Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-01-15
LIVERPOOL TOBACCO MARKET,
December Transactions In Western strip,
and Virginia Bright Loaf and strips.

Der a fair number OF transactions were
entered into. probably more than usual
during the closing month of the year.
comprising most grades, chiefly western
strips OF medium classes and bright Viz
GINA leaf and strips. most interest being
shown in the new crop.
ImpOrts-2.1 61 hogsheads-ylz.. 5i2 Viz
ginia leaf. 922 strips. 400 western leaf, 26
strips. and Is Maryland.
Deliyeries-3,S0i hogsheads-viz.. go Viz
gInia leaf. 9J6 strips. IA western leaf.
lilo strips. and 4 Maryland.
EXports-39i hogsheads-viZ, CO Virginia
leaf. 4 strips. 52i western leaf, and 3
strips. OF which Sl2 were sent to Africa.
~ Rotterdam. Is Malta, 10 Bombay, 6 New
port News. 4 Isle OF Man, 3 Christiania.
and 2 Port Elizabeth.
S~tock-Gj.92l hoEshead. against 5,i2s
$3.50, 51,S7S. 5o.37i. and 40. ,5l at this period
the previous five years.
1S9i-We started the year with what was
called an unprecedented stock in point
Of size. but we finish 1t with a stock still
larger by 9.i93 ho~gsheads. Under these
circumstance 1t Is only natural that we
should find the market has been during
the whole year in favor of buyers.
Strictly fine tobaccos OF all growths have
been in limited supply, and have main
tanned their values. The monthly reports
Indicate that the buying has been on a
larger scale than in the preceding year.
induced by the ample supplies, pressure
to sell, and correspondingly reduced
prices. It IS not possible to say whether
the bottom has been reached. but. as the
coming import cGnnot be large, values
ought to stand, even II they do not take
n turn upwards. though should the sea-
49,, \. $50. A. f,, a ..aAI CfI.1 ,r.-fnr-
crop, we must look for a long run of
low-ranged quotations.
Western Strips-Imports, ISIS; deliver
Us. bios; stock. 26. 40. against 100. 1882.
22,2G2, 25.179. and ?e.6l9 the previous five
years. The import OF 1899 was unprece-
dentedly large, but that Of 1894 exceeded
1t by 1863 hogsheads. Whatever may
have been the reason for making so many
strips II Is needless now 10 inquire, but
the effect of the large supplies upon prices
has been manifest. What action will be
taken this season In the stemming dis
tricts Is doubtful, but anything beyond
a small make OF strips seems 10 be out
OF the question. The deliveries do not
show much increase upon those Of the
previous year. though. had there been
q larger supply of suitable lower grades
early in the year. these would have been
ulGNu hlfpis liE'tuI - Nii'Ai N'iTHlfNAf'A
Ing types in Virginia strips were used
in their place. The quality OF the i'm
port was not high, but the condition was
good. and II gave what was most need
ed--an ample supply OF medium grades.
Western Leaf-Tmports. SIS; deliveries,
7.siS; stock, 1880, against 500, 6,5li, $500,
I0.409, and III the previous five years.
The import OF dry trade leaf was again
n large one. and its quality was on the
whole desirable. Prices were not sus-
tanned as high as the position would seem
TO Justify. There Is a price which ternpts
manufacturer to buy supplies in advance
OF their requirements. but sellers have
more difficulty In knowing at what price
they ought to hold. The stock and pros
poets for n limited import do not justify
the weak position held by this class Of
leaf. The figures include Africans. which
do not come on the market In a regular
way of business. and we would Ike to
see them separated from the other figures
given above.
Virginia Leaf-Imports, G.525; deliveries.
G.2Sl: stock, 1856. against 1881. lj,l35.
u. 40, 1861, and 9.3S the previous five
years. Considering the inferior charac-
ter Of the 1916 bright crop, il Is n matter
of surprise that the import reached such
n large total. especially as the fair
quality indicated by the early shipments
soon exhausted itself. Two crops in sue
cession have turned out very inferior In
quality. and whether that Of 1894 is TO
prove much superior remains 10 be seen.
The lark grades were OF better quality
than for some time past. but the outlet
was very limited and prices low.
Virginia St~rips-Inports. 1886; deliv-
cries, SOL: stock. 1Lhi. against 1855.
$3.50. S,i6i. CSC. and S.7e7 the previous
five years. The imports keep pace with
the continued Increase in the deliveries.
and the quantity received Of the semi
bright and colory classes can only be de-
scrihed by the word 'frightful." which
might also be applied I'm some cases to
the quality as well. The employment
Of stemmers Is n benevolent operation.
and We hope the trade Of this country
will expand. so as 10 absorb the product
Of their labors. Still other influences
apply the word limit" in various and
sometimes unpleasant ways. or dark
classes. the quantity received was un-
usually large and the quality above the
average. but prices were u~nremunerative,
and showed a steady decline throughout
the year.
Ohio and other Sorts-ImpOrts, IS: de-
liveries, %: stock. III. The limited bust
ness in these calls for no special remark.
Cavendish-ImpOrts. 1921: deliveries.
3.5S9: stock, 1858. The demand was about
equal to that Of the previous year, which
may be described as only moderate. the
effects Of over supply still making itself
felt.
Substitutes-The bulk Of the transac-
lions were In eastern growths. Turkey.
Greek. and Latakia, for The finer class OF
which there was a good demand.