The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1895-09-05

Ing D2en nit upon. anu IN inc laSG lew
years the growth of the tobacco indus
try in this section has been without {
parallel in the history of the State
When all the talk came about the re-
duction of the cotton acreage the farm
iers hereabouts remained quiet and in.
stead Of talking only quietly planted
tobacco.
i The principal towns in the section
have been recognized by the American
Tobacco Company and other big con-
Germs as valuable markets--particular.
! ily this place, which is the real dis
tributing market on account of it,
ilocation and railroad facilities-aud
they have stationed buyers here to con
duct their leaf transactions. In July
So, 226, 005 pounds were bought in
!Danville, and it seems strange, but
this market is close behind the noted
and established one. The American
Tobacco Company has even erected
here three story leaf factory, where
its purchases are stored, graded and
shipped by the compauy's efficient
manager, Mr.. ". F. Clare. There are
upwards of thirty buyers here now,
and ten other leaf factories are open
for the use Of these buyers. They
have been as hard at work for several
days in Darlington, Timmonsville and
Florence as SO many Trojans, with
coats discarded.
} [ am told thnt between ten and iif-
teen million pounds of leaf tobacco
will be harvested and put On the mark
ct in the Pee Dee tobacco region this
season. The average yield per acre is
said to be very nearly l,0O0 pounds,
while the average yield per acre in
North Carolina and Virginia is about
$50 pounds less. The per cent. Of in
crease in the tobacco crop this yeal
will be enormous in Florence county.
It is noteworthy fact, 50 tobacco
growers from other points say, that
town that is tobacco market quickly
increases in population, and when it
becomes the market of section, the
population quickly doubles.
Florence seems certain to become in
short order the central distributing
market for the Pee Dee sections for
the reasons given above. In the Pee
Dee tobacco raising section arc the
counties of Florence, Darlington,
Williamsburg, Marlboro, Clarendon,
Marion, Sumter and Horny. There
is in the warehouses to-day, tobacco
from five connties and some from out
side the State. Florence is the very
centre of the district, and at least
two-thirds of the territory is tributary,
the crops must pass through Florence
to gain any market at all. Florence
has network of roads-the Whining
ton, Columbia and Augusta, north
and south; the Cheraw and Darlington,
the Latta Branch, the Wilson Short
Cut, the Northeastern, the Hartsville
Branch and the Charleston, Sumter
and Northern.
Florence has two magnificent tobac-
co warehouses;. It should be stated
that all leaf tobacco sold to buyers in
q local market has to be placed in a
pile on the floor of such q warehouse,
and sold at auction. When ware
house has been stocked and opens its
business for The season, the opening
day is called "break, and thousands
of pounds of tobacco are disposed of.
The two warehouses at Florence
we're erected by stock companies'of of cit
liens. Expert tobacco handlers are
placed in charge, and tobacco auction
GERS experienced in the business con-
duct the sales.
It's difficult t, get closely estimated
figures as to the acreage in tobacco IN
the Pee Dee section, but below will be
found what is considered a fair estl-
mate:
Acres.
Darlington. 3,575
Florence. -........... ..............' o'ooO
Marion OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1900
Clarendon. Williamsburg, Horny. Marl-
boro, Sumter. .......... b;3OO
Total 1875
1t is estimated that this acreage
should average $50 pounds to the acre
at least, thus giving for this year a
production of 13, ,O67, 75O pounds. 1t is
possible that it will so higher, but the
most conservative men place the total
crop at not over this figure. This crop,
taking O minimum average price of II
cents pound, ought to bring to the
farmers 81, 500, 1870. 1t is estimated
that the average cost Of production Of
the tobacco is only S45 per acre, in
which case, taking the acreage as given,
the total cost Of production of the crop
will be SG91, ,S75, leaving aproft to the
tobacco farmers Of SS7G.255. 1t is
easy to see what handsome profit per
acre these figures allow. Some Of the
best farmers tell me that they do not
think the average profit per acre will
fall below S25, under any cireumstan-
ces whatever. II cotton were s cents
pound, they tell me, it would be
hardly possible to make more than Sc
per acre. The difference speaks for
itself.
In Florence county there are 500 to.
bacco farmers, who are members OF
the county tobacco growers assocla-
ton. There are about 600 altogether
engaged in the culture Of tobacco.
an able to give what are said to be
the exact figures as to the acreage n
tobacco in Darlington county tor tins
wear and last, showing an enormous
advance in the industry. The increase
in acreage has been very much the
same in other counties, it is said:
A.;io.:, -lSal. ares IS. bar"s &: 1s99,
acres us. barns -.
Cvnress--is95. acres 225, barns IS.
= hor e.