The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1901-04-19
Leaf Tobacco Association.

The following report has been made by
the Board of Directors to the members
of the Leaf Tobacco Association
"Receipts of the Maryland Tobacco i'll
this market for the year 1900 were about
1000 hogsheads more than in the preced-
ing year, and amounted to 1870 hogs
heads color was generally ripe, but not
bright; quality and burning good charac-
ter and weight very light, with con-
siderable proportion of rough, coarse to-
bacco, especially among the Seconds.
Firm leaf was in smaller proportion than
usual, and there was scarcity of fine
grades while medium and common were
represented in average quantity. On the
whole, the crop was useful one tor gen
eral European consumption.
The French Contract was the largest
on record, 1850 hogsheads having been
shipped for this account; purchases for
it were active from beginning to close OF
the year and kept our market very firm,
there being at no time any accumulation
of stock in sellers hands. Prices for
seconds sympathzed with those of leaf
and for the lower grades there was a
strong demand all the year with decld-
ed advance during the Autumn. Prices
ranged from q "a 13 cents, with occaslo-
nal sales both above and below these
figures.
The Groundleaf crop was about 400
hogsheads, generally thick and leathcry
and partly of good to bright color; a
good demand existed all the season for
common and fine grades, while medium
were in less favor.
The Upper Country crop was about
ZOO hogsheads, of which the greater part
was air cured the demand was at TO time
active, but the small supply of Ohio made
an outlet for Upper Country as substi-
tute.
"The Ohio crop of 3, 453 hogsheads was
the smallest that has come to market in
many years; about % per cent was air
cured and IS per cent fired. The tobacco
was ripe and of good substance, with less
length of leaf than in the two previous
years.
The French Government contracted
for about 1900 hogsheads, and this de-
mand for SO considerable PERCENTAGE of
the crop caused prices for lower and
medium grades to open above those of
the previous year as this season advanced
it became apparent that the supply OF
fired grades was insufficient to fill the
wants of consumers, and prices for those
grades further advanced. Finer grades
and air cured were firm at previous years
prices.
"The French Government contracted
for about 1900 hogsheads, and this de-
mand for so considerable a percentage of
the crop caused prices for lower and
medium grades to open above those OF the
previous year as this season advanced it
became apparent that the supply OF fired
grades was insufficient to fill the wants of
consumers, and prices for those grades
further advanced. Finer grades and air.
cured were firm at previous years prices
"The exhibit made by the Association
at the Paris Exposition attracted much
attention, and received the diploma of
Honorable Mention"
During the year, reclamations paid
on SO hogsheads Maryland amounted to
$957.77, being about 80 per cent more than
in the preceding year this increase, how
ever, all occurred in one warehouse, and
confirms the views expressed in our last
report. that the appointment of mex
perienced men to the position of Deputy
Inspector always results in injury to the
accuracy of the samples. In Warehouses
No. I'LL V, and Locust Point, where the
Deputy Inspectors were experienced men,
the result is satisfactory; Warehouse No.
l, however, with new and inexperienc-
ed Deputy Inspector, makes most un-
favorable showing. for with only 10 per
cents of the receipts, it paid As per cent
of the total claims.