The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-07-12
TWO BIG CONCERNS
TORE CONSOLIDATED.
The Universal and the Imperial
VIII Combine.
A CAPITAL OF 500, 00o, 1000
Reports from London and New York
Say it viii Be Done-The Baltimore
Suns Account-Will Probably
Manufacture Tobacco Here.
A CAPITAL OF 500, 600, 900

The Universal Tobacco Company, of
America, and tho Imperial Tobacco Com
pany. Of Great Britain. will shortly be
consolidated with a capital of 100000
600, and viii at once enter the field
against the American Tobacco Company
in war for supremacy in the trade of
the two countries The deal awaits but
the conclusion Of negotiations and con-
ferences now in progress in london, and
viii, in all probability, be closed within
a few days.
The statements made above are based
upon information which has reached New
York from London in the shape of cable
advices. and which is generally Teearded
as accurate
If the report proves true 1t confirms
what this paper has repeatedly stated
in connection with the recent visit or
the directors OF the Imperiai-Messrs-
Gum. Ployer and Clarke. 1t was said
then and some time before then that the
Ir1nerial would either buy out the tniver-
sal or form with it some cooperative
alliance. Local tobacco men were in
credulous but ii appears that the rumors
were after all not without foundation.
Will, MANUTACTURE HERE.
The reports from London also contain
the interesting announcement that the
Imperial purposes at once to begin the
manufacture of tobacco in this country.
Up to this time it has established various
rehanding plants. but has only ar
ranged for buying the natural leaf and
shipping it to England. Now it is said
large Independent factories of the best
selling brands of tobacco. snuff. cigar
cites. cheroots and cigars will be &C
Qured BY buying the factories out
right il will be possible to secure with
them a large quantity of tobacco which
could not be bought at this time. Some
will. Of course. have to be built and this
may give color to the rumor exploited
here recently that the Imperial will es-
tablish a big cigarette factory here.
Then. too there will be the various fac
tories of the Universal which will so
over to the Imperial Altogether it
could become pretty we'll fixed and could
do an effective business.
DISCLOSE REAL PURPOSE.
TIL, negotiations in london disclose
the real purpose Of the recent visit of the
Imperial directors. the return of President
w II. Butler. of the Universal. to En-
gland. with them, and the presence in
England this time of MesSrs. AIcDonald
aud Reed. representatives Of the I'M
rcrial in this country. at the headquar-
tors in Richmond. The Imperial people
then selves have kept extremely quiet
IL
or of denial of the various rumors. 1T
ar11rears however. that the bottom is
reached this time and that the full sig
njfcance of the rretter will now be-
come apparent.
DISPATCH TO THE SUN
The Baltimore Sun of yesterday prints
as a special dispatch from New York
the following:
Following a favorable outcome of con-
fe.ences now being held in London be-
tween representatives OF the Imperial
'@cl acco Company, of Great Britain. and
William II. Butler. president of me Uni
vclsal Tobacco Company, of America.
the American Tobacco Company may
soon be confronted by a, $1,000, 900 COM
7ctitor According TO private cable dis
patches plans for the consolida ton of
the two companies to wage war against
tie American Company have reached a
rr, missing stage.
"ln any event, it is announced, the
Imperial Tobacco Company intends COM
mencing operations in this country with
in a short time. manufacturing n full
line for the tobacco trade. It's policy is
the acquisition from large Independent
factories Of the best selling brands of
tobacco snuff, cigarettes and cheroots
and cigars.
The Imperial Company has a fixed
charge of S1,6ol.coO a year. and having
SHOWN 10 l!SlI SuDSCl lbtlS al ANNUAL
earning power for five years previous to
the amalgamation of $5.6oO0t1. leaving
100000 year for dividends.
George P. Butler. who is d stockholder
IN the Universal Company, and brother
TO its president. said:
Il think my brother, if he were here
would be willing to state that while the
committee of the Imperial Tobacco Com
pany were here on their recent visit. they
were interested in the situation OF the
Universal Company. Several conferences
here were the result, and they went
abroad. 1 believe. to lay the Universal
situation before their board. What the
eventual elimination of their conference
will be do not know
Sales on the Tobacco Exchange yester-
6ay were of an exceptionally high order
over a hundred packages were offered
as follows: w Ben Palmer, ! packages;
Dickinson & Shelbune, Q packages;