The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1903-09-03
THE NEWS At Lake CITY.
SOME REMARKS ABOUT THE
LOCAL TOBACCO MARKET.
Prevailing Prices Low but as High as
or Higher than Other Neig-
boring Markets.

LAKE CITY, August 31.-A word
about the tobacco market. Large
quantities of the weed are coming in
every day. The sales of Thursday,
Friday and Saturday were exception
ally heavt, that of Thursday being
about one hundred thousand pounds;
and, of the other two days, not far
below. The prices, too, while being
nothing like what the stuff was
worth, were very satisfactory when
compared with the prices at other
markets.
We make this statement advisedly.
We do not wish to nl'slead any one.
We are in no wise connected with
the local market and have no in
terest in it further than the interest
We have in everything that is for the
upbuilding of our county and our
town. We have been ut pains to
ascertain whether the low prices are
general or are confined to localities,
and We have learned that the prices
are low everywhere; and we have
also learned that the average prices
at Lake City are as high as in any
market in the country. 1t is re-
ported that at another market they
take pile of a few pounds of good
tobacco and carry it from warehouse
to warehouse at that market and run
it up to a price far, far above its
market value. The public is not
| informed that the sales are bogus
and that it is nothing but an adver-
tising scheme. If this be true, it
should be condemned by all honest
men. Again, We understand that at
some rivals of this market they "pad''
out some sales of small piles of good
tobacco; that, is make these piles
bring good prices at actual loss to
the buyer. 1t is done to produce an
impression that is misleading-for
the deliberate purpose Of deceiving
the farmers. These padded sales
are quoted by the local newspaper
and the "healers," who are careful
not to say anything about the aver,
age prevailing prices. The average
prices are the only true standard by
which to Judge a market, and We
say that judged by this standard
Lake City is the equal of any mar
ket in the country, if not the su'
perior. Many, great many, say il
is the superior and there are good
many facts which seem to bear OCT
this claim. For instance, Mr. A,
certain farmer who lives at dis
tance from here and who was partial
to the market at X, came here last
Wednesday and talked to the farmers
about the prices. Said he: 81 know
what l am talking about. Take
your tobacco to X. You will get s
good deal more for it there thar
here" The next day Mr. A himself
carried load to his boasted X ant
put up for sale. He turned the
tag and brought the. same tobacco
here Friday and sold it. How ii
that for x? Another example: Nj
B carried 1900 pounds to the mar
ket at Y on Friday and received
$7l.oO, and he says it was good to
bacco, too. Saturday he came here
and attended the sales and watched
the prices closely. He afterwardl
told the writer that he was satisfied
that be would have gotten at least
SIS more for his tobacco here thar
he received at Y. Draw your con
clusions. Don't be deceived by the
misleading statements Of PARTISAN
newspapers, drummers and FOUNDERS
The stuff is low, entirely too low
but the farmers will receive as much
here as elsewhere. The trusts hsv,
control and are squeezing. Theil
buyers are given limits above which
bids must not b. made, and it il
their aim to get the tobacco at ths
| Ill l,,k 2,,S ,.