The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-03-15
SUMAC TRADE.
turers OF Misunderstanding OF Interest
Banquet Last Night.

Manuiacturers OF virginia was held at the
Exchange Hotel yesterday. Present
Messrs. Rosenthal, Of Alexandria; Will
liams and Jones, OF Petersburg; Bryant,
Snyder, Moore, and King, OF Richmond:
Shotwell, Baker, and Martin, OF Manches-
ter; Dreyfuss, OF Georgetown; Hurcamp,
OF Fredericksburg; Chiles, OF Louisa;
Steel, OF Lynchburg; McKenna, Of New
Canton; and Epes, Of Nottoway. The
Convention was called to order by Mr.. Hur
camp, and President Bryant upon taking
the chair merely SAID These social ming
lings OF the manufacturers from the differ
ent parts Of the State make lis the better
acquainted each with the other; make us
more regardful OF the feelings and interest
Of each other. and bind Us together in
bonds Of closer and stronger union.
sUMAC.
The following extracts from memorial
recently presented to Congress by these
manufacturers give interesting facts:
The grinding OF sumac i'm this country
was induced by the war. The war 80 in
creased our currency (grcenbacks) as to act
as n heavy duty OH foreign sumac. OF
course the foreign article had to be sold
for gold value, which caused 1t 20 bring 4
large price in greenbacks, thus giving
home industry chance.
The importea article was worth more
before and during the war than it has been
since, because the country was depend
ing entirely upon the foreign article.
They could ask us what they pleased.
and we had no alternative but to pay
it. Now. while their article in some
respects is better than ours-because they
can afford by their cheap labor to cultivate
it and give more attention TO the manipula-
ton OF it, &c.-we have been able, by SUI
perior skill and industry, to produce an ar
ticlc that will in great degree substitute
it for nearly half its cost, while we have to
pay from three to four times as much for
labor.
Seeing this, the foreign article has been
gradually reduced in price until it has be-
come almost impossible Tor us to maintain
our trade; and we ask protective tariff
OH foreign sumac and tanned sheep and
goat-skins, for the good, We think all must
admit, OF the whole country-in so much
that labor is honorable, and should be well
paid in this country OF free and equal
rights to all, and not brought into compc-
tition with the oppressed and pauper labor
OF Europe, and recently, more particularly,
with that OF China and East India gene
rally.
The grinding OF lcai-sumac in Virginia
has grown from the Insignificant business
OF about 100 tons per annum in 1860 10 the
very considerable business OF about 5000
tons in 1891, which represented S240, 600
paid directly TO the poorer classes Of peO-
pie IN Virginia, consisting for the most part
Of thousands OF colored people, which is
| their principal support: and this amount
OF money is kept in this country. which
otherwise would be exported 10 pay for
! foreign labor, to the neglect OF our own in
dustries.
OFFICERS ELECTED.
At the meeting yesterday the following
officers of the Association were elected for
the ensuing term: President, John ii.
Bryant, OF Richmond; Vice-Presidents,
j. &. Hrcamp OF Fredericksburg, Ger
man Smith Of Winchester; Secretary and
Treasurer, w. \. Jones, Of Petersburg,
Executive Committee: WV Baker, Man
chester; j. NJ. Williams, Petersburg; f.
ROsentha, Alexandria; Warner Moore
! Richmond.
BUSINESS.
The committee on the tariff question
was enlarged. and now consists OF MeSsrS
German Smith OF Winchester, Snyder OF
Richmond, Jackson Of Lunenburg, llur.
camp Of Fredericksburg, Jones OF Peters
burg. and Bryant Of Richmond.
A great many matters OF interest to The
trade were discussed, particularly the tariff
question. Ii was resolved TO c00pcrat,
with the manufacturers OF dressed skin
in endeayoring TO secure 4 higher tariff fol
their protection, and thereby TO make !
better market for our sIImac.
Letters were read from Senator Malone
Hon. John Paul. Hon. :. j. Randall, Hon
W. y. Kelly, and other distinguished gen
tlcman. saving, in response to invitations
that they regretted they could not be pre-
sent.
4 number OF matters OF routine were
disposed OF, thanks were voted Colone
Darlington for his hospitality, and the Con
ycntiOn adjourned sine die.
BANQUiT.
Last night the members Of the Conyen'
ton partook Of an elegant banquet at Snel
ling's Cafe, Bank street, with invited
guests. The president. John ii. Bryant
ESD, presided, and good feeling anC
joyillity prevailed with the good cheer
The banquet was served with nine courses
each accompanied by appropriate wine o
good vintage. From remarks made 10y mem
bers during the evening it was gathered
that the Virginia product OF sumac amount
ell yearly to $3.50 tons. Just after the wal
the price was 800 per ton; now 1t Is Si5
The toasts announced by the president
were as follows, and replied to rs under
mentioned
Our Country: The Birthplace OF Libert!
and the Asylum for the Oppressed OF al
Nations. Dir. EppS.
Our Statesmen: May they Ever be Dis
tinguiShed for their Love Of Liberty ant
True Patriotism. Mr.. snyder.
To the Heart that Fills as the Bottl
Emp,ies. Mr.. Shotwell.
The Fairest Work OF Nature-Womcn
Mr.SIoore.
Success TO the Promoters Of Commerce
Mr.. Williams.
: our Trade and Manufacture MAY the.
Never be Cramped by the Fetters OF No
nopoly. Mr.. lIurcamp.
: Nav Peace and Plenty Ever Rest on tn
Bosom OF our American Soil. olr. Baker
Our Lakes and Rivers: Inland Seas tina
Unite the Commerce of our states ant
Forever Render their Separation lmpracti
cable and Impossible. Mr.. McKenna.
Our Commerce and Our Shadows: Ma
, they Never be Less. Mr.. Childs.
George Canning Wilde, Esq, beinI
called upon. made a Enthusiastically hu
morous speech, showing how closely dent
III ID are the slmac trade and Journalism.
CoRosIAL CAsEs.-Monday night tw'
physicians were called to the boarding
, house OF Mrs. Terrell, on Broad street nea
Brook avenue, to see citizen OF Henrlc
, there lying i'll. The doctors, upon arrvin
at the house, found the man dead-as the
, supposed-and policeman was sent to &c