The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-01
THE TOBACCO MEN TALK.
THEY TAKE ENCOURAGING VIEWS
OF THE OUTLOOK FOR 1898.
Think Richmond should Be BY Far the
Largest Leaf and Manufacturing To-
bacco Market In the World.

Below will be found a number OF brief
interviews from well known tobacco men
OF this city, in which they give their
views about Richmond as d tobacco mar
ket, tell in general way OF the business
of the year and OF the outlook Ior 1885,
and in some cases, make valuable suS-
gestiOns for the Improvement ana pro-
gress OF the trade here.
JAMES 4. PARKINSON.
Mr.. James Il. Parkinson, OF the L. u
Williams Tobacco Manufacturing CON-
pany, said:
There is no better place in the United
States for manufacturing tobacco thah
Richmond, Va. as this is one OF the
leading tobacco markets OF this coun-
try. Certainly more various klldo can
be procured here than on any othsr
known market of the world, as we are in
close touch with all Of the leaf markets
that sell leaf OF different type RON
that grown adjacent 10 us.
Richmond is also admirably situated
for procuring the various ingredients
used In the manufacture OF tobacco from
the large cities where they are manu-
featured, as we have both good water
and railroad transportation.
There IS no reason why klcnnonu
should not be the largest leaf tobacco
market in the United states, because II
is near tho centre Of the secuon pro
ducng both bright and DARK leat' ~ II
= well known fact that the nhest cneM-
ing leaf tobacco grown IN the "o,lu 20
sold on the Richmond MARKET. e. CaIo,
limo and Louisa county. Va, sun-cureo
tobacco. We have a large corps OF buy-
ers for loose leaf. who arc fuily aole 10
take all of the loose tobacco which may
be offered. as they have ample capltai
and a sufficient line OF patrons.
THE statistics show that Richmond -
a hogshead market IS continually IN
creasinr and our city is looked upon A
headquarters for supplies Of zoe raw ma
terial 49,,
In my Judgment buyers OF tobacco can
make better selections here nan on any
other known market, as they eau u ~
times and at all seasons procure On ll'e
richmond market all or any OF tne Va
rious grades Of leaf tobacco. and ms
is true OF no other market In the Worlu.
our past years business has 9een very
satisfactory. We have Increased our out
nut over L. Il year and the year before.
For the future we feel much ENCOURAGE,
as our business Is in very heaitns
condition. both In this country alIu
abroad. There has been steady IN
crease all along the line and everything
points 10 a prosperous business for 1873.
JOHN VI. TAYLOR.
think the past year. generally speak
lng.has been good one with toDaccO lIaue
OF klcnmond. our manufacturers seem
TO have done well, and our leI uc3leiS
and commission merchants naES I nru az az
active trade and been able 10 DISPOSE o.
old stock We start on the new year WIN
fresh stocks and brighter prospects t hal
for years. Nearly ali grades on Qua
are selling well. common Brauts HdslHs
advanced 100 per cent. IN pIlee over last
Methods are continually changing and
il is a difficult matter TO get rehaDle sud
tistics of the amount OF business uohe
here. but IL is safe TO say the volume OF
business is larger than obtainable SUI
tIstics Indicate Ii is not, however, a.
large as It should be. kchihouu sI'1u ~
be going forward both as loose ara as
hogshead market. Its future ~ large
~ dependent upon what we cn9ose ~
make IL. III our manufacturers VIII Iostcl
and encourage II. always giving IL pref
ercnces in making purchases " VIII bf n
large and influential market WITHOUT tills
support il will be a very difficult matter
TO even hold the trade we nave
Much depends also upon the co-opel9
ton and assistance OF our banks. we
must have this. and the fact that our
banks have suffered some losses IN the
tobacco trade IS no reason why they
'i is there any department OF trade in
which they have not met with some
losses2 Loans made with prudence ana
Judgment on tobacco as collateral are SAT
or by far than the average loans mace III
the conduct Of general business.
There is no citizen OF Richmond who Is
not interested in. and who VIII not De
benefited by. having great tobacco mar
ket here. Let us therefore. have the CO.
operation and assistance OF al VINO can
I'm any way help 10 maintain and pro-
mote this end.
+. T. CRUMP & co.
The past year has been very prosper
Gus one indeed, and the outlook ~ nrst-
rate for a very fine business year IN leJc
Richmond offers inducements equaI 70
II not superior TO- those or any olher 10
bacco market in the world. The ONLY
drawback / know Of IS the want OF laise
loose tobacco sales, which can only be
secured by the expenditure or money, ana
once established here they could be main
tanned without any difficulty.
CARRINGTON * co.
From the middle TO the latter part OF
the year there was decided Improvement
in an business and the tobacco business
reaped It's share. wan - very great
shortage ia the western tobacco tIVpst
which has enhanced values on an low
Grade tobaccos, and with an improved
demand from manufacturers, when OuBhl
To come On account OF the resumption OF
business in the South, and ought 10 max
this Improvement I'm business permanent
The prestige Of this tobacco market as
being the largest in this section or the
country, should 90 long way toWatda
making this city the centre Of trade Tor
bright and dark Virginia tObsccos. and
with a little more public spirit shown Dy
the members OF our trade, especiaiiy the
manufacturers there would be a very
great improvement in the volume OF our
business. which would certainly help our
city in general. and the members OF our
trade in particular
The reputation established by the tobac-
co manufacturers before and after the
war has given our city the widest adVer-
tisement. and while all OF our manuIac-
turers are doing good conservative bus
mess. they seem too well satisfied to make
much effort 10 broaden their sphere Of
action. With the many advantages we
pOssess in the way OF the selection Of
raw material, cheap money, low freighis
and insurance they have peculiar oppor-
tunities for making a decided Increase IN
their business.
w. c. BENTLEY & CO.
Richmond Is already one Of the largest
nlaykets in the United states for priced
tobacco, as she mas ample warehouse
room. moderate storage and insurance
rates. and good banking facilities at rea-
sonable interest charges. And there Is
no reason why she should not be large
loose bright tobacco market II her own
wealthy manufacturers and leaf dealers
would only work together and make
little sacrifice for n while by giving pre-
ference TO this market as lar as possible
i'm making purchases until they could
force an ample supply OF farmers to-
bacco here.
AS a manufacturing centre Richmond
has every opportunity 10 go 10 the front
and stay there. only lacking a Attle OF
our northern and western brothers nerve
and "push" 10 enable her 20 do so. she
is close to the Virginia and North caro-
lima bright tobacco belts, and although
not so near to the western t!otc-o Tow
ers vet the difference in freight rates 10
mis- point is more than overcome hare by
tho decidedly lower wages our manufac-
tuners have to nav than those PREV Gijing