The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-23
KEEPING !.
CROP BACK X |.
Farmers Are Disguised !. With y tn.
the Prices. I'd
SEASONS WILL BE LATE II !;
Markets Opened for Business. but No
Business Jane, Very Little OF L. Il
An interesting DeveIopmentthat
Is Causing Remark.

Reports received here indicate vide
spread movement on the part OF farmers
II Virginia and North Carolina to hold
back their now tobacco In the hope Of
securing better prices at a later date
Seasons will be thrown back late Into,
the year, and there may be some appre-5
cInble effect on the size OF tho Incoming
crop. X IN
Tho movement Is an interesting develop
ment OF the present tobacco situation,
ana Is q subject for remark III the local
tobacco world. seaers are trying to
figure on It, and see what results It will
force, II any, and to accommodate their{
actions in nnticipa ton thereof, The sole
immediate effect Visible thus farls the
Immense reduction in the quantity OF to-
bncco handled IN some OF the markets,
particularly OF North Carolina.
@ # II GLIDING IT BACK.
"A year ago tobacco was selling well,
or much better than now. and the mark
etc opened In fine style with large sales
and much Interest in the daily transact!
lions. The market, however, was even,
then on the retrograde movement, and
In the course OF the tobacco year that.
followed prices fell away rapidly Leaf
"a ulation on the existing high9priccs4 were
caught and are still caught, for that
matter. Many farmers met the same
luck. The tempting, but unstable price,
attracted them, and they sowed every
thing they had and more besides In to-
bacco seed. }s
Now the new tobacco senson, when
this new crop was to be marketed to
the great enrichment OF the expcctant
planters, opens and prices are down TO
Il degree corresponding with that at
8 which they were soaring before. The
farmer Is diagusted; and farmers alli-t
4 ances" andtothcr nicely sounding things,
which won't amount to much. are being
Z formed. that the planters may agree.
among themselves TO cut down the size
& sO1 tho crop next year and force prices
5urs again. Mca n while however, there Is
the present crop to dispose OF. and the
problem Is not year OF, but INN edi-l
iately at hand ", & q.
The plan the farmers have adopted to
meet the conditions Is las suggested above.
The markets opened this year and got
ready to do business languidly with
list OF low prices. But the markets were
mistaken. They did no business at all.
No tobacco came In from the country
4 at all. The farmers had It all right. but
they had suddenly conceived the idea OF
keeping hold OF II for awhile, South
1
bacco is being sold now. North Carolina
markets are doing but little, and the
Virginia marketxsare ;spracti cnilys mac:
tive. Some 4; small SiquantiesS OF dark
#primngs havo come Into Richmond and
have sold for about half what they
3 brought last year. But the market has
not opened really, and the season, ex-
cept on sun-cured, which will probably
sell we'll and come in earlier than ever.
10 m ha LAT
kets In North Carolina that sold A.
million pounds OF bright tobacco August
y OF last year handled about 10000 pounds
this year FIX 81
Local tobacco dealers express the hope
that teh farmers, or as many OF them az
i can do so. will not send the crop TO mar
ket at all. but keep It until next year.
Many OF these dealers concede that the
mere fact OF holding back for month
or so will do no good. They will eventual
~ be forced to come over and TO swallow
the evil prices as best they can. II they
could hold of until next year, however, !.
which Is said to be practicable, II the
tobacco EMBROIDERED, the size OF the pres
ent crop would be very materially re-
duced there would DO sharper COMPETE
tlon for what there IL OF It. and prices
would begin to rise again. But this Spla !,
Il an ideal one that will probably never
be realized. Tho great majority OF the
farmers are altogether dependent upon:
the crop for living, and must sell IT.
or starve.
AVERY IMPORTANT QUESTION.
The question Of, crops has In fact as
sumed position OF paramount impor.
lance among the tobacco men here, The
American Tobacco Company, local deal-t
srs say, has about reduced the zenith
Of its career, and now practically control
the market. moving the price up or down
as It may see lit At this time prices are
down. the present large-slzed crop will
not help to raise them, and leaf dealers
and farmers alike are suffering much.
The one ray OF light that the Richmond
spectators see in tho distant future Is
their hope and belief OF what the farmers
will do next year. II they plant another
big crop the effects will be very dlsas.
trous. II they take the opposite course,
daylight will begin to shine again, And,
this is what It Is believed here will hap
pen. Disguised farmers in North and
South Carolina will abandon tobacco Mid
go back to cotton, and in Virginia vege-
tables and other stun will spring up
where the fragrant weed has been won't
Il grow Wa 3t5 'lt ;ttlA fNa