The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-02

With one bound Raleigh jumps full
panoplied into the field OF competition as
hustling tobacco market.
An inspiring scene it was yesterday
in the Farmers Warehouse where the
formal opening of the market took place
For hours every man of the force had
been busy at work preparing for the
break. The trucks We're rolling and
twisting in and out of the huge piles of
tobacco, getting things in shape for the
song Of the auctioneer and the spirited
bids of the buyers.
Every inch of space was made use of
and the tobacco was packed in as close
as possible. AS the hour for the sale
approached the crowd of visitors in
creased. The farmer who had his to-
bacco for sale was there, the farmer
who had tobacco at home but who want ed
to see what Raleigh would do on its
opening day was there, the business men
of Raleigh We're there, and the scene was
happily frightened by the presence of
scores of ladies whose interested faces
showed that they recognized the impor-
lance of the event.
The rush was so great that it was i'm
possible to get all the tobacco on the
floor at the hour set for the opening. and
it was after II o'clock when "All Ready"
WAS sung out by the proprietors and the
bidding began.
The crowd pressed around the pile
where the opening sale was to be made.
High on pile of tobacco stood Mr.. Frank
Stronach a prime mover in the opening
of the market. Auctioneer Rice called his
name and Mr.. Stronach in ringing voice
Raleigh Tobacco Market, welcomed the
planters to the city, guaranteed to them
fair dealing and as high prices for their
tobacco as was paid on any market in
the State All he asked was that the
farmers would bring their tobacco to Raj
eigh and they would be satisfied, but that
if it happened that at any time there
was dissatisfaction it would simply need
The calling to it of the attention of the
tobacco men of the city and the matter
would be remedied. He declared that the
business men of Raleigh were deeply
interested in the upbuilding of the mar
ket, and that by every means in their
power they were ready to assist and
do everything that was possible to make
it splendid success.
There were cheers for him during his
earnest talk and as ne ceased the stem
torian voice of Auctioneer Rice sang out
"How much am l bid, and the real work
began. The first offering was a pile of
175 pounds of primings from the barn of
Mr. X A. Hester. 1t was started at
$3.50 hundred and rapidly climbed to
$3.50 at which price it was taken by the
house. the pile bringing $11.73 gross, or
with charges deducted for Weighing auc
ton fees and commission of Ga cents
net sale OF $f1.O9.
And then the buyers and sight-seers
pushed on to the next pile and the song
Of the auctioneer, the "Whoop it up,
boys of Mr.. Frank Stronach, the bid
and raise and counter bid of the various
buyers the murmur of voices and the
never ceasing hub-bub of a live tobacco
sale went on. 1t was inspiring, it was
attractive, it was magnetic. The very
air was charged and surcharged with the
electricity of the rush of business and
the splendid feeling which comes from
success brought about by push and en-
ergy and the united fight of a determined
people to add to their citys interests
a live and paying enterprise.
Thousands Of pounds were sold at the
Farmers Warehouse and it was about
l o'clock when the sale there was over.
The prices had been high and the far
mers were delighted with the sale.
An hour was taken for dinner and at
o'clock the sale at the Capital City
Warehouse was begun. Although it had
been thought that it would be impossible
to sell all the tobacco brought to this
house yesterday. that feat was accom-
plished by little extra activity, and
the sale was over by about o'clock in
the afternoon.
Here, too, there was again the rush of
the morning sale, increased as the day
grew older. Crowds were present and