Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-05-24
The Tobacco Interest.

Mr. Charles A. Martin, Secretary Of the
Leaf Tobacco Association Of Baltimore
with the suggestion that it might prove
of interest to our readers. Mr.. L,uts
as is well known, is one of the mos
prominent buyers and shippers Of tobac.
Co 10 Baltimore; and what be says witt
regard to the packing Of tobacco intend
ed for the French market is equally APP
plicable to all tobacco that is shipped tc
foreign ports. Ii might be we'll, there
fore. for our planters to give this mater
due attention:
BALTIMORE, May 9th, 1889.
/ Tothe Leof 7oJaccs Associttion of Balio
Gentlemen When | rea last F.
Of movement being on foot on the part
Of the planters Of Maryland tobacco in
Prince Georges county to improve the
condition of their crop, particularly in
regard to the demands of the French
Government, |, then contemplating a
trip to Europe. concluded to investigate
the matter in Paris. and report my ex-
perience.
now take the liberty Of doing so
through the medium of your Association,
hoping that some benefit will be derived
therefrom.
Taking the standpoint that higher
standard of packing Maryland tobacco
would be equally beneficial both to grow
ers and handlers Of the weed, l wish it
particularly understood that no selfish
motives prompts me to this report, and
| trust that my endeavors will be prop
erly regarded by your Association.
Should you think proper, this COM
munication may be extended to the
growers, and if some benefit should re-
sui, would be proud in having been
instrumental in it
As regards the handling of Maryland
tobacco by the French Reggie, let me be-
gin with the sampling in France. The
hhds. are broken in three places, AMI
three bundles taken out Of each of the
breaks, representing the short, medium,
and long tobaccoes, contained therein.
THUS. the samples by -wb;sAe -.Ae> Ess-.
spectors Of the Reggie make :heir CLASH
6cation, 10 accordance with the types.
contain nine bundles. aud represent pref
ty well the contents of the hhds., aud
you will perceive from your knowledge
of the general packing Of Maryland to-
bacco, that many Of these samples must
have been badly mixed
The French Inspe ctors, while acting
very fairly, and in many instances lib
orally, are working strictly in confol mi
ty with Art. 80 of the Government
Rules regulating the contract, which
says that samples containing bundles in
ferior TO any one Of the official types
shall be reduced to the next lower class,
which virtually means, that the bids.
Iahall be classified according to the worst,
or lowest quality of tobacco contained in
the sample.
The result during the past years has
consequently been, that all mixed hhds.
have been mercilessly classed down, and
hence no contractor or buyer for the
French Reggie will be able to buy mixed
hhds. at higher price than that of the
lowest grade represented in the sample
All the better tebaccoes contained in such
hhds are thus virtually sacrificed, and
to some extent made a present to the
Reggie.
Permit me to say, therefore, that by
careful assortment of their tobaccoes,
the planters Of Maryland will best serve
their own interest, inasmuch as they
thus enable the French contractor to al
low full value for what he buys, know
ing then that he can deliver the tobacco
according to sample; and therefore ac-
cording to type. l would add that
seconds" do not at all suit the French
demands, and hhds. containing such
are de-classi6ed likewise. While they
are in good demand in other countries,
particularly in Germany and Holland,
they are direct hinderance to good de-
liveries in France Therefore in this
regard also pains should be taken in the
assortment and shipment of Maryland
tobacco.
| remain, gentlemen, yours very re-
spectfully, HENRY LAurs.