in each county where tobacco and
other products could be kept safe while waiting for transportation to
England, and an act was passed providing that all houses already built
and being used as public "rolling-houses", that is warehouses, within
one mile of a public landing, be maintained by their respective owners.
If there were no such warehouses at designated locations, the county
courts were given the authority to order new ones built. If the owner
of the site refused to build, the county could, after a fair appraisal,
buy the land and build a warehouse at public expense. When and if the
warehouse was discontinued, the land reverted to the original owner or
his heirs. It is interesting to know that the warehouse built at
Urbanna, in Middlesex County, in 1680, is still standing, and it is
"America's only colonial built warehouse for tobacco still in
existence".

The owners were compelled to receive all goods offered, and were to
receive storage rates for these services. For goods stored in casks of
sixty gallons in size, or bales or parcels of greater bulk, the owners
of the storehouses received twelve pence for the first day or the first
three months and six pence for every three months thereafter. The owner
of the warehouse was made liable for merchandise lost or damaged while
under his custody.

One of the most significant features of the 1730 inspection system was
first introduced in 1713. Primarily through the efforts of Governor
Spotswood, an act was passed providing for licensed inspectors at the
various warehouses already established. To provide a convenient
circulating medium, and one that would not meet with opposition from
the English government, these inspectors were authorized to issue
negotiable receipts for tobacco inspected and stored at these
warehouses. Like many new and untried ideas, this law seemed somewhat
radical and met a great deal of opposition. With Colonel William Byrd
as their leader, the opposition was able to convince certain British
officials that the added expense required by the act imposed an undue
hardship on the tobacco trade. This local opposition combined with the
pressure of the conservative London merchants caused the act to be
vetoed by the Privy Council in 1716.

The act of 1712, providing for the regulation of public warehouses,
remained in force and became a part of the rather effective inspection
system established in 1730. The act was amended in 1720 giving the
county