The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-03-02

~ IN 40 - ~
OF the output of the COmbinatiO and
independent concerns in this table and
the corresponding figures in the table
on page % is due TO the fact that in
the present table, OF necessity, the out
put of each plant for the entire year
is counted either with the Combination
figures or with the Independent figures,
while in the other table the output Of
certain plants which changed hands
during the ear is divided between the
Combination and the independent con-
Germs.
In Interpreting this table is should
be noted that q very large proportion
of the exceedingly numerous plants
making less than $4,000 pounds each
are no primarily engaged in the man
ufacture of n Of the classes Of to-
bacco now under consideration. They
are cigar factories which Incidentally
produce a small amount OF smoking
tobacco.
In 1897 the Combination had 10
plants producing each more than 3d.
600 pounds of chewing anu smoking
ohacco and snuff. while there were
243 independent plants OF that size
having an aggregate output nearly four
times as great as that of the COmbl-
nation. BY 1900, primarily by reason
of the buying up of independent con-
Germs. the Combination had increased
it's plants of this size to 80. while the
number of independent plants had
fallen to 191. The change. however.
is much more conspicuous With re-
spect to the largest plants than with
respect % the others. In 1897 he
Combination had ) plants producing
W. 5000, 600 pounds each, and in
dependent concern had {. BY 1900 all
but one of the independent concerns
Of this size had been bought up by
the Combination, which now operated
10 plants producing more liza 5000
900 pounds each. In 1897 the COmbl-
nation had > plants producing etWeen
10000 and 100000 pounds, and
the Independent concerns 80. OF these
SO, 16 had gone over to the Comb
nation before the end Of 1900, and in
that year only 30 Independent plants
of this size were in operation, while
the Combination had increased its
number TO Is.
The same process Of absorption OF
independent concerns has continued
down to 1906. In that year the Com
nation had As plants making more
than $4,000 pounds each, as p
with 50 in 1900. The independent
plants of hat size a been reduced
from 191 to 40. AS before. the
changes were most conspicuous IN the
ownership of the larger plants. The
independent concern which IN 1900
had produced more han 100000
pounds had been transferred to the
Combination although two other inGe-
pendent concerns had risen to this
rank. OF the so inaeDendent facto-
ries making between / 100000 ana o.
900. Q pounds in 1900. a large num-
Der had been taken over by the Com
bination. 50 that only Is remained IN
independent operation in 1906. ny
reason Of these transfers and of the
increase in the output of certain plants
after acquisition the Combination had.
1906. 21 factories making more than
5000, 900 pounds each and IL making
hetwee 1,OOO,O 900 and 100000 pound
each.
The average output per factory OF
the AS factories Of the Continuation
making more than $4,000 pounds was.
in 1906, nearly 100000 pounds.
while the average output Of independ-
ent factories making more than so 600
pounds each was only $4,000 pounds.
tt should be clearly understood. how
ever, that this great disparity in size
is not due to lack of enterprise or cap
ital on the part of the independent
concerns. but is essentially due to the