The Washington herald., 1909-10-24

Lexington. Ky. Oct 23.-The transition
now going on in this city in the tobacco
district IS one Of the most notable in its
history. FOR several years a few long
sighted men have labored I'm the inter
est of Lexington, doing their utmost TO
make the city a tobacco market. Their
dream IS now being realized and when
the season opens in November the sales
which will be made here will show that
Lexington ranks near the top notch in
the list Of tobacco markets.
Starting four or five years ago with one
small redrying plant. the market has
grown until to-day there are seven sales
warehouses having a capacity Of 100000
pounds Of tobacco q week. six redrying
plants. with a capacity of 2500.O0O pounds
a week. beside several storage ware
houses. Many OF these Institutions have
been built during the summer just passed.
Moves BurIey Headquarters.
Within the last week the Burley To-
bacco Society. composed Of growers of
white hurley tobacco, have decided to
change its headquarters and bring the
entire plant 20 Lexington. This was the
last drop and gives the measure Of pros
perity for Lexington it's overflow Lex
ington is the center both geographically
and as regards population OF the white
hurley district I'm Kentucky. This State
ranks first in the production Of this kind
Of tobacco there being. IL is estimated,
I'm this years crop more than 1SOO00.O00
pounds. A little over half of this amount
is now pooled with the Burley Tobacco
Society. a very large percentage Of the
outstanding crop will be marketed upon
the brakes of Lexington
All through the past summer the to-
baCCO mon have been az busy as bees
building their warehouses and their re-
drying plants. installing machinery and
getting ready for the fan crop Of tobacco.
Large improvements Made.
1t is estimated that the improvements
made In the tobacco market in the past
summer win fall little short S225.00O; Il is
also estimated that more than 5000 600 Will
pass through the banks Of Lexington
this winter in handling the crops. OF
this amount probably $4,000 will stay In
Lexington with the warehouse men and
their employees.
But with all these good things Lexing-
ton wants more we have only one to-
bacco factory II is the aim Of the Bur
ley Tobacco Society 10 manufacture all
the tobacco pooled by the growers with
them. This is a matter for the future
and IS not an immediate prospect. Lex
ington offers superior advantages as a
point 20 manufacture white hurley to-
baccO products. We are also In close
touch with the dark tobacco district OF
Tennessee and Southwestern Kentucky. |
our next door neighbOTs. the Virginias. |
~.
and Lexington Is on two main line rail- |
roads making direct connection with the !
Southern ports into which come the Cuba
tobacco. All of these things considered, /
makes Lexington an ideal place fomt the
manufacture of all kinds of tobacco
products
Would Create Big Market.
This year is the first season of effort
TO make Lexington big tobacco market.
There are a number OF men OF capital
here who viii put up additional ware
houses and redrying plants. These men
were not convinced OF the fact that Lex
ington was an ideal point from which
10 market tobacco until too late this
summer 20 put up their plants. There
will not be a great increase in sales
warehouses, but there will be a large
number or Tedrylng and rehandling plants
erected next summer.
The tobacco season lasts from four to
six months during the winter. and this
year there will be employed i'm these es-
tablishments In Lexington not less than
l.5C0 hands. and this number will at GER
tain periods be increased to as many
as $500 hands. This viii cause a severe
drain upon the labor market in this
whole section, and undoubtedly before
the season is in full tilt immigrants will
have 90 be brought in TO supply the needs
OF the market
The Lexington Commercial Club is
keeping In touch with this particular
situation and will lend its assistance TO
the tobacco men 10 supply their needs in
the way of labor. free employment
bureau win be operated in the club. and
this organization is at the present time
in touch with Louisville. Virginia, and
the Carolinas with a view to locating
men and families here. 5. II. CLAY,
Secretary Commercial Club.
Swarming bees send out scouts to look
FOR desirable locations.
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