Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-23
No CAuSE FOR ALARM.
Lull in the Peanut Trade, but Indications
that the Country will Pull Through.

1uAA III the Reanut Trade, DlfC INDICATIONS
that the Country will Pull Through.
Recent adyices from Norfolk, the centre
OF the peanut trade IN the South, says the
New York Sun, read as Though it might
become necessary to shut up the east
side places of amusement for want of the
usual peanut supply, and TO run the trav-
cling circuses the coming season without
the wOnted crackle of shucks to accom-
pany the hat spinning and other silent
features OF the show. a serious business
disagreement has arisen, resulting in
deadlock.
A member of the firm that is extern
siyely interested in the trade, both as
cleaners in Virginia and as wholesalers
in this city, said:
"Some six or seven years ago the first
peanut factory in Virginia was started.
At these factories peanuts are bought in
large quantities, cleaned, picked over,
bagged, branded and sent to the Northern
markets. The brands are well known in
the trade, and prices are made according
to the brands.
THE factories increased rapidly, till
the bulk of the business was done through
them. Instead of being compelled to
clean, bag and ship the nuts, and often to
wait for their money till the goods could
be sold by commission merchants, the
farmers now sell the nuts right on their
farms and get cash for them. They have
never sold their crops so adVantageOusly
as since the factories have been started.
The cleaners find their profit in the better
prices brought by goods after they have
been cleaned and picked over and brand
ed with brands known to the trade.
The present disagreement arose IN this
way: A good many peanut raisers have
been shipping goods to commission mer-
chants in Norfolk. The commission men
prefer to sell the nuts in large lumps-sO
many thousand bags at a uniform price
per pound. In the factories it is often
found that there are good many light
nuts in these lots, which are blown out
by the fans, and when they come to bag
and brand the cleaned nuts, they ind they
have lost money. So there was a meeting
few days ago of men interested in the
factories, and it was decided to adopt a
weight-and-cOlOr standard in buving of
commission men and farmers. They de-
cided simply to buy each bag of nuts on
its merits, instead Of buying in IumDs
This viii benefit the farmers NH ..~t.,i
nuts Of good quality to market, and
Will encourage the production OF nne
goods.
"There is no fight going on, though buy
ing is nearly at a standstill. Several con-
ferences have been held, and all that can
be done in a decOrOus and business-like
way to come to an agreement has been
done, or will be done in future meetings.
Meanwhile, the large stocks held by the
cleaners have kept the factories running,
and the market in New York will probably
not be affected for some time to come, if
at all. The factory men say that rather
than do business under the old method
they viii close up their factories"
retail dealer who was located in
Chatham street yesterday was asked
whether the trouble in Norfolk had affected
the retail trade here.
'Maka no diff'rant," said the Count.
"Tree cent, tiya cent, ten cent. ALA
fr-r-resh bake"