
value OF a hogshead at present prices
is about 800. These averages liz
clude both leaf and lugs, and both
home and foreign consumption The
meaning of this is that different ma
tioas impose fines upon their subjects
averaging upward OF IS for every 81
worth Of tobacco which they consume
!, Both in their universality anon
. the nations, whether free trade or pro
tectionist, and also in the exorbitan
, rates imposed, the taxes on tobaec
J are unparalleled in the whole range o
. commerce. These imposts Of cours
greatly reduce consumption and tn
: profits on tobacco culture. The.
urgently demand the attention of Con
gress and the government.
It's estimated that the people
. the United States produce about one
: fourth of the worlds product. N
4 otber nation produces approximatel
/ so large surplus for export. Thi
Q result is due as we'll to the enterpris
s ing character Of the people as to tn
, merit and popularity Of America
;ltypes, Sundry popular types are dc
Z mestieated in other countries indeet
: such as Havana tobacco in Cuba, an
!. Choice smoking typesin Arabia, Syri
a Macedonia, and elsewhere; but thor
! appears to be no reason to doubt th'
o the commanding supplies OF the con
= lmerce Of the world will continue to
/ produced in the central east-west be
2 Of the United States.
q The whole crop Of the United Stat,
: : could be grown on about TO0,0(
y y acres, or less than the thirtieth part
y ! the area of Kontucky alone; but
q q rapid enlargement Of production
is prevented rather by the facility wi
d which the markets are overstock,
81 and the culture rendered uuprofitabl
r than by the limitations of soil a.
Il climate on tobacco cultivation.
r. There is no commercial staT
cee which discloses stronger afinities a
- antipathies as to soil and climate,
i. cluding numerous interesting sel'
10 tions Of special types for special loca
nd ties; but the weedy stuff known
an csubstitutes" may be produced in
definite quantities in States in viii
Tobacco culture is not at all domes