The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1915-01-27
J. D. Kings Letter to Hon. J. ". Ragsda1t
Of Interest to Tobacco Growers of
South Carolina.

of Interest to Tobacco Growers Of
South Carolina.
Dear SIR
AS you no doubt are aware there ha
been Tor will be at an early date) a bill
introduced in the state legislature t.
force or compel the farmers Of South
Carolina to grade and tie up theil
tobacco before they can sell same.
Being warehouseman of the state
for the past twelve years I am fully
acquainted with the tobacco situation
both from the standpoint of the farmer
and the buyer, and knowing what I dt
along this line, ! feel it my duty, ir
justice to the tobacco growers of South
Carolina, TO request that this bill be
| held up until the masses of the tobacco
growers can be heard from, as I an
positive that the larger. proportion o.
the tobacco growers are against such
movement, especially when the true
facts are put before them.
The communication from Mr.. N. A
Mcmillan appearing in The Enterprise
of the 18th inst, is in large measure
misleading. No doubt, Mr.. Mcmillan
is honest in his assertions, but evi.
dently he has based his conclusions
from Information obtained from a small
number OF the tobacco growers and a
very few warehousemep. I feel that
MIR. Mcmillan should not push this bill
until be has heard from the majority
of the tobacco growers.
Po1our will riuo 1o,, four nf tho
misleading points in Mr.. McMillan's
communication:
First, "To amend the law regulating
warehouse charges so they will be re-
duced to the North Carolina scale" ="
This word 'reduce" used in this con-
nection leaves the impression with the
farmer that be would sell his tobacco
for less warehouse charges which is
not true. After his tobacco is graded
into several piles and sold as on tue
North Carolina basis OF charges, the
charges will be more per thorsand
pounds instead of less than lley are
today in South Carolina.
Second, In the comparison of prices
it is unfair for Mr.. Mcmillan TO quote
the prices on one particular market.
He should have quoted the average
prices for the entire states OF North
and South Carolina, and not take out
the Wilson market from the hundred
or more markets in North Carolina.
Wilson is located 10 the heart of an
exceptional tobacco territor:-a terri
tory that grows the finest cigarette
and smoking tobacco and the finest
wrappers in the world, and has long
been noted for this type OF tobacco. In
a general average the old Palmetto
States average is right up with any
tobacco producing state. The actual
loss in weight and cost in grading and
tieing is over two dollars pes hundred
pounds, which claim almost every
farmer will agree is true. All tobacco
sections have their own true value and
eastern Carolina stands first and has
for many years. The Winston-Salem
market, the leading market in the
state of North Carolina and the big
gest manufacturing point in the world
for tobacco, is now averaging less for
its tobacco than the state OF South Car
olina averaged for the past season.
And about all the re-drying plants in
South Carolina are equipped for hand
ling South Carolina tobacco in the
leaves and it would cost hundred
thousand dollars or more to make this
change, and very likely could not be
done IN time to take care of the coming
crop, which would be great drawback
to the situation. Every tobacco grower
in the state OF South Carolina is we'll
aware that when the middle OF Sep;em-
Der comes that most of the buyers leave
for the North Carolina. Virginia and
other markets. Then the bulk of their
tobacco would be left at the mercy OF
the few.
T am aware that large per cent OF
the tobacco growers would not plant
tobacco at all if they had to go 10 this
extra trouble and expense and I am
sure this proposed legislation would be
a great drawback to the farmers OF
your state. trust you will look into
this matter and oblige,
Yours truly,
J. D. KING.