gable waters of the
Appomattox River. Virginia's waterways served her transportation
problem well until they were superseded by the railroads in the
ante-bellum days.

ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE INSPECTION SYSTEM

Within a few years after Rolfe's successful experiment in the
cultivation of tobacco, it became necessary to inaugurate some means of
improving the quality of the Virginia tobacco. Once it was discovered
that tobacco could be successfully and profitably grown in Virginia,
everyone wanted to grow it. Blacksmiths, carpenters, shipwrights, and
even the minister frequently grew a patch of tobacco. Owing to
inexperience in farming of any kind, plus the fact that the commercial
production of tobacco was new even to most of the experienced farmers,
much of the tobacco produced was of a very low quality. For centuries
many planters seem to have placed quantity above quality in growing
tobacco. Anyone could grow tobacco in certain quantities, but only a
few could produce tobacco of superior quality.

The first general inspection law in Virginia was passed in 1619 and
provided that all tobacco offered for exchange at the magazine, the
general storehouse in Jamestown, found to be very "mean" in quality by
the magazine custodian was to be burnt. The magazine was abolished in
1620 and in 1623 this law was amended to provide for the appointment of
sworn men in each settlement to condemn all bad tobacco.

In 1630 an act was passed prohibiting the sale or acceptance of
inferior tobacco in payment of debts. The commander of each plantation
or settlement was authorized to appoint two or three experienced and
competent men to help him inspect all tobacco, offered in payment of
debts, which had been found "mean" by the creditor. If the inspectors
declared the tobacco mean, the inferior tobacco was burned and the
delinquent planter was disbarred from planting tobacco. Only the
General Assembly could remove this disability. Owing to complaints that
the commanders were showing partiality to planters on their own
plantations, the act was amended in 1632; the commander's power of
inspection was removed and his duty was limited to appointing two
inspectors and making the final report. The appointment of inspectors
was made compulsory in case of a complaint.

The following year (1633) a more comprehensive measure was enacted. It
provided that all inspections were to be made at five different points
in the colony: James City,