The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-04
WILLIAMS
FACTOR TO
Be NO MORE
Trust Will Not Operate
Big Plant Here.
LIKELY TO SCATTER
ITS BUSINESS
Petersburg VIII Take Care Of
the Export Trade
r. A. PATTERSON & co.
INCREASE OUTPUT
Public viii Be Surprised and Regretfu
that the Name Of 7. Q. Williams g.
Co. is Soon to Be Known
Here No More as
Firm-No New
Idea.
Petersburg VIII Take Care Of
the Export Trade
r. a. PATTERSON & co.
INCREASE OUTPUT

Within the early future. perhaps, and as
working themselves out here. the T. c.
Williams Tobacco Company, at one time
the largest independent concern in the
United States, but more recently under
the control of the trust, will be dismem-
bered and practically wiped from the list
of firm names. Entirely distinct, Of
course, from this change, yet In a sense
connected with it, will be an enlargement
OF the r. A. Patterson independent plant
to the extent that its capacity hereafter
will be twice, and possibly three times,
what 1t has been in the past.
Both propositions are of great inter-
est and Importance to the tobacco world
and to the local business community In
general. The ono will mean the dlssolu-
ton Of a concern which for many years
past has been identified with this city,
the great interests Of which, moreover,
have made It's presence therein a source
of much benefit to Richmon the other
will mark the extension Of & plant al
ready here into q mandatory of the
very first rank, handling eight to ten mil
lion pounds In a twelvemonth. In refer
ence to the first matter, nc positive state
ments can be made, since there is obtalna-
BILE no definite knowledge OF the Intentions
of the new owners OF the big plan;; IN
reference to the latter, however, the pub
lication is made and authorized by tho
management, who have all the plans
complete and ready to be put into exc
cuuon.
The Williams. Matter.
When the T. c. Williams Tobacco Com
pany passed into the hands Of the Brit
ish- American Tobacco Company, some
time ago, 1t was generally understood
that the buildings were included In the
transaction. 1t is gathered. however, that
this Is a mistake; that the trust evi-
IDENTIFY had from the very first no idea
Of continuing the business Of the con-
cern. as 1t had been conducted in the
past, and that, in fact, the days OF the
T. C. Company, as u distinct branch, are
numbered.
The company, which, before 1t was sold.
was the largest independent concern In
the United States, occupied three large
buildings-two factories and leaf house.
It's business was In part domestic but
its greater part was the export trade
chiefly with Australia and the Austria
lasion territory. But the tariff on manu-
factured tobacco coming into Australia
from the outside is so great; and the
favors shown to the manufacturers who
arc within Australian boundaries are 30
advantageous that 1t became almost an
impossible task for manufactory In this
country to compete with mandatory
already in Australia. It became necessary
to get factories In the faraway countries.
There are several OF them there, and ono
or two belong to local concerns-notably
the Camerons. But the II. c. Williame
Company. which depended In great
measure on Australia. had no plant there.
and had no desire to erect one. yet at
the same time could not well do without
II:
This is said to be one reason why It
was willing to SELL At all events 1t sold,
and the Brtish-American-the export con-
cern controlled by the American Tobacco
Company of the United StateS and the
Imperial Tobacco Company of Great
Britain-bought 1t TOR about two millions.
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