The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-01-22
Kentucky Tobacco Prices Dcmoraliz-
oil

Associated Press) Although the
movement of 1921 for the forcing
OF tobacco prices to higher level IN
cehtrai Kentucky probably is moro
general than ever before, according
TO tobacco men, trouble over tobacco
prices Is nothing new. Efforts 10
cut out the crop because Of low
prices, nave taken place periodically
Tor the last thirteen years, resulting
In 1905 in what amounted to virtual
~ war between growers who did
not plant and those who did.
In 1908 tobacco beds were burned.
farmers shipped and some instances
Killed and general reign OF terror
was inauguratsd. State troops were
unable TO cope with the situation and
Vhe trouble died down only when
Gov Augustus r.. Wilson issued Il
proclamation saying that the killing
oil might rider" would be followed
10y an immediate pardon for the slay-
er. 1here were no sales OF tobacco
that year in any of the principal
markets Of the tobacco belt either in
the cigarette tobacco section or cen
tral Kentucky on the black belt" Oh,
dark hurley region OF western Ken
lucky.
during the two years prior to the
nlSnt rider trouble prices for tobac-
co had been at low level In 1906
4,542,94I, pounds were sold on the
Lexington breaks at an average OF
SI.49 per 100 pounds while 1881
sos pounds were sold in 1907 for an
average of S10.93.
Prices rose TO new high level of
WILL II hundred for 42.O41.S77
pounds in 1909 but slumped again
In 1910. This caused the calling of
convention in Lexington which was
attended. according TO local histor-
ians, by growers from Kentucky,
ONO and Indiana and at which il
was unanimously voted to "cut out"
the crop ni9ll. There is no indi-
cation. however. that the agree
ment was generally followed out,
for records Of the Lexington Tobac-
co Warehousemen's association show
that In the latter year 4S,49S,695
pounds OF tobacco were marketed
mere at an average price Of $1O.S3 per
i0O pounds as compared with ah av-
erage Of T.66 per hundred for A.
Vfi,ot pounds In 1910.
The price OF sobacco reached an
average Of $12.9A per hundred for
4S,177,225 pounds on the local mar
kct In 1912 and $l2.05 per hundred
for 40.176.075 in 1913 but dropped
again TO SS.27 In 1914 when So
flS,2lb pounds, record for this
market up to that time, were sold over
the breaks here. The next year only
S5,3sS,o5O pounds We're offered at
auction here and brought an aver
age OF Sl0.53 per hundred.
With 1915 the upward trend OF to-
Dacco prices started. In 1916 A.
2l6,235 pounds were sold here for
an average OF $1S.37 hundred and
IN l9l7, the average price paid for
tl'zi9,SlO pouncs jumped $40 per
hundred to s2S.GC. Another $40 in
crease occurred in 1918 when the
local warehouscnlen auctioned 55,-
sz6,S6O pounds xor an average OF
s3s.39 per hundred.
The largest amount OF tobacco that
ever went over the doors OF the Lex
4nBtop warehouses was marketed in
lSl9 Yor the highest price on record,
63,6iJ,S65 pounds being sold for an
average of Si6.17 per 100 pounds.
Indications OF a drop in price were
foreseen W tobacco men early in
1870 and last July a meeting OF
growers was held in Lexington to vote
on the proposition to abandon the
l921 crop. IT was stated that labor
costs were so high that in order TO
make the crop pay ii would be neces-
sary To do something to keep prcies
at level with those OF 1919. It was
decided at the July meeting, however,
that "cut OUT would not be neces-
sary and the Burley Tobacco Grow
erS association was formed in an en-
deavor to work out the problems Of
the growers through cooperative
methods John w. Newman of Yer
sailles was elected head OF the organ
ization.
When the government estimate OF
the tobacco crop OF Kentucky was
made public December |, growers de-
clared that il was too high, az the leaf
would not weigh more than two-thirds
or the usual amount. This caused
postponement of the opening Of the
markets throughout the white Bur-
ley, or cigarette tobacco belt, while
the growers association and state and
federal agricultural department off
cials took "a census Of the white bur
Icy c;op. This report was given out
December 80 and showed a produc-
tion Of 236,500.O00 pounds OF the
cigarette leaf. Officials OF the college
of agriculture, University Of Ken
tucky and field agents of the Unit
cd States department; of agriculture,
who had been making a study of the
cost of producing and marketing Ken
tucky tobacco. gave out an estimate
Of $309 per acre as the cost OF pro
ducing and marketing the 1920 crop.
The estimated production per acre
was fixed at SIS pounds making the
estimated cost sac per hundred
The Lexington market opened Jan
uary 3, and other markets. on sue
ceeding days the larger ones on
| january A. When .yroIvors fOund that