Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-29


The annual review OF the leaf-tobaccO
| trade published in the New-Years edition
Of the C0urier-JOurnal contained much OF
great interest 10 the grower The prOduc-
ton of tobacco, II not the most important
agricultural industry Of Kentucky, is yet
one that appeals as closely 10 his pocket
as any other II lis gratifying TO learn
that while the trade has been greatly de-
pressed during the past six months, the
average price for the year per hOgshcdd
received ON the Louisville market was So
cents per pound, against 60 cents received
I'm 1897, when the trade seemed 90 be at
the highest pitch OF prosperity. Concern
ing the accuracy Ot these figures there
can be no doubt, but In confirmation it
may bee stated That the Cincinnati papers
report the average price received there as
So cents pound, against 6O3 cents IN
1Ssf. Cincinnati is an exclusively Burley
market, while Louisville sold over $500
hOgsheads OF dark tobacco. which usually
brings lower price. The advantage IS
with this market, as Is natural, consider
ing that 1t is the larger and has greater
number of buyers.
one point ought TO impress itself upon
all tobaccO-gtoW The auction mar
kets which bring buyers here from all
parts Of the world afford the grower
opportunities for dispOsing Of his pro-
duct that will never be offered by the
manufacturer who buys IN tho country.
Within the last few years powerful
81. Louis factory has established buy
ers at points in the tobacco districts
and has bought some 1900 O00f 10 1J-
10000 pounds yearly OF the growers.
It's example was followed last year by
IT'S greater competitor though II Is un-
derstOOd the new combination of manu-
facturers. the Continental Tobacco
Company Will withdraw these buyers
and make its purchases exclusively on
the auction markets as proof that IL
intends to keep on amcable terms with
tho planter. In doing so tt undoubted-
~ abandOns an advantage, for while the
farmers have been greatly alarmed Dy
the formation of the trust there have
not been wanting men who have been
ready 10 sell TO It's agents at the price
the latter fix.
On the Louisville market the farmer is
represented by the highest class Of COM
mission merchants in the warenOusemen,
whose history for nifty years has shown
that they have botned sturdily for the
growers rights. They have always stood
as bulwarks against petty impOsitiOus
and frauds, and by the free use of the
privilege on rejecting sales have saved
the farmers millions OF dollars that would
have otherwise enriched the buyers. They
have acted as the planters banker also,
advancing him money upon a rate of in
terest never above the market, and small
indeed as compared to the charges made
by cotton factors in the South. That
they have not made eXOrbltant charges is
proved by the fact that none of them
has accumulated large fortune, and the
most prosperous and energetic have been
satisfied with a Coincidence. Many OF
them have been ruined by iniudiciOus add
yancss and rebating OF their legiti-
mate lees. These have always been
moderate for by the custom or the
trade the buyer pays part OF the cost
OF selling tobacco being the only com
modify I'm which the buyer r. charged with
a lmiddleman's commission. An other
country produce IS sold at the shippers
expense. The fees are m0uerate, and SO
far from the warehOusemen's 'gouging'
the grower last year combination OF
warehouses used the power they possess
ed 20 reduce their selling lees - per cent.
This has saved the shippers 10 this mar
ket 10000 yearly in fees.
Under the present circumstances now,
as always. IL Is for the interest OF the
farmer TO patroniZe the auction markets.
preferably the greatest OF them all I'm
Louisville, but some auction market by
all means. Here will be found the agents
OF the independent factories, as well as
those OF the trusts, the expert buyers the
fehandlers, the makers OF strips. and the
small Spectators who watch every SALE
and see that no hogshead is neglected
The attempt 70 work up prejudice against
the large markets Is only playing into
the hands OF the manufacturers, who wish
TO buy cheap and sell dear.