Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-09-24
Tobacco and Direct Trade.


You will find that such readers OF your
paper az are accustomed 10 retrospsct.ons
will be pleased II you publish the follow
ing article, which | take from Rich
mond paper OF December Is, 1852:
MONROE.
To the Editors OF the Wing:
Gentlemen.--As much interest IL ex-
cited and the Legislature Is likely 10
spend much time In discussing the pro-
priety OF involving the State In further
debt of 81. 10000. to encourage direct trade
to Antwerp. / beg leave to call your at
tentlon, as also the attention OF the
Legislature. and the particular advocates
of the line of steamers TO Antwerp, to
the fact that. while the State Is expe1d-
ing money upon the canal and railroads.
in order to reach the Ohio river 10 Sc
cure a portion OF the products of the
West. the Legislature. finding that Rich
rnond received in 1874 and 1876 about 5000
hogsheads Of Kentucky and Missouri to-
bacco. principally by way of Wheeling
and Baltimore-whch tobacco was re-
ceived and inspected here just az North
Carolina. or any other, and stemmed or
shipped i'm the leaf TO different ports OF
Europe. wheresOever the purchaser
pleased-went 20 work to prevent iris to-
bacco being brought here, and passed
law 10 stigmatiZe this tobacco by re-
curing each hogshead 10 be branded on
each head. and on the bilge. in large let
ters. three inches large. western" Ana
they succeeded I'm keeping IL out of the
State. for since 1916 there have not been
received In this city 1000 hogsheads, ard
not 100 hogsheads a year for the last
three years. Does not the Legislature
see that Louisville received this year up
rIy Of 200 Of fObgpcO ard
is inviting the planters 10 bring their to-
bacco there: that Baltimore holds out in
ducements to them as a convenient port
for foreign markets. Baltimore iEspects
this Kentucky tobacco and Ohio tobacco
Just as she does her own (Macyland).
and puts no stigma upon it. by branding
ii Western" or "Ohio." The cons equence
is. the French contracts are ma lie every
year for from 5000 to 5000 hogsn ,ais of
Maryland tobacco. which is well Under
stood at the time to "be supplied from
two-thirds 10 three-fourths OF the growth
OF Ohio
l have no doubt that our Legislature
was very much Influenced to pass this
suicidal law. so far as our canal and
lines are concerned. by gentle
men of Lynchburg and Richmond. who
have interests in tobacco stemmcries in
the West. and who do not wish the west
ern tobacco TO come to this market-and
no doubt the Legislature were induced 10
believe II 10000 hogsheads of tobacco
were brought to this market from the
West, it would lower the price and thus
injure the Virginia planter. But this
argument is entirely fallacious. The
larger the market the more orders for
the article And look at the fact: I'm
1871, 1912, and 1873, when we Inspected
S. 900 hogsheads of tobacco. Virginia ex-
ported $1,000 TO 5000 hogsheads per an
num- In 1852. inspected 81 800 hogsheads |
and exported l3.Tl. See an able article /
on the subject i'm the Southern Planter. /
for December, 1852 From crop Of /
5000 hogsheads tobacco. Virginia cannot |
now export more than 1900 to 10000, be- |
cause at least 5000 hogsheads are now |
in the State. and il the
goes on 10 increase, as il
no doubt will Virginia will, after few
years, export so little, and will be con-
lined to so lean a market to make selec-
ions for foreign markets from, that her
exports Will amount TO almost nothing. |
upon the principle, that no
State I'm the Union shall send their to-
)accO TO Virginia without doing all we
AN TO stigmatize it whenever It nay be
shipped. or TO advertise TO Europeans
hat they can get this tobacco cheaper
II New Orleans"
1t does seem 20 me. with ali due re-
pect TO our Legislature. that, as a body.
hey have so little experience in CONNER
ial affairs, that they had better be eau
ious how they legislate upon that sub
ect. Many of the laws now upon the
tatute book should be repealed, and most
ertainly the one alluded TO. VIII the
eople Of the East and West consent TO
ave laws that are calculated to deprive
heir works OF internal Improvement OF
he benefit Of bringing produce of any
escription into the State from other
tates because a few interested indi-
iduals may be benefited? Certainly not
am a friend 10 both internal improve
lent and direct trade--but it does seem
, me that the first great business OF the
legislature should be 10 give every pOssi- !
le facility to the producer TO get his !
reduce TO market, and repeal or amend /
II laws that trammel or obstruct COM :
ierce, or in any way are calculated to {
reyent the produce of other States seek
IL a market in this State Let the :
legislature attend to these things first,
nd mercantile interest and enterprise {
III find the most profitable foreign $
arket in due time. COMMERCE.. 2
Gowns for the Trousseau. I
fHaFDpris 10