Rural Retreat times. [volume] (Rural Retreat, Va.) 1892-1918, 1903-06-05
|DEVELOPM EN1
OF NEGRO RACE
The lndnstrGal Development Of the Race
Seems to be
ONE OF The PROBLEMS OF THE HOUR
Colored Folks Will Soon Have
Tobacco Factory in Rich
mond That Will Only EN-
ploy Negro Labor
Hae Long Been a
Pet Scheme of
Booker Wash
ington's.
ONE OF The PROBLEMS OF THE HOUR

Richmond, June Ain line with the
policy enunciated by Booker Washing
ton at the negro convention held here
a. few months ago, large factory for
The manufacture OF all kinds OF to-
Dacco is to be started here in the near
future.
The industrial development of the
negro race seems to be one of the prob
lens of the hour, and the present effort
| is the first gun in Booker Washing
toms campaign in this territory.
1t is proposed that the factory shall
be called the Negroes Friend" and
that it shall be operated in all it's
branches by the most expert colored
labor that CAN be procured. Smoking
and chewing tobaccos, snuffs, cigars,
cheroots and cigarettes are to be made
in this establishment, and from the
purchase of the tobacco on the breaks
to the placing of the finished article
in the stores, the work will all be done
by the colored race.
A delegation of colored men has been
prospecting the city during the last few
days for a factory or site that will
be available, and at the same time
desirable.
An offer has been made to Rich
mond manufacturer large employer
of colored labor-for the purchase out
right of his plant as it stands today
with all the machinery, stock and fix-
lures. No decision has yet been
reached in regard to the sale of this
establishment, and the manufacturer is
out of the city at present.
1t is proposed that the negro buyers
shall go On the breaks in Shockoe Slip.
Years ago an attempt on the part of the
negro representatives to compete on
the market with the white dealers was
met with decided snub, and the buy
ers of the concern that had it's head
quarters in Locust alley, were not only
refused recognition, but were simply
not allowed to buy. Now the case is
different, and President Darlington, OF
the tobacco trade, when asked by a
correspondent whether the representa-
tive of the new concern would be allow
ed to buy on the breaks of this city,
said he certainly saw no reason why
they should not enjoy that privilege
1--WE will sell anything we have to
anyone" he said, "and the negro can
get anything on the tobacco market
| that he has money enough to pay for. :
The brands of tobacco that it is pro-
posed to launch upon the market are to
| be named as to make direct appeal to
| the colored population. The word
\ negro will run through many of the
varieties, and Negroes Friend" is to
| be the trade mark of the institution
and of it's product 1t is reliably stated
| that there is any amount of capital
| Jack of the concern, and no money will
| be spared to advertise the product and
induce the colored people to patronize
| the efforts of their own race.
# the plan is successful, and no effort
is to be spared to make 1t so, the
| scheme will be still further extended
| INTO other branches of commerce.
In Virginia, it is said, the idea Of
starting tobacco factory is very pop
ular, as so many negroes are employed
in it all their lives. 1t is a business
! with which they are thoroughly con
versant from start to finish, and it is
we'll known fact that the operatives
of nearly all the factories are negroes
and that the colored men and womeI
40 almost everything in connection
with the manufacture of the weed cleal
up to the finishing process, where tn,
rhite man steps in.
| While it is not definitely settled tina
the factory will be located here, an eff
fort is being made to find a suitabl,
location, and if the hope and expecta
ton is realized, such factory may b.
in full swing here within few weeks
The calibre of man can some time
be todd by the number of high balls h