Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-10
CARR|NCT0N
plAIMS TOBACCO SURPLUS
Takes Issue With Commissioner
Koincr on Condition of
Years Crop.
AVS THE MARKET is NORMAL
Dealers Contend Last Years Prices
gWcre Abnormally High and Can
mot Be Expected for This Years


t&SWhile he admits that the yield o!
Bright tobacco in some sections OF
ISSirginin may fall below that of last
I$car, President r. NJ. Darlington. OF
IAhe Tobacco Association of the United
Estates, yesterday disputed the claim
{EysfSommissioner OF Agriculture G. w.
{HSoiner that the general crop is short.
8andecd, Mr.. Darlington declares. that
$his years crop not only will exceed
s. hat Of last year. but that holdings OF
tSaAt years tobacco are greater than
4he claim of the Commissioner of Ag-
Ficulture.
n TOBACCO manufacturers. dealers.
Bankers and others Interested in the
hnndlinE and marketing of the weed
Gre practically unanimous in the
%lnim that farmers could not expect
She price for this years crop 10 equal
{ss@hat they term abnormally high
Ipriccs paid last year
High level OF prices paid last year
Us being charged to n panic among
manufacturers and dealers who sud-
stenly felt that they would be unable
20 secure sufficient stock 10 meet
fheir demands and went into the
Snarket bidding recklessly against
[6laimed to have been much larger
and better crop than was expected.
Against this also is the claim that
foreiEn markets have failed to take
ms much as Il was believed they
would demand and n falling off OF
3sonsumption in this country.
According 10 President Darlington
and others last years prices were alb
formally high and the lower prices
#pmered this year are nearly ikrmal.
1T also is claimed that larger yields
per aero and n better grade of ;ohac-
no produced this year will about even
Pup to the individual producer what
hei loses in price per pound on the
leverage market.
Predicts big Yield.
Mr. Carrin gton estimates a yield of
F'po. 100000 pounds this year, against
r yield OF i5Q.00o.0O0 pounds last
Fear. Reports from North Carolina in
dicate that tho yield will be not only
largo. but that the grade OF tobacco
Is much better than last year.
Statements attributed 10 the Nir-
sinia Department OF Agriculture tina;
the Virginia crop Is of so per cen,
by reason Of continued wet weather
Through August, is questioned by
some dealers and others who claim
20 be in close touch with the situa-
zion.
officials OF the Agricultural Depart
nent admit that during the wet
Weather growers cut their tobacco and
oy storing il in barns were able 10
save much that would have been
ruined by wildfre
The market IN Virginia does no;
,pen until Seikcmber 20. and (; is i'm.
Possible 10 get any accurate state
nent Of just what effect the weather
,as had on It, The amount and The
hSlity of the yield.
Information from points In North
carolina where the markets opened
Ehree days ago are to the effect tina;
(yhile the opening price was disap-
pofnting. the growers have little rca
Son for the alarm that has been re-
Ported. The first tobacco TO reach
he market Is inferior leaves taken
from the bottom OF the stalk, dealers
Fay, and they declare that at Rocky
Mount and Wilson the opening sales
this week showed an average OF
hbout IA cents under the opening
for the same grades last year, but
hat better prices VIII be offered for
eetter grades as they aye. brough,
TO market.
~. +. Bruton. president OF tho FRS;
National Bank OF Wilson. y. C.. who
happened 10 be in Richmond vester-
Hay attending meeting of the board
BIZ directors Of the Federal Reserve
L. tAt,
Bummed up the conditions in the fol-
owing optimistic vein: THE s!tua-
lion is not as serious as 1t appears
10 some people. believe the !ndI-
:ated readjustment OF the tobacco
market Will work we'll for ali inter-
,sts. There has been dangerous in.
lation in tobacco as well as other
o1arket commodities. Last years
prices were too high. It is well that
The readjus;ment comes now. and |
believe the producer, the banker. the
merchant and others are better pre-
barred to meet the situation now than
they may be al any time In the
Enture.
49, Production Increased.
tI1ast years high prices induced the
ldltCt ~ So " tcO 4ll AIH ana 10
spend too much money in his op-
4Iation. We have grown just lit
tie bit extravagant. We have had
ps pay too much for labor. Norma.
market prices viii force readjust-
nent of labor wages or the farmer
will do more OF his own work. cut
ing his production TO meet his a3i!-
lfy to handle II economicaIly.
s.It is my opinion that Il 35 or A
cent market price this year viii pro
HUGE aB much money as last year!
5rdce5, for the reason that the qual.iy
1fstobacco is much better.
|TgI agree with Commissioner X oine
hat the farmers, the bankers an,
btiler Interests should proceed viii
Bare In the marketing of the crou
do not believe IL should b." held
bit that il should bc sold gradually
t4oannot be expected that last year
fbnormal prices can be forced 10
HIS years crop. and the farmer shoul,
3D. satisfied with a reasonable pr.C
aid, taking lesson from his "Xpcr
REce. adjust his operations TO nice
<undftions OF the REIMBURSEMENT porIo
HAT IS coming in all lines Of produc
S3Unsfn this country"
S9fresidcDt Darlington, OF ;he tobacc
iasociation. recalled that at mass
heating OF tobacco growers. ware
ionspmen and dealers held at Wll
fpn,5 n. c.. last April IS, he warne