The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-09-11
Raleigh Buyers Anticipate
Big Breakes Soon.
A HIGHER GRADE CROP
CONSEQUENTLY THE CROP WILL
BRING MORE THIS YEAR.
THE TOBACCO ACREAGE REDut
The Crop Now Virtually Made--August Re-
ports Showed il 81 80 and Acreage
81 i.2.-Dry Weather Doesn't
Hurt Good Tobacco.

81 I'Z'-Ury WeatheF UOcSh
Hurt Good Tobacco.
The cotton prospect may not be near
Nv SO good as it was and the planters
may have reason to complain because
of the drought, but if the opinion OF
the tobacco buyers Of Raleigh and some
of the tobacco growers of the viclnlty'
with whom q reporter talked yesterday,
correctly represents the situation tue out
look for those who deal in the weed is
bright. 1t has not been long since Rai-
e;ph was not considered a tobacco mar
kot and little or none Of the weed was
raised in Wake county but the hlgh
nr;ces which the weed was once bring
ing and the low price OF other produets
Induced The farmers of this and ad-
;o;n;nr counties to cultivate this plant
which wa, making Granville, Vance and
other counties rich at that time. Hal
eigh began to become a tobacco market
and the traffic in the weed here mas
steadily grown in importance to the
city until it rs now a hourishing business
adding greatly to the prosperity OF
the place. -
What is the general outlook for the
tobacco crop of North Carolina! No
August crop report for the State was as
sne5. It will be remembered, but the
general condition of tobacco Tor august
was S7A as carefully compiled at the
state commissioner of agriculture's Of
fee FROM reports received from every
quarter Of the State. The acreage
planted in the State compared with for
mer years is 5711a. In the case of tobacco
these reports are very significant, more
so than they are with cotton, because
nv August the tobacco crop of North
Carolina is virtually made and In the
eastern part Of the State most OF 1t is
cured BY September. The statistics quot
cd above show that the crop is, to say
the very least, pretty good and also
that the acreage has been reduced from
what it was last year while on the other
hand cotton acreage has been increased
in the State.
Gentlemen who are considered au-
thority ON tobacco were interviewed
yesterday-and below is given what they
say about the crop.
First the tobacco crop of eastern Caro-
lima is cured and much of it is now
being marketed, but as you go west OF
course the crop is later. In TINS Sec
ton there is not much of 1T now IN the
field, the farmers are now busy curing
their tobacco or grading and preparing
it for the market. There seems to be
some advantage in allowing it to re-
main in the field after it IS ripe since
it gets heavier and this, coupled with the
fact that the farmers have been busy
saving their fodder at this time, as we'll
as the climate and soil, causes the market
to open later here than in the east.
isn't the drought injuring the tobacco
which hasn't been cut?" was asked and
the general response was that dry
weather doesn't hurt good tobacco.
Yes, the outlook appears bright both
for a good crop and better price than
last wear. Tobacco is sold on the Raj
eigh market from Wake, Franklin.
Johnston, Chatham, Harnett and Moore
counties and the reports are said to be
encouraging from these sections. The
crop is reported extra good near Roles
Vile. While the acreage is not so great,
much tobacco land having been planted
in cotton, peas or corn, yet there will
probably be more pounds.
This is what the Raleigh buyers think
and they anticipate some big breaks on
the market the latter part Of next week
for much of the crop will be ready for
the market then. Last year 100000
pounds Of tobacco was sold on the Raj
-eigh market, this year a prominent buy
er says that he is confident that it will
be over 100000 pounds.
How is the price, higher or lower than
it was last year? Tobacco is selling for
more here" was the reply. The first to-
bacco which comes to market is never
the best. The farmers bring what are
called the first pullings," first and the
best grade comes later. A reporter
visited warehouse about auction time
and the average price which this tobacco
brought was between So and So OF
course there are a thousand grades of
tobacco which sell anywhere from 81
to $40 or more per pound SO you cannot
speak of grades Of tobacco as you can
cotton.
The last question propounded was,
"To what do you attribute the higher
prices which tobacco is now bringing
over the prices which prevailed last
yearY' "The prices strictly speaking per-
haps are not higher but the tobacco is
selling for more because the crop is Of
a much higher grade this year than it
was last the informant replied. Last
year the tobacco here was of a very in
ferior grade and there was lots Of it
toe.'
A party from Kinston reports that
the breaks on the market there are very
heavy and the average price is nearly
twice as high as last year-due no doubt
to better tobacco.
THE WIDOW GOLDSTEIN.