The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1898-04-22
Leaf TobirrO Association.

catiOu of this county, were present. ne
changes made by the last Legislature in
the inspection Law were discussed. SeEa
tor Clarctt and several others, represent
iar the growers Joined in the discussion.
4 delegation of the buyers will visit this
town on May 5th for the purpose Of cN-
planning some features Of the trade which
are of interest to our farmers and they
should attend the meeting if possible.
This Association made the folIowin" re-
port on April list:
The crop of Maryland Tobacco marketed
in lS9. considerably exceeded the cstt-
mates of the trade 81 905 Hhds. having
| been received here baltimore during the
wear. Although somewhat better in char
acter than the previous crop, it again con
tanned a very large proportion OF lower
grades, and also much grceni>h color.
As in the previous years, the medium
and better grades were in continuous good
demand ut prices quite satisfactory t" the
grower, but until autumn lower grades
again shared the depression Of the pre-
vious years. and sound common sold tree
| " at q l., During August and Sep
! TENDER however, it became apparent that
the 1897 crop of Kentucky Burlcv would
not exceed fifty per cent. of an average,
! and that the proportion Of very common
| grades in the 1897 Maryland crop would
| be smaller than recently; these causes
brought about IN excellent buying demand
| for lower grades, not only from exporters,
but also from domestic manufacturers,
who, during the autumn absorbed almost
the entire stock of sound common in first
hands at gradually advancing prices The
year closed with stock of only SO Hhds.
in the hands Of Commission Merchants
The Groundlcaf crop was about $500
Hhds. ol rather light character, but mod
crate color, and very dusty; it met 4
prompt sale, and considering its not spcci-
ally desirable character, brought good
prices.
The crop of Bay Tobacco amounted to
about 1900 Hhds Of which about two
thirds was fire cured, and one-third air
cured; all desirable grades sold readily at
similar prices to the previous year.
OF Ohio Tobacco, S043 HhdS. came to
market, of which about eighty-tiye per
cent was tire-cured. color and quality
were good but gum was lacking. For the
second successive year France did not an
nounce any contract for this growth, con
sequently there was considerable accumu-
lation of stock in receivers hands. Prices
however, were fairly we'll maintained,
owing to the report that the crop raised
in 1897 does not exceed 1000 HhdS
For this year, the French Regie has an
nounced larger Maryland contract than
that of 1897, 100000 ko., fully 1000
Hhds being required; there is no contract
for Ohio Tobacco announced.
In July, State Tobacco Warehouse Ne. !
/, which had been opened in February by
the Governor, as i separate warehouse,
was consolidated with Warehouse No. >, |
thus reducing the number of inspectors to |
three; and the old Sugar Warehouse on
O'Dolnell's Wharf had been in February
restored to Warehouse No !. these ware
houses have, during the past year alfordp..
sufficient facilities for the proper storage
and handling Of the Maryland crop.
At the recent session of the Legislature,
Il bill was intrud iced by Senator Clagctt, |
making numerous changes in the existing
Tobacco Inspection Law. \ general
meeting of the Association having APP
proved the ideas embodied in the bill, Il
special committee of the Board Of Dircc-
tors visited Annapolis, and appeared be
fore the Inspection Committees OF the
Senate and House Of Delegates in advo-
| cacy of its passage. After receiving Va
| rious amendments, it was passed by the
Legislature, signed by the Governor, and
| has now become Il law
| This law creates the new office of Chief
| Inspector. who shall have entire co1trol
of the business and financial mana cement
of all the Tobacco Warehouses, me ~=ing
their accounts into one; for each ware
house there shall be a Deputy Inspector,
who is charged with sampling all the To-
bacco received for inspection.
There is now no financial reason, such
as the necessity of the individual ware
house being separately self supporting,
why any tas warehouse should consider
| it desirable to secure more Tobacco than
any o d"r warehouse, and consequently
| We believe that the soliciting Of Tobacco
in the interior, on the part Of the ware
! houses, will he done away with, thus re.
moving The principal incentive for draw
Il !
able expectations as to the practical work
ing of the new law will be realized. de
| ponds largely upon the selection which
the Governor shall make for this impor-
tant office of chief INSPECTOR Should his
choice rest upon Il man of high character
and good business ability, a decided and
much needed improvement in tn. present
inspection system should result.
The Association took steps during the
year, 10y the appointment of a S.,ctia!
Committee, to place itself in close c9mmu-
nic,tion with the several Tobacco tirow-
crs' Associations or Farmers Clubs
which have recently been formed in the
ObaccO growing counties: the committee
has had replies to its letters from only
two of these Clubs but it is hoped that
during the coming year, more intimate re-
latiou~ may be established between u. re
sultiny in II mutual benefit to the growers
and the trade.
During the year, the hand Of death La s
fallen heavily upon our number, and We
have been called upon to m 'urn the loss