The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1908-07-10
Tobacco in Demand.

| TOBACCO lii DclAUAus
The Baltimore SUM- of Wednesday
said -
There is an active demand in the local
market for Maryland leaf tobacco, and
prices are said to be sustained at level
| which is the highest in five or six years
| 1t is a poor sample which will not bring
6 cents a pound. From this the price
is as high as IA cents, while some top
grades of upper country leaf have
brought~even higher figures.
The competition among buyers is
keen and constant. Scarcely is sam
pie drawn from the hogsheads at the
warehouses before score or more bu-
vers surround the commission merchant
having it for sale. This enables the
farmers to get quick and renumerative
returns.
1t is estimated that the Maryland crop
this year will be about 25, 900 hogsheads
compared to 81 900 hogsheads last sea-
son. So far only about one-third OF
the crop, of 5000 hogsheads, has been
received here. This, however, was sold
SO promptly and at such good prices
that buyers and the commission men
alike look for freer shipments as soon
as the wheat and hay harvests are at an
end.
Tobacco when properly handled is
said 10 be at it's best in July. 1t has
then had ample opportunity to go
through the various ''sweats' to which
it is subjected and practically all the
evaporation from exposure has ceased
From now on, with suitable weather for
packing, the crop ought to be released
more freely. AS is known, this crop
can only be handled satisfactorily
in damp, rainy weather. This causes
the nicotine in the leaf to soften, so it
can be handled without breaking.
Local dealers look for continued high
prices during the marketing of this
crop, and the farmers are not urged to
push stock on the market, but are rath-
er cautioned to handle it carefully so as
10 secure the best results in the sale.
The chief com petitors for the stock
are French, Holland and the American
Tobacco Company, of this country
This last named corporation commenced
buying Maryland stock in large quaint
ties several years ago. 1t was found to
meet its purposes, and it has been stead
ly in the market since. Most of these
purchases are made through one loca,
house. 1t has buyers steadily on the
lookout When a quality or grade put
up suits it it completes with the foreign
buyers This firm makes no display OF
its transactions, not even admitting
that it represents the Tobacco Trust.
However, as its purchases do not go out
| of tie country the other buyers and the
commission men draw their own con-
illusions.
Mr.. F. Leup, representing the French
| Government, is still in the city. For
he upper grades of tobacco the French
| Government has contract with A.
Schumacher g. Co. This does not ex-
pire until. next April. Whether this
will be renewed or not is problemati-
| cal. Many think that it will not, as the
independent buying has proved salts
factory.
Most of Mr.. Leup's buying has been
| through Messrs Claas Woke s. Co.
| The operations through this firm do
| not interfere in the least with the full
flment of the French contract by A.
| Schumacher & Co., as different grade
! is bought. The commission men frank
| Iy admit that Nr. Woke has done much
to open mp in France market for what
are known in the trade as seconds, .
quality which that Government has
almost wholly ignored in the past.
Mr.. Woke kept sending samples of
this grade to his foreign correspond
ents for submission to the buyers in
France. He pointed out the difference
in price between this and what is
known as "cIop," and insisted that it
was in every way as good and service
| able for most uses to which Maryland
tobacco is put. His persistence finally
overcame the French prejudice. They
used few hogsheads, then increased
the buying order until now that coun'
try is in close competition with other
buyers of this grade.
In view of the hi h prices for tobacco
the Maryland farmer has no reason &c
complain of panics. In another column
| is noted that corn has sold in Baltimore
market at 81 cents bushel, practically
the ighest price it has brought III Bal
| timore since 1874 Conditions are suCi
that local merchants look for contin
ned high prices for this cereal, though
it will not maintain the limit mention
ed.
1t is also noted that new Southern
wheat which in going forward in goo'
quantity, sells for from nc to 60 cent
a bushel.
Its an Ill wind that blows nobod,
| good" The farmer seems to be gettin:
the full benefit at this time, while tn
banker, the merch Mt and manufacture
| are complaining.