The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-08-24
TOBACCO IN EASTERN CARO-
LIMA

/ want to get right close up to the
farmers and reason with them why l
think they are making no mistake in go
ing into the production Of tobacco as
monicd crop, and | would like to an
swcr the objections OF few why they
do not make the venture, they would be
ashamed to admit that they could not
do as well and learn as quick as their
neighbors in adjoining cOunies, who,
when they began, did not know, but life
is too short. They all admit, without IL
solitary exception that cotton is so low
they are not even swapping" dollars
in raising it. The increased demand for
the weed of the better grades is just
enormous. for since the war Il mean the
civil war; manufactured tobacco for
consumption is five times greater, and
cigarettes. for which this Eastern Caro-
lima section has grown famous. Stats
ties put at FIVE hundred per capita con
sumed annually, which was unknown
before the war. Last year the output of
cigarettes were over 5000, 100000, so it
seems that somebody smokes, and, in
my opinion win continue to the end Of
time. Well, / just suppose there were
people then way back in 1913, as his
i
ty of them here now, who had, and
have their doubts about the ultimate
results of tobacco production, to the
effect that the large increase will cause
tobacco to be as Improbable as cotton.
/ heard just such talk in 1869 GO years
ago. when my brother and ! built our to-
bacco warehouse in Danville, Va, that
tobacco was going to be run in the
ground. AT that time no tobacco was
raised in Eastern Carolina, except in
fence corners for private use.
That year the Danville market sold
something like 100000 pounds. That
same market now sells close on to 50,-
100000, and the end is not yet. They
tell us there were men in those days,
standing around when Noah was build
ing the ark, saying that it would only
be shower, yet they were drowned all
the same.
Tobacco was the currency in Virginia
in colonial days. In fact the early set
tiers bought their wives, or rather paid
their<passage money and took them for
their wives, paying one hundred and
twenty to one hundred and fifty pounds
i'm tobacco for each / am not prepared
to say whether those early settlers near
jamestown, in Virginia, formed trust
when they invested so much tobacco in
securing for themselves a partner in
life, for they are dearer now. If You
don't believe it, try to get one. Ken
tucly produces nearly, if not quite, one
half of all the tobacco grown in the
United States, and with that vast
quantity it in no ways conflicts with the
tobacco raised in our section.
Mr.. Thomas Slade, of Caswell county,
before the war, was the first to catch
the idea of curing tobacco a bright yell
low color, and it had the effect of giving
to Caswell the name Of the banner
county in tobacco. From then it spread,
and today Eastern Carolina holds the
distinction of producing the finest lemon
colored wrappers, cutters and smokers
in the world, and is destined to hold it,
for the reason we have the finest never
failing sold and climate that exist. (Oh.
you doubling Thomas go into your
holes.)
And our people deserve,as they will
receive, the plaudits of the great to-
bacco trade, for raising one of the most
important industries. The demand for
our Eastern Carolina tobacco will con
tinue to increse in favor in far
greater ratio than any other farm pro-
duct. 1t, therefore, appears to be one of
the safest, surest and most profitable Of
all crops for our farmers to engage in.
| am here to serve you, to give you the
benefit of my long experience. Don't
hesitate to call on us.
Your friend truly.
Il. NJ. PACE,
Manager and Salesman,
Sampson Tobacco Warehouse.