The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-01-12
THE OUTLOOK EOR TRADE.
The Opinions Of Three Tobacco Manu-
featuring Firms.
CHEERING NEWS FROM The SOUTH.

! The r. j. Reynolds Tobacco Company
Say That the Special Tex on Deal
ers in Cigarettes is a Question of
Great Importance to Tobacco Man
| ufacturers-Other Local News.
The Southern Tobacco Journal for
! last week, contains several interesting
| letters from tobacco manufacturers on
| the outlook for trade during 1898.
| The following are the opinions Of seF
| cral local manufacturers
r. j. REYNOLDS TOBACCO COMPANY.
The manufacturers can safely
count on an increased business over
| 1892. The scarcity Of money and low
price of cotton has not reduced the
consumption of tobacco to any extent.
The only perceDtible reduction is in
the amount of stock carried by the
dealers. Our reports from the South
indicate that the stocks now in the
hands of the trade are lighter than
they have been for years. The pres
ent steady outlook in the price Of cot
ton coupled with the renewed conf
dence of Cleyeland's administration
will give to investors and Eastern cap
italists and will justify dealers in car
ryiug larger stocks than usual and We
may safely expect as great an in
crease in sales for 1893 as we lest in
1892.
1T appears to US, however, that
more mpOrtaGt1QCeStiOn for discus
sion and one which threatens the fu-
ture prosperity of our manufacturers.
is the effect the special tax Oh dealers
I,NI.e,
business. We have given the subject
some thought and have come to the
conclusion that the result will be the
formation of more trusts, or the busi-
ness will shift into the hands of the
one now doing business. A dealer
who pays tax of from 5000 to $500
for the privilege of selling cigarettes
could be required to handle only trust
goods, as they have established brands,
and manufacturers who have not
could not expect dealers to pay such a
tax to sell goods which have little or
no reputation. and their brands would
remain comparatively unknown as
long as the States imposed such tax.
The dealer who pays the special tax
for selling cigarettes would gain noto-
riety and his store would soon be con-
Sidered headquarters for tobacco sup
plies of all kinds and he would be
all grades of chewing and smoking.
This with other advantages would, in
the course of a few years, result in
the trusts monop0lizing the entire
business.
"We hope the tobacco trade will
give this matter proper consideration
and take such action as they think
best for our mutual good.
w. w. WOOD & co.
"We confidently expect a steady
good business mot boOm) in all lines.
Remarkable cOnservati> m has pre-
vailed during the past year in buying
as well as selling and extending cred
it's so that nearly all dealers enter
upon the new year with small stocks
and very few bad debts.
''Such conditions must of necessity
indicate a favorable outlook for the
new year."
LOCKETT, VAUGHN & co.
cit is almost impossible to predict
the future of trade, but we have every
reason to expect considerable in
crease in shipments with the opening
of the new year. This of course is
from our stand point of view, based
upon our correspondence with many
of our customers. The trade general
ly has been disposed to exert them
selves towards closing up outstanding
accounts and shaping matters for
safe and healthy business and with all
by Congress, we look for the coming
year to open with renewed confidence
and good steady trade throughout"