The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-08-26
Biggest Break Yet:
Two Warehouses Filled With
Bright Tobacco = More
Than $4,000 Pounds
Sold.

The opening sale Of the second season of
the Sumter tobacco marEet WAS held
last Wednesday,. Last year there was
but one warehouse and only about
30, 900 pounds was sold The first day
Wednesday there were two houses full and
more than 80 900 pounds were sold. The
sale began in the Planters Warehouse at
10 80 o'clock and contioued until l.30 before
the last pile had been sold.
The sale in the old Sumter Warehouse be-
gan al 80 and is still in progress The TO.
bacco was nearly equally divided between
the two houses and the average quality was
fairly goo1 for this early in the season.
The Planters Warehouse $s the largest in
this State and is fine, new structure $50 Z
ITO feet, magni6cently lighted by skylights
in the root and windows il both ends and
sides 1t is under the management of Mr.. J.
L Morgan, warehopseman and tobacco
man of years experience. He bought tobacco
on this market last season and is we'll known
to and popular With ali of the tobacco grow.
ers Of this section of the State. he has a
full crops of assistants and will undoubtedly
make success of the new warehouse. The
large amount Of tobacco on his floor was
at least an indication that be will get the
tobacco in such quantities that be will be
kept busy.
The sale was opened by Auctioneer John
Reb Drake Of the Planters Warehouse and
the selling was kept up at lively rate unit!
| the last pile was knocked down. Mr.. Drake
was assisted by Auctioneer c. S. Matlock oI
the Sumter Tobacco Warehouse, Auctioueer
Garland Webb, Of Manning, and Auction
w B. Meacham, of Mayesville, all Of whom
did their best while the crowd Of spectators
looked on in amused amaZemeat.
There was a crowd of not less than seven
hundred spectators, including mary ladies,
present, and the greater part Of them re-
manned uuti! the sale closed at the Planter;
Warehouse They went home TO dinner and
returned with many others during the after
noon to witness the sale at the Sumter
Warehouse.
There were twenty-three buyers and several
warebousemen from this State and Virginia
on the floor, and the sale was maintained
from star, to finish.
The prices were not as high as last sea on,
which WAS no surprise to those who have
kept posted on the range Of prices iu 'he TO-
bacco cen1e's Of this country and Europe
But those who based their expectations or
last years prices were both surprised aad
disappointed Nevertheless, the writer, vic
has recently returned from visit to ell o.
the Leading markets of Virginia, is CT tn,
opinion that the prices, as rule, were fairly
good. There was no booming of prices tc
make tobacco bring fictitious values, fer The
purpose Of advertising the market, and those
who expected to receive ''boom opening sale
prices were disappointed. Candidly and
without bias, the prices we're good with the
ultimate markets in their present condition,
and those who ere dissatisfied now will be
convinced of this fact alter in the season.
The kickers were, however, in minority
and for this reason they have been mentioned
first The grea, majority OF sellers wers
satisfied with the prices aod pleased with TIE
treatment they received, or that WAS the i'm.
preston the writer received by miugling and
talking With he crowd The Sumter market
is not boo, ?, but is growing steadily, and
the increase If over LOG per cent over the
frst day last season can be pointed to with a
degree Of satisfaction No boasting or brag-
ging is necessary. Sumter is tobacco market
of the 6rst class and no extravagant claims in
her favor are in order. The facts are ,angib'e
proof