The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-07
STATEMENT FROM
IMPERIAL I |: { OFFICER.
Nj. A. s. Thomas Discusses the
Ama|gamation.
The COMPETITION WILL END.
The COMPETITION WILL END
Brands Will. Be Withdrawn from Amer~5
can Observation-Disclosures Will
Remain Here and Arrangements
for Buying Not Affected.

In q personal statement made yester-
day by Mr.. A F. Thomas, one of the
local managers Of tho Imperial Tobacco
Company, there Is given the first ex-
preston emanating from the American
headquarters of the big British trust
and concerning the cessation Of the to-
bacco war.
Among other things Mr.. Thomas prac-
tically confirms the Geographic advices
from London and goes on to indicate
the effect the amalgamation will have
upon the plans of the Imperial in Vir-t
ginia and other sections OF this country.
There will be no further move on the
part of the Imperial to compete with the
American Tobacco Company, so far as
manufactured goods is concerned, and
the brands Of the British trust will be
withdrawn from all American markets.
This is particularly interesting locally in
view Of the facts that several of the
brands of the Imperial had just been
introduced here. The sale OF them will
stop at once On the other hand Mr..
Thomas said the amalgamation would
have no effect upon the arrangements
for buying leaf tobacco and that the
American headquarters OF the Imperial
would continue in Richmond He was
asked about the prospect for building
on the Boyd property recently purchas-
ed here but declined to discuss this
matter, of which further mention is
made below.
The statement Of Mr.. Thomas is not
given by him as an official expression
from the Imperial, but as personal in
teryiew with him. He says:
Eve have been advised Of the set
Element of the war and regard it as a
friendly adjustment Of what would other
wise have been a long. tedious and costly
fight. Under the agreement the Ameri-
can Tobacco Company has absolute con-
troll of tho American markets. in manu-
featured goods, so far as any competi-
ton with the Imperial is concerned. and
the Imperial enjoys the same advantages
in Great Britain SO far as the American
is concerned. In addition to this these
two companies form the third company
in which Uncle Sam and his cousin. J Ohm
Bull, join hands to capture the tobacco
trade of the balance of the world.
Il do not think the new adjustments
will affect the leaf buying organization
Of the Imperial Company in the slightest.
It will continue to have its head office
in Richmond and have its corps Of buyers
covering the tobacco fields as at pres
ent. The Imperial will require a large
quantity of tobacco each year and it is
absolutely essential that 1t Should have
some well-organized method of obtaining
1t: and while It's relations with the Amer-
con Tobacco Company will be Of the
fiendliest character it would be asking
too much of a friend to do all of its
leaf business in this country
THE FACTORY HERE.
It is currently reported on the tobacco
market here that in purchasing the Boyd
property the Imperial Tobacco Company
did so with view to erecting a big
plant IN Richmond for the manufacture
of tobacco on this side Of the water. 1t
is said that the British trust had prac-
tically decided to begin the manufacture
of its goods here, and this. according to
several who think Mr.. Duke has gotten
the worst Of the fight, ..is what brought
the A. T. Company to terms
s Mr.. Thomas was asked about this mat
ter to-day, but declined to discuss It, It
is the general opinion however. that is
true and that, since the plan is knocked
in the head by the amalgamation, the
Imperial will proceed to the erection of a
big rehandling plant on the property. Mr..
Thomas would make no expression re-
garding any of this. He would only say
vaguely that the property will be put to
some use.
THINKS IMPERIAL HAS WON.
Among tobacco men here the discussion
Il the amalgamation continues in all
force. and everybody Is anxious to find
'ut what is the true status Of the situa- |
ion. Letters were received here to-day
rom British commission merchants, but
hey make no reference to the cessation
II the war. One of them however, en-
closed a clipping from a London paper
lust before the amalgamation, which in
iicates that the British public think the |
imperial has come out on top in the new
arrangements.