The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-01
AS A Big TOBACCO MARKET.
Richmond Peculiarly Favored By Reason
Of Its Situation.
HAS The BEST INSPECTION SYSTEM.
Warehouse Rates Cheaper Than Eise-
where. and the City Enjoys Direct
Communication with the Tobac-
coGrowing Region of ountry.

Although the tobacco year closes not on
the 3lst of Dece nbe.. Uut commences
on the ist OF October OF each year, with
the practical winding up Of the sales OF the
dark crop. It may be well at this time OF
the year TO look backward on the business
which has been done in this city during
the year 1891. and we are glad TO say
that IL is a pleasant duty TO contemplate
the activity which has prevailed amongst
all tobacco men throughout this year.
There is hardly a city in the United
States which is as favorahly situated Tor
big tobacco market as the city Of Rich
mond. Having water connections to all
the Atlantic ports by seeral lines. and
being central point of many railroads
which traverse all the sections IN which
tobacco is raised. not only from
tho Wost but also from the
South. this gives Richmond
pre-eminent place in regard TO handing
freight coming in or going out. at mini
mum cost and to best advantage. Ws
have a much more direct communication
with tho bright belt OF Castern North
Carolina and South Carolina than the CITY
Of Danville. which boasts TO be the largest
loose tobacco market In the world.
We do not know that there IS any spe-
but we might say right here that as far
as the number OF pounds goes, the 10
bacco handled in Richmond is easily the
double of what is brought 10 market IN
Danvllle, and while business In loose to-
bacco is bv 10 means neglected here, sun
our principal business is done in hogs-
heads One reason for this is the un-
equalled storage facilities In this MARKET
We have number of frst-class ware
houses here. which store the tobaccos as
CHEAP or cheaper than any other market
In the United States or even, as far ~ we
know, in Europe.
BEST INSPECTION
We. further. have the best Inspection
I'm fact almost the only official Inspection
in the State OF Virginia, which has STOOD
the test OF the times for many "ears as
being fair 10 both buyer and seller This
is recognized. not only by the open mar
kets of Europe. but also by the different
governments who come 10 this market to
make their purchases Of tobacco. namely,
the Austrian and the italian Governments
which recognize that II is 10 their interest
TO have their tobsccos inspected by an I'M
partial inspection. bsforo they accep
them for shipment. Even dealers from
the interior markets frequently ship tnelr
tobaccos to Richmond. in order to obtain
Richmond inspection samples
The business Of selling bright tobaccos
loose In this market has been well main
tanned: in fact. is on the increase from
year TO year. This Is not surprising; but
Il Is rather surprising that the business
has not assumed much larger proportions
as there are probably more buyers in this
market with larger orders and more capt
tai. than I'm any other market in the
A. &c
Of the tobaccos which are handled here
have 10 be drawn from other markets;
this, Of course, will OILY be done with to-
baccos that are cheaper or as cheap.
bought In an upland market and delivered
in Richmond. as they can be bought on
the Richmond floor
Every buyer prefers 20 make his own
selections. and, therefore, the Richmond
buyers are willing 20 pay fully as much
or a trifle more for tobaccos which they
find or the Richmond warehouse floor,
than for such for which they have TO give
orders to agents on other markets. Be
sides that. in giving orders for these to-
baccos the Richmond buyer will deduct
the charges Of buying and putting mp in
hogsheads and railroad freight to Rich
mond. from the price which he Is willing
TO pay in the interior market.
conservative class. we think by and by
IL Will dawn upon them that they can
do better by sending their tobaccos di-
rect 10 headquarters than by letting them
go through the hands Of two or three
dealers and warchOusemen in the local
markets Of virginia and North Carolina.
TO RAISE BRIGHT TOBACCO.
There are now efforts being made which
have partly proven already a great sue
cess. 20 raise bright tobaccos in the sec
ton which Is Immediately tributary 20
this city. We have received as fine to-
baccos here from Dinwiddie. Chesterfield
and Gloucester counties as can be bought
I'm any county whore bright tobacco has
been raised for many years. our ware
housemcn are paying attention to this
trade. and our buyers are encouraging
the raising Of these tObaccos by paying
liberal prices for them.
We have seen as fine bright and dark
tobacco austrian cigar Leaf raised ten
or twenty miles from the city as comes
10 any market in the interior. and Il
seems strange that our farmers will not
go more largely 20 the raising OF this
most profitable crop. Lands are certainly
cheap enough. and are adapted 10 almost
any type OF tobacco that Is produced I'm
Virginia. or North Carolina. from the
heavy hard. fired dark English stripping
leaf 20 fancy bright and fine sun and air
cured home-trade filters.
The trade I'm sun-cured tobaccos Is prac-
tically monOpolizcd by Richmond any
way. and while some fine filters are raised
in Henry county, the bulk Of these fine
sweet tobaccos comes from Louisa and
Caroline counties. and they are marketed
partly in the loose state, partly i'm farm
ers' packages during the summer months.
II the supply Of these tobaccos was not
so small II would be better known and
appreciated outside Of the South As tho
manufacturers can hardly secure more
than is needed for the local trade. this
tobacco is always sold at a lively compe-
tition. and is bringing fancy prices to
the farmers.
ON THE INCREASE.
The leaf trade OF our city has been con-
siderably on the increase last year. This
is partly due 10 the push the enterprise
and the better advertising Of several Of
our comparatively young concerns, Of
which there are quite a number.
The export business has also increased
materially, one OF the factors being that
the Italian Government has made this city
the headquarters of their purchases OF
dark and bright tobaccos. While these
tObaccos as a rule. come 10 Richmond
anyway, still 1t Is TO be hoped and ex-
pected, as the Italian Government is now
buying direct at considerably lower prices
than formerly through the contractors,
that they may increase their orders for