The Point Pleasant register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, W. Va.) 1909-1939, 1910-05-25
TOBACCO
INDUSTRY IN tbs STATE SHOWS RE.
kARKABLE GROWTH.


who do not fully realize the import
ance to the commercial future Of this
city and county of the locating here
of the tobacco sales warehouse, the
Herald Dispatch has gathered a few
statistics showing the progress of the
tobacco growing INDUSTRY in this
state, and other information which
may be ofinterest in view of the prob
able impetus that will be given to
tobacco growing in the territory ad-
jacent to Huntington.
Previous to 1909 very little of the
weed was produced in this state. In
that year, the American Tobacco
company purchased practically the
entire crop of the state, which
amounted to ,o9s,o pounds, the
average price paid being about 6 cents
per pound. This crop was grown
principally in the counties of Putnam,
Lincoln and Cabell, although scatter
ed lots were bought on the Elk river,
in Kanawha county, small amount
in Mason and some in Logan and
Boone counties. The establishment
of warehouses at different points con-
venient for the farmers delivery has
resulted in an immense increase in
production. The 1909 crop in this
state figured approximately o,ooo.-
900 pounds for which the farmers
directly received about 50, 500, 900.
This immense amount of money was
paid out by the purchasers between
December Is, 1909, and March /,
1910, and went directly into the
pockets of the farmers. 1t is esti-
mated now that should the farmers
be successful in producing sufficient
plants to set out the contemplated
acreage this year, the product of the
state will not fall short of so, ooo, 900
pounds for 1910, and will probably
90 to fifty million in 1911.
If the present level of prices is
maintained it will mean the distribu-
ton among the farmers of this state
about seven millions of dollars, the
major portion of which will come to
Cabell and adjacent counties.
The tobacco produced in this state
is known as white hurley, the same
as grown in Kentucky and Tennes-
see. The tobacco grown in the last
named states, however, is somewhat
higher in quality than the West Vir-
ginia produce on account of the fact
that the limestone soil produces a
thinner and broghter leaf. About
eighty per cent of the tobacco pro-
duced in this state goes into the
manufacture of plug tobacco, the re-
mainder being used for twist wrap
pers, alltobacco cigarettes and granu-
lated smoking tobacco. No other
country can compete with this in the
production of tobacco to be used for
the purposes mentioned.
1t is estimated by the promoters
of the sales warehouse in this city,
that they will be able to purchase at
least three million pounds of the 1910
crop, drawn from the territory be-
tween GaIlipolis and Portsmouth, on
both sides of the river, and this pur-
chase will be sold at auction to the
highest bidder. 1t is probable that
sales will be held at the warehouse
once or twice every week during the
season and manufacturers will be en-.
abled to purchasc any particular grade
they need.
In addition to the impetus given
the tobacco growing industry in this
section of the state, by the location
here of the sales warehouse, it is
thought that it will prove strong
factor in influencing the construction
of good roads in CabeIl county. When
it is considered that nearly all the
tobacco is delivered during the win
ter months. when the roads of this
county ,re rr,ctic,II,. ;r,,,,s..,I,l, s.,