Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-21
SALES OF LEAF TOBACCO
STOPPED BY INFLUENZA
of Other Virginia Markets Closed
by Health Authorities.
CAROLINA MAlsrs FOLLOW SUIT
Suspension of Business for Two or
Three Weeks Will In No Way
Afect Value Of Weed in Farmers
Hands.

Tho leaf tobacco trade OF Richmond
ana and az of Of, Iirsiniai SO far rs the sell
cerncd. has been brought TO stand
still by tho visitation of the Spanish
Influenza, From time imncmorial the
farmers leaf tobacco has beeu disposed
or TO the leaf dealers and the manu-
facturers through auction sales. From
time to time IN the history of Virginia
feeble efforts have been made to change
the manner of transacting this business
and adopt some other method of selling
has como in fashion To supplant the
old ia shioncd auction sale. improve
mcntS in the way OF conducting the
auction sales have from time TO time
como TO the front and been adopted
but none of the efforts to still the voice
of ihe tobacco nuctionee,s have sue
succeed permanently.
81, The influenza has put a stop to his
eiioIuence tor a period. aud the auc-
Richmond warehouses and at those in
all the Virginia and North Carolina
markets arc the last 10 be recorded for
the auction sales in ali of the Virginia
markets suspended during the prcva--
Eastern North Carolina called off sales
without being ordered so to do by the
a a., j. being deemed wise not
when the sales in Richmond and Other
Virginia markets will be resumed Will
course of the influenza The health
authorities and the tobacco men them
selves are of the opinion that business
vemoer. that is TO say the Richmond
warehouses will have their auctioneers
on the job again on November or D.
dealers and manufacturers have buyers
OH the other Virginia markets as well
AS on the Richmond market. They have
enforced holiday. Already the receipts
of the leaf tobacco of the 1915 crop
have been large on all of the markets
In which they arc buyers and they.
like the local and other buyers on those
markets. have bought large stocks
which arc being handled in their fac
With the present high prices the weed
is bringing IL takes a great deal more
money TO hold big stock Of the leaf
now than il did Two or three years
ago. moro than in any year in the his
tory of the trade. Tobacco dealers in
Virginia never have, amy trouble in
matter how large il may be, for the
bankers and all other branches OF bust
ness know the Importance of that crop
fail TO find the money necessary TO
keep it moving
However. just now, when Liberty
the like OF that, arc calling for such
large sums of money the bankers and
the tobacco dealers are not al all dis
turbcd over the fact that the loose leaf
tobacco. trade will 10: CO.! COR big
money for two or three weeks TO come.
II gives them breathing spell. SO -
speak and while they deplorc tho fact
that ii is Il distressing epidemic that
has brought it about. they will enjoy
the spell rather than otherwise.
They say that the growers of the
weed who are kept by this unusual
visitation from converting their lear
into money as rapidly AS tney had
counted upon need feel no uneasIness
at all The weed is not going to de-
cline in value. There is urgent demand
for every pound of tobacco that has
been grown this year. and when the
epidemic passes by aud tho Virginia
and North Carolina warehouses arc re-
opened the buyers will so right on
raging the fancy prices for leaf to-
bacco they have been paying cver.since
the selling season opened. The ccssa-
ton OF sales for two weeks. or oven
longer, will moi affect the value of the
weed now in the hands Of the farmers
On the contrary. the buyers. with their
factories and priZcrics cleaned up and
the stock already bought priced down
in the hoEsheads, arc likely TO be all
the more eager for good leaf tobacco
and the markets will proba bly, be more
active than ever.