The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-18

cured, Richmond being practically the
only market for this type. The other
35 per cent Is divided. between the
dark types. principally olive stemming,
fiue cured. and hurley.
Center of Leaf Trade.
Richmond. although to a lesser ex-
tent than formerly, 10 still the CEN
ter Of a considerable leaf trade in In
spected tobacco. which Is shipped In
hogsheads and consigned to commits
sion merchants. This tobacco Is sam
pied by sworn inspectors and sold at
private sale by method similar to
that pursued at Baltimore. except that
the warehousing and inspecting ts
done by private board of trade
rather than by regular State officials
subject. of course. to certain legal
regulations in the interest Of fair
dealings. The general trade OF deal
ers and commission merchants for
the past few years has amounted to
$4,000 to 10000 hogsheads Of tobacco
yearly. including all types of flue-
port leaf. Burnley. etc.
Prior to the concentration of the
business, both domestic and foreign,
into a comparatively few hands, the
general dealers trade in tobacco was
much greater than now, and in pro-
portion to the total trade in leaf to-
bacco the change, is. of course, vastly
more striking. Richmond in the
old days was the natural center for
this class Of trade. Her leaf dealers
had buying agents scattered through
the growing districts In the upcountry
markets, as they were called, in ad-
dition to which there was an army OF
large and small dealers and specu-
lators buying on their own account.
Much of the tobacco from these
sources found its way to Richmond
storage houses. having been consigned
to commission merchants and dealers
for sale. with few exceptions, tho
manufacturers purchased their leaf
from the dealers.
MiddIemen Out Out.
Now. however, this Is greatly
changed. The larger manufacturing
concerns have their own extensive leaf
departments for the purchase and
handling OF leaf direct from farmers
without resources to middlemen. Sew
eral OF the most important reggie gov
ernments have also managed their leaf
purchases in this country SO a. to con-
centrate them in a few hands, and
the general broagake trade In the
regie types Of tobacco In comparative
ly small In the aggregate, however,
brokerage business between country
buyers and manufacturers and for
eign importers is still large. Richmond
ranks near or at the top in volume
and variety OF this class OF trade.
A number OF the resident buyers
representing some Of the most i'm
portant foreign purchasers make their
headquarters In Richmond. There
are large stemming and rehandling
plants and storage warehouses
for leaf tobacco. and the city
IL also a very important center
for the manufacturing of cigarettes,
little cigars and cheroots. and a great
variety Of popular brands of cut plug
smoking tobacco. Considerable fiat
plug and twist Is manufactured there
from the sun cured and fue cured
types Of leaf. Richmond is the largest
center for the manufacture OF cut plug
smoking tobacco, which constitutes
the city's most important tobacco
used in this class Of goods. and 1t Is
estimated that nearly rs per cent OF
the leaf tobacco manufactured In
Richmond Is hurley.
In 1909 Richmond factories used
16.125.590 pounds OF stemmed and s.
903,1S9 pounds OF unstemmed leaf, a
total Of more than 26,000,000 pounds.
and produced 215, 552.869 cigars, L.
525.13s, $50 cigarettes and little cigars.
and 24,276,667 pounds of manufac-
tured tobacco. Contemplating all
phases Of this tobacco trade. especially
IL its varied and comprehensive nature
be given proper consideration, we md
that Richmond still stands well to tho
front as a leading tobacco trade CEN
ter.
Mr.. John l.. Wingo, president Of
the Richmond Tobacco Trade, in his
annual report OF October 8, 1907,
stated that, AZ estimated from the
sources Of information at his COM
mand, the total tobacco trade Of Rich
mond through her factories, ware
houses and leaf plants amounts to
about 100000 pounds a year. The
receipts OF tobacco for the preceding
year in public bonded warehouses
were 1900 hogsheads and the de-
liveries were 10. 45S hogsheads.
The tobacco trade OF Richmond Ia
organized under charter, with rules
and bylaws for the control and best
interests Of the trade. An ofIicial In