Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1889-06-28
A Tobacco Growers Association.


A Tobacco Growers Association.
The TINES has for some time en-
tertained the idea that the only hope
for a revival of the prosperity Of the
tobacco growing industry in Southern
Maryland, lies in an organization Of
the growers into a compact and CO.
operative association. With moder
ate exercise Of public spirit on the
part of the planters of this section,
this, we believe, could be successfully
accomplished. Maryland tobacco is
grown almost exclusively in the five
counties of Anne Arundel, Prince
Georges, Calvert, Charles and st.
Mary's, and it would seem not to be
difficult matter, if some energetic and
public spirited man would take the
initiative, to organize the planters Of
this comparatively limited section in.
to an association.
If such an association could be or
ganized aud we'll regulated the ad-
vantages which would result to its
members are obvious and easily under
stood. The State tobacco warehouses
in Baltimore city are recognized by
all the leading men of the State as
the equitable property of the tobacco
growers, and there is little doubt
that, should an association embracing
a great preponderance of the tobacco
growers among its membership, be
once regularly organized, it could have
the legal title to the property tempor-
arily vested in it with the power to
manage the same, appoint the inspec-
tors and control and regulate the in
spection and storage of tobacco.
This would be one good point ac-
complished. Then the association
could easily acquire the necessary
capital to make advances to such of
it's members whose necessities required
them to realize early upon their crops.
The tobacco could be held storage free
in the warehouses until such time az
a healthy demand and remunerative
prices should warrant It's being sold.
The tobacco advanced upon would re-
main as security for the advances
made upon it until sold, when an &C
count to be rendered to the owner.
In this way the supply of Maryland
tobacco could be controlled and the
producers of the product be freed from
the absolute domination of the COM
Dpercial trade in the article, as they
in their present disorganized con-
Assuming'that the Maryland
supplied particular demand
market, the great advantage to
dlt from systematic control of the
supply and we'll regulated trade in
the article is manifested. In that way
the best possible prices could be al
ways obtained and the producer have
the full benefit of his product.
The inspections being made by the
bonded agents or appointees of the
association. the samples could be fully
guaranteed by the association. This
would be somewhat on the order of the
inspections in Richmond, as now con-
Quoted. There ; the "Tobacco Ex-
change" an association of the buyers,
appoints one inspector. for the whole
city, who gives bond to the associa-
tion and makes all inspections at the
several warehouses. His samples are
all guaranteed by the Exchange"
But under our plan, the combination
controlling and guaranteeing the in
spect;ons would be an association Of
the producers, instead of the buyers,
and would thus be In better confOrmi
ty with the fitness of things.
This is general outline of the plan
and purpose of such an association
and We make it for the consideration
of the more public spirited of our
readers, who are interested in re-
animation of the trade in our staple.
1t may at first appear to be impractical
BILE, or of Utopian character. All
new enterprises are apt to appear that
way at first; but q more careful con-
sideratien sometimes serves to present
them in better light. Other industries
like the dairymen &C., have organized
to this end. Indeed the grange en-
braced to a large extent the idea we
have suggested. At any rate we
charge nothing for the suggestion,
and if it should happen to bear good
fruit, and the Tobacco Growers Asso-
citation should become living, NOV
ing thing, and our great staple be
thereby taken out of the present rut
of depression and prosperity again
dawn on sour.land in consequence; we
should not ask seat in Congress, or
any other high distinction for having
originated the great thought, but be
II
content at the. good we had accom-
plished for our fellow man.
AT this: time, when: the idea of or-|