Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-28
FARM PRODUCE AND THE WAR.
Dealers in Tobacco, Truck, ana
Hides Talk of Its Eject.

1t is the opinion Of those prominent in
the deliberations of the trades people Of
Richmond, that for a year at least, the
war will not affect either the quantity
of country produce raised or the prices
for It.
A gentleman was speaking OF this yes
terday. He is a commission merchant
and also a wide-awake tobacconist. lie
said the farmers who grew tobacco had
already determined on the size or the crop
they were TO pitch" and so httle
thing as war with Spain wouldn't inter-
fere with them this spring. any way.
That means, then, that next year the
Richmond market will be as well supplied
with the weed as this. The question
raised next, and answered by the mer-
chant was: would the prices the farm
er would get for his tobacco be as good
as they have been this season.
Not an easy question" he said.
A TOBACCO MARKET N SPAIN.
II is generally known among tobacco
nists. but not 50 by many other intel
llgent people, that one OF the great eX-
ports Of farm produce that this coun-
try has TO European markets Is raw
tobacco raised in Maryland, Virginia,
North Carolina, ana Kentucky. 1t Is
feared that one of the results OF the
war will be to close these important
markets to the American export. III So
there will be a great deal OF tobacco on
the hands Of the American raisers and
sellers. and consequently the farmer may
get less for his crop. Austria, France,
Italy. and even Spain imports a great
quantity of American raw tobacco, but
practically none Of the manufactured ar
ticle The latter is kept out OF these
countries by a heavy protection tax.
Agents Of these governments buy the
raw tobacco and ship 1t home, where IL Is
manufactured in plugs for chewing ana
crumbled for smokers. one or the most
prominent members OF the Rlchmond
trade, speaking Of this probable state
Of affairs. remarked that the American
was a very curious animal ana the
chances were that our tobacco would
90 over the ocean next year and the
next, Just like it had always done.
WILL FARMERS FEEL IT?
4 commission merchant. who keeps In
closest touch with the farmers and truck
ers about Richmond and all down the
V4rgina Peninsula, gave it as his opin-
ION th4t the prices for vegetables, fruits,
and an country produce would not be
affected. The farmers would raise just
ass mu,n and find just as ready market
AS before.
It was the opinion of a large hide mer-
chant that prices for heavy material
would go up and business in his line
would brighten up.
The government has just given con-
tract for a large number Of sets OF har-
ness TO be manufactured. 1T Will take"
he said, "25. 900 head OF cattle 20 furnish
leather to supply just this demand" 1t
would be all heaviest material, also, as
The government would have no other. II
the 10000 soldiers are mustered into
service, as II now appears they will, it
means that just this large number OF
pairs OF brOgans would be demanded.
They would be made almost entirely OF
heavy leather. This merchant, at least.
felt bright over the prospect of war and
the sales OF his goods. Then. II he does
well, 1t means that the farmer who raises
the beef is also doing we'll