Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-01
LEAF TOBACCO STOCKS
IN RICHMOND STORAGE
Larger Than Usual at This Season
OF the Year, Notwithstanding
Scarcity Of the Weed.
FREIGHT CONGESTION IS CAUSE
Storage Warehouses in Richmond
Packed or Nearly So-Hartl to Get
Cars for Domestic Shipment.
Ocean Bottoms Out Of Question.

1t is true. as frequently stated In
this and other papers, that keep tab
on the tobacco industry. one Of the
leading industries of Richmond and
Virginia. that the stocks of leaf tobac-
co now held by the manufacturers and
dealers of the country are distressingly
small for this season of the year, but
at the same time. as contradictory as 1t
may appear at first glance, the fact
is that all of the storage warehouses
of Richmond are crowded with the
weed.
This is due to the difficulties the
holders OF the stocks have been en-
countering in shipping. Up to. few
weeks ago tobacco was labelled by the
government noneSsential and there
fore in the matter of shipping other
goods. that is to say eatables and all
other essentials. had preference and
the tobacco manufacturers of the North
or the West who had bought largely of
Virginia and North Carolina leaf on
the Richmond and other markets have
had to store more largely OF their pur-
chases of the past season in the ware
houses of Richmond and South Rich
mond than usual and await chances to
ship the leaf in hogsheads to their
factories in other cities. For months
past they have had to get on their
knees and beg tor car room and for
has now been declared an essential,
and the factories which manufacture
the raw material into the chewing plug
and the smoking stuff have been put
on par with Touring mills and other
establishments that turn out what
Uncle sam regards as essentials SO far
as fuel to keep them going is con-
cerned. the shipping embargo has not
yet been raised not even between
points in this country, and it has been
next to impossible to get bottoms to
take the weed to England and other
countries beyond the seas which de-
| nend largely upon Virginia and North
| Carolina for their stocks Of leaf to-
bacco.
For these reasons, notwithstanding
the real scarcity of leaf tobacco,
throughout the country. the stocks left
in the care of the Richmond storage
Houses have increased from day to day.
until every warehouse here is we'll
crowded. All, nearly all OF the
giant tobacco companies have storage
warehouses here of their own, and IL
is impossible 20 get the figures show
ing just what stocks they have there
in. but it is known that nearly every
one of them is filled to capacity and
some of the big companies are util-
izinS space, in public warehouses. 1t is
S2fe-to say however, that not less than
10000 hogsheads of leaf tobacco arc
now on storage in the warehouses Of
Richmond and South Richmond Each
OF these hogsheads contains from 900
to l.2o0 pounds of leaf, and not n few
OF them will run n little over 1900
pounds. This makes an immense lot
or the leaf in the warehouses and the
storage and insurance expenses on the
same amount to n big pile of money
The Hutchinson Leaf Tobacco Ware
house at Fifth and Maury Streets.
south Richmond, for instance, has ca
pacity for 5000 hogsheads, and while
u is the newest warehouse in the cIty
II is packed to its capacity with the
weed belonging partly to Richmond
manufacturers, but moro largely to
manufacturers in other cities and other
states 1t Is an easy matter to shin
tobacco from the storage warehouses
when the railroads will furnish the
cars and the transportation for nearly
all OF the houses, like the Hutchinson.
rave their own railway side tracks
running under the sheds of their houses
and the loading Of car with hogs
leads of tobacco Is but the work OF but
q few moments
However, the Tobacco men are hone
full. now that the government has nut
the tobacco interest on the essential
list and they are looking forward to
reiiet from so much freight congestion
Ill very short while. When this re-
lief does come for the domestic trade
ana when the submarine scare is at
IN END and ship room can be had. there
VIII be immense shipments of leaf
tobacco from Richmond and the storage
warehouse folks will be the busiest
men. for while, OF all the business
men of busy Richmond.