Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1883-11-09
Changers VS.. Warehousemen.
All Of Their Tobacco to Go to the
Louisville Market.

There are two flourishing Oranges
in Christian county, one located at
Church Hill and the other at Casky.
The two number about two hundred
Of the most prominent and substan-
tial farmers of the county.
For the last five years it has been
the custom of the Changers to an
range to consign their tobacco all TO-
gether to one warehouse, and the
warehousemen have given them a re-
bate. This arrangement was made
by letting the contract to the lowest
bidder, and, as the Changers tobacco
ranged all the way from 500 to 1000
hogsheads year, it was big thing.
Messrs. Buckner Il Woodbridge Sc
cured the contract for three years,
and Messrs. Cant q Sons had it for
1881 and 1882. The bidding, OF
course, became more animated from
year to year, and in 1882 the Messrs.
Cant obligated themselves to give a
rebate of $l.G5 from the regular rate
of $3.50 per hogshead. Under this
arrangement they received 100 hogs
heads, making a saving of 81, 203.50
to the Changers.
Last summer, the Board of Trade,
composed of the tobacco buyers and
warehousemen, held a meeting and
decided that all of the warehouse
men must obligate themselves not to
offer the Changers any rebate what
ever. The grounds for this were,
that 1t kept the warehousemen from
having uniform rate, and outsiders
demanded the same rates on the
score of personal friendship, large
crops, etc, and thereby caused end
less annoyance. The warehousemen
claimed that farmers who had twen-
ty or more hogsheads to sell would
threaten to join the Grange and save
$50 or $40 if they were not given a
reduced rate.
The decision of the Board of Trade
was communicated to the Changers
and they at once rose up in arms, so
TO speak, and declared they would
not pay full rates. A formal demand
for a rebate was made which was
promptly declined.
The Changers then held a consul
tation, and decided to make propo-
siuon to a Louisville warehouse. DIR.
j. ID. Clardy was appointed by
Church Hill Grange and Mr.. Wins
ton Henry by Casky Grange to act as
agents in the matter. After some
preliminary correspondence, Mr.. j.
5. Phelps, representing one of the
Louisville warehouses, came to this
city and the arrangement was made,
the tobacco to he spld for $3.50 and
one per cent commission. The
freight rate to Louisville will be 81
cents Oh the hundred. 1t is cstimat-
ed that there will be about 400 hogs.
heads, or about 100000 pounds Of
tobacco.
We have talked with several of the
Changers and they say they were
working for principle of their or
der and not so much for the amount
of the rebate. One of them told u'
that they would have accepted re-
bate of % cents, but were determined
not to be defied and forced to aban
don one of the objects of their order
The warehousemen sac the Gran
gers will lose money. They will hav,
to pay between IS and Sc freight pc
hogshead and will get but $l.00 re
bate. Their tobacco will be broker
and put on the, market by stranger
200 miles away, and they predict tina
the Changers will be tired of thei
contract after few trials. Tn
Changers, however, say they are abb
to take care of themselves and wi
do so. They have arranged to get a
he money they may want advance
on their tobacco Fat s per cent.
While we regret to see so much t.
bacco sent away from our hon
market, it is not our province to tax
sides in the matter. We merely sui
nit plain statement of the fact
and leave the reader TO form his ow
conclusion as to which side is in ii
right.