The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-12-15
WILSON COUNTY.

ton on the Wilson market reviews it as
follows:
The industrial progress of Wilson is
closely allied to the progress in tobac-
co raising in Wilson and the adjoining
counties While many elements have
aided in making the town what it is, to
tobacco is this progress and stolidity
due more than to any one cause. This
element has not only induced investments
of outside capital, but steady employ
ment to large number of hands, thus
putting into the town and county circu-
lation a larger amount OF money before
this time not invested.
Tobacco handling and tobacco culture
has been a stable in Wilson's business
life for the past decade Before this time
the number of men. employed, or the
amount of money invested was a small
factor in the business world. For sew
eral years, in fact until 1898, there were
no rapid strides on the Wilson market.
During this year there was sold here H.
800, 900 pounds of loose leaf tobacco The
sales previous to this time had ranged
from six to ten millions. In 1899 the
sales were greater than they have ever
been, the total during this season
amounting to 1900, 900 pounds. This in
crease in pounds was not due entirely to
an increased acreage, but in a greater
sense to the quality of tobacco raised.
During this year the yield in pounds was
greater to the acre, the average being
900 pounds than ever before. In 1900
there was considerable shortage in the
crop; not so much in the amount plant
cd as in the yield per acre. The total
sales for this period amounted to 1885,
600. The yield of the present crop is
still smaller than that of last year.
There has been no falling off in he
amount of tobacco planted, but owing to
the unusual amount of rain the yield of
the crop has been considerably leSsened
farmers were unable to give their crop
the necessary attention during critical
periods, and as q result large amount
of tobacco produced is Of a very low
grade. The general opinion among to-
bacco people is that the total sales for
this season will amount to 100000.
There has been sold up to this time about
eleven and a half million pounds. The
prices paid for tobacco on this market
has varied considerable in the last ten
years. For the past two years the prices
paid has made Tobacco culture very profit
able in this section, while the present
prices DO not vary much from the prices
paid for tobacco ten years ago, yet there
has been a period during this time when
tobacco sold at low figures. During last
year the total average on the entire
crop was ~ cents. Up to this time the
average is 15h cents. This does not
mean that tobacco is so per cent higher
1nc has he
more high price tobacco sold here during
this season than there was when the
average was 71a cents. The increase in
prices over last year is about SO 1-3 per
cent over last year, or about so per cent
increase over the prices paid in 1899.
Below / give opinions from representa-
tives of some of the principal tobacco
men in Wilson county on the conditions
of tobacco culture.
Mr.. S. w. Smith, head buyer for Max
wells Tobacco Company, says the in
crease in acreage over last year is at
least 10 per cent. The character of to-
baccO grown, while showing more color
than usual. has not the body usually
found in tobacco grown in this and the
surrounding counties He puts the yield
per acre at 700 pounds, a decrease from
that of last season of 30 per cent. He
says the prices of last year showed an
advance of from 3 to 10 per cent on all
grades, while for the present season the
advance is 20 per cent. His estimate of
the present crop is 14,5O0,OO pounds.
Mr.. viii Graves, one of the largest to-
bacco rasers in Wilson county, when
questioned about the tobacco crop in this
section, said he thought the acreage was
about the same. He said the yield per
acre would show decrease of &C %
per cent, about 600 pounds per acre. The
character of tobacco grown in his section
was, he said, bright, showing little char
acter
Mr.. U. Fl. Cozart senior partner of the
Center Brick Warehouse, says the ac-
reage of tobacco this season was about
the same as last year, with yield of 20
per cent. less per acre. He puts tho max
imum yield per acre at 700 pounds. Mr..
Cozart says his books will show an in
crease of 40 per cent. advance in prices
over the sales of 1893 His estimate for
the present season are this market is
14,000,C0
Mr.. w. II. Clark, prominent tobaccon-
list here, says the present crop will show
an increase of acreage Of 10 per cent over
last year He says the character of to-
baccO produced in his section is better
but shows a decrease in the yield per
acre of 20 per cent, the average yield
being $50 pounds. He estimates the pres
ent crop in this section at Ia, 500 ,OOJ
pounds. All tobacco, according to his cs-
innate, have advanced in prices 80 Is
per cent. over 1898.
Mr.. w. P. Anderson of the firm of An
derson and Dance, when asked about the
tobacco crop said he thought the acrea &c
was about the same. He said, however
the present crop would show a deer ease
in yield per acre of at least 20 per cent
the average not being over $50 pounds
Prices. according to his opinion, had adj
vanced five dollars per hundred on al
grades.
Mr. K. H. Watson, a prominent ware
houseman here, said the present croI
would show an increase in acreage of II
per cent. and a decrease in yield of q
per cent, the average yield per acre be-
ing about 700 pounds. He said his rocks
showed an advance in prices of 33 1-3 pei
cent This estimate for the total sales
is 100000.
Mr.. c. B. Leach, Secretary OF TIE 70
hapco BOARD of Trado Of Wilson