Year: 1870




Ford was formally opened yesterday
morning by a sale that was attended
by buyers from abroad, as we'll as from
the city. About half past ten. Mr.
Hiram e. Read called the attention
of the company present. and made
the following speech, which was re-
ceived with enthusiastic applause:
Tobacco Buyers of Evansville:


Again we are called to celebrate an
enterprise that is of vital Importance
to Evansville. 1t is an enterprise in
which you and [, as well as the entire
community, have deep interest. The
establishing of a tobacco market at
this point will throw into our city
millions of dollars that would other
wise go to our sister cities, thereby
augmenting their wealth and building
them up, to our detriment. The es-
| tablishing of this enterprise here is
| fraught with great interest to US all.
1t is an element of strength and a
source OF power not fully appreciated
by the many. [ would ask what has
made Clarksville what she is,
but tobacco? To what does
Paducah owe what little she
has? Tobacco. What has given
sustenance, wealth, and prosperity to
Louisville but tobacco. Yes; take
away her tobacco market and that
moment you take from her the source
of her greatness. To-day she boasts
of her tobacco trade, her railroad en-
terprises and her Gait House. [ am
just from there, and if she has other
sources of pride they were not men
toned, or If mentioned, they were of
secondary considerations


We demand that Evansville shall
be the tobacco market of the West.
Her geographical position will sus
tain that demand


AS shown upon the map, Evansville
is located in the center of the circle,
embracing what is called the To-
bacco Region" with Cincinnati, Lou
isville, Clarksville, Paducah and st.
Louis on the outer rim Of that circle.
1t is with no feeling of ill-will to those
cities that l mention these facts. l
mention them simply as facts, to show
you that our position is a.strong one,
and the trade of right belongs to US,
and we have but to reach forth and it
is ours.


Here we have all the different
kinds of tobacco called for by con-
sumers, and her sales present such as
suit all buyers, while some of our
sister cities can furnish only the
peculiar kinds grown in the soil
adjacent to such market, and all
others must gain or suffer by the
contrast.


The position of Evansville as
shipping point is not surpassed by
any tobacco market, and is equaled
by but few-baving direct commuui-
cation with the sea boards both
north and south by river and rail-
roads.


Evansville can not boast of large
amount of sales-neither can she
count the long years in the attain
ment. She boasts of a fresh, vigor-
Gus, healthy, substantial market.
One of vigor which enabled her to
count her sales by the thousands
and better yet-the record of prices
obtained.by her patrons were beyond
those of any other Western market
for the same grades.


And among planters who have tried
this market, Evansville has become
household a00Td as a tobacco market.


Our Board of Tobacco Buyers, In
numbers and liberality will equal any
in the Western markets.


Her daily sales will enable the
planter to bring his tobacco here in
the morning, to sell it at full prices,
and return home the same day
Presto"


With these facts before the planter,
[ can't see why any man can hesitate
as to where he will sell his tobacco.


And now we feel to return thanks
to Mr.. Ford for contributing so
largely to the tobacco interest of our
city, in erecting go large and commo-
dious a building as this for the sale
of tobacco, it is only another evidence
of the growing importance Of our city,
and is another step towards the full
fllment of her destiny.


And now as we seem to be all of
one opinion, let US proceed to work
and show, by our deeds, the truth of
our declarations.


Evansville, this year, must sell
10000 to Is, 900 hhds. You ask, will
she do so? / answer, she will. Think
you tobacco will pass our doors
at an additional cost of $5 to 81 per
hogshead, and then sold for less
price than it would brirg here?
When planters get to see such is the
fact, then Evansville will receive that
attention she SO richly deserves.


Another strong argument In favor
of Evansville is this: There is a
determination of nearly all ship
ments of tobacco from Louisville
and Evansville to New Orleans.
Can any man see the wis
dom of incurring the expense of
four hundred miles transportation
upon his tobacco, with the extra ex-
pense and loss of time. Experience
teaches a dear school, but some peo-
pie learn more rapidly In that than
any other Feeling that our star is
but at the horizon in its assent, / will
close, wishing you all a prosperous
year.


Mr.. English was called forward
and spoke briefly, complimenting Mr..
Read, and favoriDg both his assump-
tions and conclusions regarding the
future of Evansville as q tobacco
market. The world was not made in
a day, neither did Jacks bean attain
its full growth in an instant. It is
not long since Evansville was not in
advance of Henderson in population.
and far behind her in wealth, while
now We distance her out of all pro-
portion. AS regards geographical
position, ours is far in advance of
almost any other city as a tobacco
market