The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-05-03
As OTHERS SEE Us.


cent communication IN The Times on
the subject Of leaf tobacco expresses its
great surprise that Richmond has been
so neglectful OF her opportunities 90 cs-
tablsh q loose tobacco market. and so
unmindful Of the advantages that would
accrue to her from building up the loose
trade. eve know OF no city" says our
contemporary, that is prepared TO offer
greater Inducements 20 the planter-none
by reason OF the excellent and numerous
lines OF transportation that center i'm
Richmond ana afford direct means Of
rapid communication with the tobacco
growing districts OF this State ana other
States. that has greater advantages as
loose market. than the city OF Rich
monG."
our contemporary also notes the fact
that Richmond was the tobacco market
Of the country. when planters ordered,
packed and priced their tobacco and ship
ped So TO market in hogsheads. But
prizine has now become obsolete. II not a
lost art" continues the Gazette, land
these changes have rendered other
changes necessary in the mode OF SELL
ing the weed
This fact was recognized IN many To-
ca,des." it goes on. "and as result
loose tobacco markets spring mp as If by
magic in the Interior. and they have I'm a
grcu measure monopolizcd the trade in
lear tobacco, leaving in the lurch those
markets which failed TO read Alright the
signs of the times and have clung 10
the Ole methods And it adds:
"In this latter class, strange 90 say.
Richmond. one of the most wide-awake
and cnterprsng cities of the South Is
included. She has tenaciously chung To
auiiquated methods and as q result has
lost a. trade that I'm former years was
source OF great wealth and prosperity
TO her people. with the natural advan-
tages she possesses with the numerous
lives Of transportation that tap the to-
baccO belt at various points ana centre
there. anOrding easy access 10 the plant
ers OF this and other States. Richmond
should again become the tobacco mar
ket of the country. The people of NIr-
ginia take pride i'm their capital city.
pertains 90 her welfare and prosperity.
They like To- visit Richmond and are al-
ways glad 10 find an excuse 10 DO so.
IL her merchants and other business men
win only bcstir themselves and build Up
a loose tobacco market they will furnish
the attraction that will make Richmond
again the rendezvous for the planters of
of the tobacco belt as it was I'm the days
of yore when one would meet az the old
Columbian and the other hotels Of the
city hundreds of representative from the
tobacco belt who had gone thither 10
market their crops and TO purchase their
supplies. Nothing would contribute more
10 revive and build mp the retail trade
of the city than % good loose tobacco
market. The planters Will buy their sup-
plies where they sell their crops ana thus
new life viii De infused into the channels
of trade and activity would reign whore
stagnation now prevails Let Richmond
only be- true TO herself i'm this matter ana
her reward will certainly follow
Here is am intelligent opinion from an
outside source. Our Brunswick contem-
porary can have no selfish motive I'm
what it says, but feeling q pride in the
capital city Of the State. and seeing how
AAlNA4l'4A ~ ANNA'AAAlS 'il' va 4tH h4'Nt-
est industries. and by neglect is permit
ting the smaller towns TO monopolize a
feature Of the tobacco trade that should
flourish in this market, our contemporary
cannot resist the impulse to give Rich
mond the benefit of it's counsel
What it says has been said through
these columns time without number, but
nobody has ever put the case more plain
~ or presented the argument more forci-
bly, than the Brunswick Gazette. 1t
tells us the plain truth and presents it
I'm such a way as to arrest the attention
Of the business men of this community.
We repeat that there is no reason un-
der the sun why Richmond may not build
up q hourshing loose tobacco trade. The
only reason that such a market is not
already here is that We have refused to
recognize the new conditions and to ac-
commodate ourselves TO them. We have
been engaged in the fruitless missionary
work of trying TO convert the trade to
our way of doing business while other
markets have let the trade have it's way
and have catered to it. All that Rich
mond needs 20 do is TO adopt the methods
OF the interior markets. ana that done
81, loo tvsIo will ho o1trc