The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1891-11-07
To the Editor OF the FLoRIDAN.

To the Editor OF the FLoRIDAN.
GADspEN COUNTY, Nov. 5.-Having
heard the remark frequently made that
Gadsden county was not only the Vuclta
de Abajo of Florida, but that the neigh
boring counties of Leon, Jefferson and
Madison were not capable of growing to-
bacco of the Cuba variety which would
compare favorably with tn same variety
grown Ein Gadsden county, the writer
has taken the trouble to investigate, in a
private way, for his own information and
satisfaction, as to the truth of the assertion
above alluded to; at least in 80 far as Leon
county is concerned for the purpose of as
certaining, by practical test, if there
really was the vast difference existing be-
tween the tobacco grown from the same
variety of seed in Leon county, and that
grown in Gadsden (the two counties being
only divided by the :Ocklockonee river) as
has,been claimed by the growers of Gad'.
den county; and also by the purchasers.
1t was the writer's prvalege, few days
ago. to examine a sample OF Cuba tobacco
grown in Leon county, from which he
rolled smoker" and he was surprised to
find it, Gin his judgmenD fully equal in fla-
vor and burning qualities to any he has
seen or used in like manner, grown in
Gadsden county 1t was of a beautiful
light brown color, such as is designated
Colorado Maduro," the stems and veins
of the leaves were equally as small, and
the texture as fine AS the better grades Of
the same variety grown in Gadsden county
These facts, taken in connection with
the ''claims" referred to, has imrelled me
to point out some of the causes, in my opin-
ion, upon which those erroneous claims
are based.
In the first place, the tobacco industry
in this county (Gadsden) was revived a
few years ago by several ante bellum
growers of the old Florida leaf, who SUBJ
stituted for it the Cuba variety, with re-
suits that were very fattering to those
few growers. Meanwhile several North
ern gentlemen interested in the growing
OF tobacco and the manufacture of cigars
were attracted to Florida, more as pros
pectors than with any fixed purpose to
grow tobacco here, and having seen, ex-
amined and tested the Florida Cuba leaf.
they knew good thing when they saw
1t, and forthwith determined to purchase
lands and grow tobacco on quite an ex-
tended scale. Several thousand acres of
land in this county were purchased by
Northern gentlemen under the firm name
OF the Florida Tobacco Producing and
Trading company. They went to work
vigorously clearing lands, building houses,
barns and fencing, and preparing for a
tobacco crop on gigantic scale.
The results of their first crop were
sufficiently flaitering to encourage them
to continue the business and increase
their facilities and acreage, which has
since been re-organized and incorporated
under the name of the Owl Cigar Com
pany with an authorized capital of $780,
200, and fine brick cigar factory in the
shape of a Maltese cross in Quincy, with
capacity for several hundred hands.
The native farmers soon ''caught ON to
the racket" and the results are truly as
tonishing. Small farmers who were in
volved to the full value of their property,
after three or four years tobacco plant
ing, are now free of debt, with money
ahead. Larger ones, whose patrimony
was fast slipping from their possession
under mortgages, are now wearing smil-
ing faces with fat bank accounts, and
merchants and bankers whose note and
mortgage books were plethoric with the
lands aud chattels Of the down-trodden
farmers have "cleared their decks'' for
future prosperous combat with trade and
usury.
Of course all this while lands have ad-
Vanced rapidly in value, from two dollars,
70 six, eight and even ten dollars an acre;
the lands Of the 'syndicate," Of course,
keeping pace In increased value, with those
OF their less sfauent neighbour.
Now, Mr.. Editor, If Leon comfy had q
syndicate," with thousands of acres of
lands, we'll equipped for growing, curing
and handling tobacco, with q mammoth
cigar factory. this nonsensical talk about
Leon county tobacco not being at least
equal to that grown in any other cdhnty In
Florida, would cease, and the power
'ne syndicate) behind the throne (tobacco)
would "see to IT. that Leon county tobacco
soould enjoy an equal reputation for