Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-05
THE CIGARETTE DEAL
ALLEN & olNTER's ESTABLISHMENT
HERE NOT TO BE AFFECTED.
Detai,. ,f the Great Transaction sim Tn
known-what IL Thought About
II I'm other Cities.

AS far as this establishment is con-
cerned IL will not be affected by the
change"
This assuring declaration was made yes
terday BY Mr.. Lewis Ginter, president OF
the Allen & Ginter Company, when asked
about the effect of the sale of their plant
and business to a northern concern, which
has been represented to be gigantic COM
bination of the cigarette interest OF the
country.
When called on by n representative OF
the press Mr.. Ginter politely declined 10
be interviewed. saying that too much bad
already been said about the matter. which
was purely one of private business. lie
remarked that they had right 10 make
change in their business If they thought
proper to do so.
WHY TWAS DONE.
Mr.. Ginter, being pressed, az the repre-
sentative OF one of the largest enterprises
of the kind in this country, and one Ia
which the public is so deeply interested,
TO tell what would be the result OF the
deal. he made the remark with which TINS
article opens and which will be happy
assurance to his several hundred employees.
1--WE desired to establish the American
Tobacco Company" he continued, and
applied to the Legislature for charter;
The bill passed both houses and was signed
by the Governor. After that was done. a
great hullabaloo was raised about the
matter The newspapers published many
foolish things about it and the
Legislature fastened TO repeal the
act. Now it is Just Ike this
man NAV love beautiful and cbaste
girl and would like to make her his wlte,
but all of a sudden there is some talkab0ut
the Young lady, and although she may be
as pure as an angel, the man Will say, L
can't make any woman my wife VINO Is
talked about: and that IS just the case
with the charter of the American Tobacco
Company. IL has been talked and kicked
about so much that we dropped IT., de-
Gliding to have nothing more to do with H.
DISCUSSED ON CHANGE.
The deal, which has created widespread
interest in business circles, and more par
ticuarly among members of the Tobacco
Trade. was the chief topic of conversation
Yesterday IN the hotels, club-houseS, ex-
changes. and all gatherings Of business
men.
The Dispdtch's full particulars concerning
the New jersey charter with r25O1O'OOO
capital and the consolidation OF the lead
ing establishments OF the kind in the
United States created quite q sensation.
The statement was made on good authority
and nothing has transpired TO render the
facts given at all questionable.
Saturday is an of day on Change, and
the attendance is not usually largo. Those
who were present yesterday. however. as
cussed the all-absorbing topic among
| themselves, but were retlcent to express an
opinion. There was a diversity OF opin.on
/ as to the wisdom of the General Assembly
in attacking the charter OF the American
! Company after granting IT. None OF the
| friends Of the firm could give any inrthcr
/ information than had been published.
| There was a general expression OF regret
| that the firm, so highly thought OF by the
| Trade and bv the community generally;
should pass out of the hands of Richmond
men, and it is the unqualified Wish OF all
| that the establishment shall not be taken
away from here. The removal of the fac
tory from this city would be regarded a.
a calamity that should be ayerted by all
means, if possible.
There were many expressions OF OPINION
of which this from friend of the firm Is
O sample:
when Major Ginter found that he was
opposed by the Legislature of Virginia ne
found the best thing for him to do was to
sell out to the northern syndicate. Major
Gnter is a gentleman of tender feelings
and had built up his great business VIII
fatherly care. He had the deepest regard
for all his associates and employees. lie
was always looking out for the comfort
and welfare of his employees. When he
announced the sale he was affected 10 tears
at the thought of any OF his employees
losing their places.n
WHAT DOES IT MAN?
A well-posted financier, when asked by a
Dispatch man last night what price he sup
posed was paid The Allen d Ginter lncoI-
pOrated for their business, said: don't
know anything at all about it. They don't
seem willing to talk on the subject and
have not inquired. My impression il that
the sale is not one for so many dollars and
cents but that an organization similar 10
the sugar trust Is being formed; that prices
will be fixed on all the concerns embraced
in the combine and new consolidated stock
be issued to the amounts agreed upon. The
object In my mind Is 10 unite the business
and secure better prices and larger profits.
| don't think the plans have been fully ma
tured yet. but that only the general terms
have been agreed upon.
Another gentleman expressed The belief
yesterday that the price paid is somewhere
between 81. 1000. 600 and 81, 900 600, but most
persons with whom the Dispatch reporter
talked were of the opinion that these Va
rious cigarette establishments have agreed
TO merge into one or TO pool their stock
and accept in lieu thereof consolidated
stock and allow the entire business Of the
country to be conducted under one man.
agement.
THE FEELING ELSEWHERE,
The following special kilograms to the
Dispdtcl. received last night Will show what
is thought of the deal at other points in
terested and what the feeling is in the va
rious tobacco markets likely to affected by
such combination as has been reported
as having been agreed upon.
The Duke People Won't Talk.
The Dispd'chs Durham On. CO. CORE
spondent telegraphed last night as fol-
lows:
DORIAN. n. c.. January 4.-The great CT
gazette deal, as reported by letter TO par
ties here as we'll az through tO-day's Dis
pGfch has elected unusual talk, surInise,
and speculation IN tobacco circles. Two
members of the Duke firm are non-commit-
tai for the present. They were courteous
and cheerful. but in vain did your CORE
spOndent try to get definite information.
Their bearing would indicate that no sale
has been made. The tobacconists gene
rally believe. however, that the large cigar
cite firms mentioned in the Dispatch to-
day have sold out as reported. Others
think no sale has been made, but that
union has been formed. Just now all IS
mystery.
Not Credited in New York.
From New York came the following
special telegram to the Dispatch:
The manager of the New York house of
Allen d Ginter positively denied to-day
that he had any information about the al
legged sale of their cigarette mandatory
at Richmond, Va, to a syndicate of New
York and English capitalists. The mana
ger of William S kimball Il Co., cigarette
manufacturers. of Rochester, was seen at
their New York house. He said he had
heard of no syndicate trying to buy up the
cigarette business and he did not believe
that Allen d Ginter's factory had been
sold. There was no probability, he said.
of trust in the cigarette business being
formed.
What Danyille Tobacconists Think.
Special telegram TO the Disost,a.l
DANvILLE, Va. January 4.-The an
nouncement of the great cigarette trust
caused sensation here and has been the
chief topic Of conversation to-day among
tobacco dealers. 1t was given out some
time ago that all the cigarette-men had
combined to this extent-that they would
4 ! 4