Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-05-27
LEAF TOBACCO STORED IN
RICHMOND WAREHOUSES;
Stocks Smaller Than Usual at This
Age Of Year, Showing That
Weed Is Scarce.
SHIPMENTS PAST TWO WEEKS
Several Hundred Hogsheads Start
for England and France-Ship-
mont That Failed to Get Away.
Sale Of COnfiscated Tobaccos.

The leaf tobacco storage warehouses
OF Richmond were perhaps never be-
fore. at this age OF year. so low
down In stock. 1t is very evident that
the stocks of leaf being held in storage
by the manufacturers Of the country
are much smaller than those manufac-
turers would like to see them. and
certainly smaller than they have been
the last OF May or first of juno Tor
many years past.
In addition to this the large stocks
usually on storage in Richmond for
mers are rather small. and this in
face OF the fact that the buyers for
foreign factories have had. and arc
stu having, much trouble In getting
ship room across the waters.
However. there has been within the
past two weeks some letting up on
this embargo, and several hundred
hogsheads Of leaf have left Richmond
warehouses for New York and Balti-
more to be loaded on ships for Eng
land and France. Week before last
500 hogsheads were shipped out, and
have since started on their voyage
across the Atlantic. Last week some
thing more than 100 started out Of
Richmond on similar journey. and
500 hossheads the shippers expected to
get started were Unexpectedly held up
by orders from the shipping authori-
ties For some reason yet unknown
to the shippers the contract for ship
room for the Atlantic voyage was
abrosated for the present, and the
hogsheads alluded to are still in Rich
mond. but 1t is hoped tho holders will
be able to start them this week.
While no reason was assigned for
canceling the contract. It Is pretty
hod utAr ~
and claimed the ship room that was
being held for these Richmond stored
tobaccos.
The tobaccos held here on storage
by the Austrian government. confis-
Gated by Uncle Sam and sold at auc-
ton last week-some 1000 hogsheads
are still in the warehouses. and may
not be shipped out TO the big concerns
that bought them for some time TO
come. 1t is known that the successful
bidders for these goods were not in
immediate need OF tho stock, but
rage charges are no higher in Rich
mond than in New Jersey. even il as
high. and so the buyers OF these con-
fiscated goods would just as soor keep
them stored here as in their own
cities.
There is soon to be another big sale
OF confscated tobaccos. This time the
auction will be in Baltimore. where
the most the Of the stock is stored.
The sale has been announced to come
on In Baltimore June 10. and a number
OF Richmond tobacco dealers will at
tend 1t. The goods to be offered at
| that time were bought up. partly in
Virginia and partly in the west, for
| German factories. to be shipped after
the war" Uncle Sam has bounced
upon them in Baltimore just as he did
upon the Austrian stock in this city.
The sale. like that in this city last
week. will be conducted by Joseph A.
Bower. Of New York, and ]. NJ. Taylor,
OF this city, acting for the alien prop
ertY custodian of the United States
government. Mr.. Taylor will probably
leave for Baltimore this week to get
things in readiness for the sale and
10 exhibit samples to all prospective
buyers. The stock to be sold consists
OF about $500 hoGsheads Of leaf and
2,2oo hogsheads of stems. Much of the
leaf more than half. perhaps, is of
the dark Southside Virginia goods.
Much other German and Austrian
owned tobacco is being found in this
country. and Uncle Sam Is taking 1t
wherever found. The probability is
ut there will be many sales Of this
kind during this year.