Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser., 1889-07-05
The Tobacco Market.

We are sorrysto hear that some of
our farmers who have shipped their
tobacco to some Of the Virginia mar
kets are discouraged with the fact that,
there does notseem to be any prompt
demand for our product in those mar
kets. They seem to think that the only
hope for the Maryland tobacco is in the
Baltimore market, and are inclined to
regard the emancipation" of the to-
bacco growers, about which there was
so much talk two years ago, as all gas.
OF course it was known at the time
by men Of calm judgment that most
Of the talk about "emancipating" the
tobacco growers by legalizing and ad-
vertising the B. & o. company's ware
houses in Baltimore city, was all gas
of the most volatile kind. Nobody
familiar with the tobacco trace ever
expected any one to be beuefitted by
the legalizing and encouragement Of
"free" (?) warehouses in Baltimore
city. except the B. & o. Co.. which
was the originator and promoter of
that project. But it has now turned
out that even the B. & O. company
have not been benefited thereby. For
it is aseertained that out of more than
$4,000 hogsheads of MARYLAND tobacco
inspected last wear, less than 1000
went to the B. & o. company's ware
houses. All the rest was inspected in
the State warehouses. And it is said
that this year the B. & 0. will get less
than 1000. 1t soon became evident
to the tobacco growers and their
agents that the State samples were
held in much higher repute than those
of the "free" B. & 0. company and
they naturally followed their interest.
The exceedingly small quantity of
tobacco which has been diverted from
the State inspections shows the true
effervescence of all the gas abont the
tobacco growers of Southern Mary
land clanloring for emancipation"
But there is one point in the legis-
lation of the last session which we
believe will ultimately bear good fruit
and that is the repeat of the restric-
ton Of the Maryland tobacco to the
Baltimore market, which was to some
extent the practical operation of the
inspection law as it stood on the books
up to the last session. The TINES has
been advising and contending for a
relaxation Of the law to this exten.
ever since 1880. In the Legislature
Of that year the late JOS. X. Roberts
introduced a bill to that effect, which
had the support of the entire TOBACCO
growing representation; but the B.
3 o. company, aided by the Hamilton
influence. defeated it. Such a meas
uTe is exactly what was promised the
people of this county by the Demo-
cratic candidates in 1887.
We have had assurances from time
to. time from men of large business
acquaintance that limited portion OF
our MARYLAND tobacco could be dis
posed of to advantage in the Markets
|of Virginia and of New York. 1t
seems reasonable that this should be
the case. 1t may be little difficult
at first to open up the channels of this
new trade. That is to be expected. 1t
will take little while of course and
q specific arrangement to effect the in
PRODUCTION of stranger like our to-
bacco to other markets. But that it
can be done ,proftably to limited
extent there seems to be no we'll
grounded doubt. And after . while,
by good management. the demand
could be gradually extended. Any
reduction of the supply upon the
Baltimore market which shall be ac-
complished by such auxiliary outlets
to our trade would have good effect
in sharpening the demand and i'm
proving the values in that market.
which must always, Of course, remain
the chief one for our product. Hence
the Importance of diverting q por-
ton of .ur product to the markets OF
other States must be obvious to all.
All Of this could be so much more
systematically and effectively done if
the two or three thousand tobacco
growers of Maryland were organized
into cooperative association, with
one or two honest and capable men in
Baltimore to protect their interests
and manage their affairs But it is
hardly likely that this will ever be
accomplished. "s :, =. a~
Why Farming Does Not Pay.