Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-07-12
The Condition of the Tobacco Trade.

A large and earnest meeting Of repre-
sentative farmers, organized TO coul bine
With other sections Of the tobacco raising
States to contrive ways and means for
the relief Of the agricultural interests
that are now in a depressed con tion.
was held at Fair Haven on Thursday Of
last week. Dr. Warning Of Prince
Georges, was the frs. speaker. The
tobacco question was FIRST referred to.
and samples Of the different grades Of
Maryland ioblcco that had been shipped
to dieert parts exhibited. A sample of
Maryland dull tobacco" that had been
bought in the Maryland markei for FIVE
cents pound was shown. Ii was ship
ped to France to I'll the recent French
contract, and was there manufactured
into 6De cut, and put on the market
in Paris at 81 ~ pound. The sam
pie was obtained, the speaker stated,
with considerable difficulty, while the
farmers we're trying to find out what
Maryland tobacco was really worth when
manufactured and sold on the other side.
Continuing, he said: The French are
known as the most fastidious nation of
the world, both in their mode of life and
what they use. Now, if they willingly
give 5 cents a pound for the pleasure Of
using our common dull tobacco, what a
high price must our best grades be
Wc5fftlhl The circular letter, which when
issued by the Leaf Tobacco Association,
showing the alleged causes of the decline
Of the tobacco market to be chiefly at
,ributabls to the modes of packing by
the planters themselves, was thought to
be good so far as it went, but it left all
the blame on the farmer; while even
with all these alleged objections Mary
land tobacco sold, and is still selling
very high, but the farmer gets the small
est pittance for raising it, while the fault
lies outside of the planter, and the money
never reaches him.
A sample of tobacco sent to Danville
was shown. Danville, however, as tried
by Mr.. Murray, was found not to be
desirable market, the buyers there being
customers of the Maryland buyers -
Pittsburg was tried with better result.
The sample of the tobacco sent there was
raised from North Carolina seed, by a
planter near Bennings, Prince Georges
county, Md. The sample has the APP
pearance Of the Burley tobacco, but has
heavier stems, and the fiber is tougher
and more flexible. Its color is what
planters call hickory leaf. " In
Pittsburg this tobacco sold for an aver
age of 30 cents per pound, which is for
the planter a bonanza price, as it can be
raised at profit at I cents per pound
The advantages Of lower Maryland
we're referred to. and the malaria stigma
which had been put upon it by design.
ing land agents elsewhere was shown to
be false. Cox's Emigration bill intro
duced 9n the last Maryland Assembl,
Igs and 'sv it. detect !ss.s i Us Is,
cen 1.-THE total valuation of the prop
erty in the United States was stated to
be on real estate. This pressed the far
mer very hard and unjustly, as the tax
able basis was out Of balance with the
actual valuation of the farms. A reel
procity treaty for the exchange of farm
produce would be, if properly framed, a
great benefit. The farmers certainly
now intend to organize aud go into poli
tics for their own defense. They hold
ten votes to seven of any ether braac! ell
industry, and no longer intended to be
the dull dolts Of drudgery. while others
whitfield away with the profits, leaving
the farmers the laughing stock Of the
business world"