The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1902-04-22
A GREAT TOBACCO
MART LOOMS UP
Imperial Tobacco Co. Makes
Raleigh Headquarters,
TO FIGHT The AMERICAN
Franchise Tax, Amounting to $1,000
Was Paid on Yesterday.
A BIG FACTORY MAY BE LOCATED HERE
This Move Will Necessarily Result in the To-
bacco Producers Receiving fair Equiy-
alent For Their Product as it Will
Break the MONOPOLY.
Break the Monopoly.

1T never rains but it pours' Follow
ing closely upon the heels of the forma-
tion OF the Raleigh Leaf Tobacco Com
pany comes the news that the great
English competitor of the American To-
bacco Company has decided to make Raj
eigh it's headquarters for the State of
North Carolina
The Imperial Tobacco Company of
Great Britain and ireland, Limited, one
of the strongest corporations in the
world, has taken out its State license to
do business in North Carolina It will
be a competitor of all buyers of tobacco
in this State. The American Tobacco
Company has heretofore virtually fixed
its own prices for tobacco having prae-
tlcall a monopoly of this business and
there has been much complaint among
the producers of tobacco of the low prices
which have prevailed. The entry of this
powerful corporation into the tobacco
markets of our State will necessarily re
suit in the tobacco producers receiving
fair equivalent for their producet
The company is required by the law to
establish principal office in the State
This it has done by selecting Raleigh
and it has filed With the Corporation
Commission a power of attorney to Col
John ". Hinsdale, upon whom all service
of process can be made.
There IS no reason now why Raleigh
should not become tobacco market equal
to any in this State. The lands that are
tributary to Raleigh are re-eminentIy
adapted to the growth of the finest to-
bacco, and with proper effort there ought
sold Of Pal
eigh tie coming season as much as 5000
600 pounds Of tobacco, at prices satisfac-
tory to the farmers. This Will mean in
the near future a tremendous develop
ment in the tobacco interests of this
State and wonderful prosperity among
the tobacco raiserS.
The franchise tax for the State and
county which the company paid on yes
terday was 81 900, five hundred dollars to
the State and five hundred to the county
The general office of the company in the
the United States is now in Richmond
The Imperial Tobacco Company was or
ganized in London, England, several
months ago and some of the most promi-
nent and wealthy men of England are
stockholders. The capital stock is 500
600 900. The main purpose of the
company, at its Organization, was to ere
ate an opposition to the American To-
baccO Company, which at that time had
just opened an agency in Great Britain
The company since its organization has
been in most prosperous condition, and
now owns some of the largest tobacco
manufactures in the world. situated in
England. AS the American Tobacco Com
paAy was seen to have no formidable
rival in this country, it was decided that
Offices should be established in the Uni
tde States. This accordingly done.
A State office will probably be estab-
lished in every tobacco growing State in
the Union and buyers will be placed on
all local tobacco markets, not only in
this. but in all of the Southern States.
AS yet the company has built no to-
bacco factories in the United States, but
considering the fact that it has been on
this side OF the ocean for only few
months, great headWay has been made
1t is very probable that tobacco manu-
facturies will be built by the company
at several points in the United States
| and it is not altogether improbable that
Raleigh may secure one Of these fac
tories. A general office will certainly
be located here in a short time from
which the State work will ne superln-
tended.