The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-01-01
YEAR WITH
TOBACCO Men.
The Trade Is Hopeful Of Better
Things Soon to
Come.
ACTIVITY OF INDEPENDENTS
The General Volume Of the
Business Said to be OIL
the Upgrade.

In reviewing the past year on the to-
bacco market and giving expectations
for the coming one. it may be interest
Ing to give a brief review Of the condi-
lions existing in the different species Of
tobacco In which the trade OF our city is
interested. In bright tobacco tho very
high prices prevailing early for the 1902
crop we're FOL Flowed by some lower values
later in the season. but not sufficiently
marked to prevent the farmers from
planting a large crop in 1908. The yield
per acre for the 1907 crop was so large
that the amount went far, beyond all cal
cuations. and thus there has been ac-
cumulated quite a good stock OF thai
years growth, but" on Very deplenishcd
holdings.
While the planting for 1908 was large.
yet the seasons were not favorable, and
the result was n much thinner leaf and
considerable falling off in pounds than
there would have been otherwise
The prices at which the 1903 crop started
We're very low. especially the early sales
In the Southern section, known as the
new belt OF North Carolina and South
Carolina which produces the highest
color. These low prices attracted compe-
teton from SO many that values nave
gradually hardened, until now they arc
considerably above those at which the
crop started. but it has enabled many
4
crop, and others TO accumulate good
stocks at prices that appear very cheap.
and no doubt opened up channels or
trade that for some years have been
closed on account of higher prices. Inc
of this low level Of values
brought out strong protests IRON inc
farmers. resulting in meetings all over
the bright producing sections. with adj
dresses from leading spirlts, urging farm
ers to reduce their tobacco crop BY d.
versifying their farm products-most gen
orally urging n fifty per cent reduction.
Tho new belt of North Carolina ana
South Carolina, being the first to sell,
felt most keenly the great difference in
prices as compared with last season, and
as this section is originally a cotton one,
thu very high price of cotton Will no
doubt be All additional incentive for. re-
ducing the acreage Of tobacco, ana as
this section produces now about tortyI
mated at $50 to .75 million po,lnds) a con-
siderable reduction will enter very large
~ into the aggregate
y In what is known as the old belt bright
section Of Virginia and North Carolina
tho same missionary work has been done
by farmers conventions, but not SO large
n, percentage Of this crop has been mar
keted, and tho reduction Of acreage Is
hard now to accurately estimate. On the
whole there is&n stronger feeling OF d
anal satisfactory return prevailing than
existed some months since,
2 Suncured--In this species OF tobacco,
which, is raised III louisa and Caroline
and the counties bordering these two.
tho factories arc fairly well supplied
With the ,,neXceptionaly f1nc crop Of the
1909 growth, and which sold atyery good
prices The acreage planted IN lSVa Was
fully us large, but the poor seasons VIII
no doubt cause a shortage OF twenty-five
III t1na iG a
10 tho 1907 crop. yet there is great deal
yof good tobacco in it, This crop Is sell
ing well at good rcinunerntlNep price 10.
tho farmers. and the genera sentiment Is
that tho demand Is fully equal 70 tho sup
5plv, The loose sales on this tobacco are
far behind those OF last year. dua 20 me
unsuitable seasons for handling, but the
ales have been sufficiently large to de-
velop a strong market and good colnpeti.
tive buying on every grade, and II Is now
GENERALLY conceded that tho prices now
in vogue will hc sustained,
In the shipping types the market Is
fairly satisfactory, good tobacco bringing
good prices, and such offer inducements
10 those who can rase n good article to
continue,
The general volume of the business Of
the Richmond trade has been on the up
grade, and the presidents annual report
in September gives the following itcns,
Tho railroads bring to Richmond an,
nuallY about 100000 pounds; receipts by
inspection warehouses, season 1907 '03,
$500 pounds; deliveries by inspection
warehouses, season l00s-'0S 22S00 ponds;
stored by inspection and storage Warn-
houses, %, 900 pounds; loose aud auction
tobacco sold season 1902lo3, 1850. 900
pounds; tobacco stemmcd In Richmond am
5mally. as 100000 pounds; estimated sales
all classes III Richmond annually. 5o,n1oool
pounds.