The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-01
A HEALTHY TONE
N TOBACCO MART.
Mr.. +. M. Darlington Reviews
Past Year in Tobacco
Business.
BIG FACTORIES PRosPERED
Enormous Output in 1905 Farm
crs' Organization a New
Element.
BIG FACTORIES PRosPERED
BY IT. M. Darlington.

BY r. M. Darlington.
In giving n general review OF Rich
monds tobacco trade for 1906. and In at
tempting to cast Its horoscope for 1906,
but little opportunity for variety is az
fordcd, except 1t Is good to note the pro-
gress of last year has been fully sustain
ed, and in many instances has been en-
HANGED in the volume and profit OF tho
business for 1906. The general tenor OF
business has been unusually free from
any notable changes or disturbing ele-
rnents. and It's flow has been deep and
steady in all the several branches of the
trade.
Richmond can count as foremost in i'm
portance a dozen manufacturing plants,
several of them among the largest, and
many Of them doing business that
runs into the millions: and almost with
out exception their progress and
success grows with the years. The cor
poraton factories are doing 81 large
volume of business, and there is little
likelihood that the work they are now
doing will he supplanted elsewhere. Tho
many independent factories in most cases
are steadily. and In some instances very
rapidly increasing, and are yielding
abundant fruits OF success to the ability
that Is possessed by their several heads.
rates, railroad competition, skilled and
easily controlled labor. ample and liberal
banking facilities, Its name almost linked
with that of tobacco, all conspire to make
our city an ideal place for the manu-
facturer; and we should have a large
granulated smoking and more cigarette
factories to round off it's advantageous
position.
Point to Healthy Increase.
All conditions for the manufacturing
interests point to n healthy and in
creasing trade for 1905, as the supply
OF leaf is ample and the general con-
ditions of trade are such as to Justify
fair margins of profit. The next in i'm
portancc is the rehanding establishments,
which while not very large In number.
still are of such size and Importance as
to enter very largely into volume OF
business done In our city.
Being headquarters OF the leaf depart
ment of the large corporation factories
and Of the great English company. with
good many smaller houses. the guam
tity OF tobacco handled and the number
OF laborcrs of various sorts required. rem
der this business one of the greatest
good 10 the wage-earners of our city.
Among the leaf dealers the past yaa.,
has been n satisfactory one In the seI-
erai species of tobacco. In dark export
leaf better prices were paid than for
the year past, and the usual demand
of the buyers for the several Europe.tn
governments We're flied IN their accus-
toned manner and usual quantities: bu.
the rather small crop brought about a
good demand for everything In sight
and the stocks of old darks are nov
in very small compass. The new crop
Is selling well. but not too high to pre-
clude safe buying and no changes are
expected unless complications arise BY
reason of the farmers associations. In
stin-cured forhome. and to some extent
.or foreign. trade. there has been n good
demand. and prices are we'll up. There Is
no surplus made. but the crop is, no
doubt, sufficient for requirements
Bright, or hue-cured. tobacco has been
dealt in to considerable extent during
the past year, the small crop OF 1904
and 1905 bringing about improved condi-
tions-conditlons needing Improvement on
account OF large surplus grown in 1902
and 1903. In addition to the usual de-
lnand for this species. the orders filed
by the representatives of the purchasing
agents of the japanese government. which
government recently took over the tobac-
co business. took up the large stocks OF
this class of tobacco carried in Rich
mond. and every indication points to
continuance of this trade. which, consid-
ering the advantages of Japan in devel-
oping business in the East. may increase
very much In magnitude and Importance
me stocks of bright tobacco are not
large and for the future the position APP
pears strong. Labor conditions, and the
fact that none of the many newcomers
&c Virginia make tobacco preclude any
chance OF larger planting in what is
k tan pa as the tn "old Belt.and the Cot
Carolina have already decreased their
crop considerably. and the high prices
Of cotton It Is thought will have the ef-
1eet OF further decreasing the planting of
tobacco. This section in 1902 and 1903
made one-haif of the entire bright tobac-
co crop, hence 1t is readily seen how
important factor 1t is In considering the
position OF bright tobacco.
New Element Enters.
From the fact that Richmond has
large competitive corps of buyers her
trade Is possibly less affected by the very
perplexing question of the Farmers To-
bacco organization. Starting in the dark
see, It's methods are now being Introduced
into VirEinia. The outcome is hard to
forecast. How such schemes can be work
ca out to practical and successful con-
c!usion 1t is hard to conjecture. The chief
characteristic of a Virginia farmer is his
independence, and he is going to be hard
TO hold IN the traces of any organization.
AT the same time they are Thoroughly
aroused; more on account of the lack Of
competition. and the fact that they think
Y Is absolutely In the power of the com
pines 70 name values. than on account
OF prices now In vogue. Possibly conser-
Natism VIII prevnn and nothing radical
VIII result. AT the same time. for their
own good, It might be well for those who
nave brought about this condition of af-
ialrs TO pause and listen to the mutter-
ings that are deep and. may portend more
than now appears. IS is we'll to do the
largest business. but at the same time
where there Is dependency for the raw
material being grown by many -4ndivid-
uals 1t may not be we'll to try to do all
the business.
Whatever may happen. however, 1t is
safe to predict that the tobacco trade
OF Richmond will continue to he n great
factor In her progress to the position of
her continued growth, prosperity and hap
piness