Then, in 1914, the National Land Company per- 

 suaded some lawyers to go to Pineora to try to establish 

 another market. Tobacco was sold there for about nine 

 cents a pound. Due to the poor price situation, the 

 Pineora project was abandoned. 



But by 1917, the picture was taking a different shape. 

 An auction market was opened in Douglas that year 

 that still is one of Georgia's strongest. Despite the fail- 

 ure of the Nicholls market the same year, others, such 

 as the one at Blackshear which opened in 1919, began 

 to spring up throughout the state. Most of these are 

 still important markets today. 



A 



n increased demand 



World War I found Americans and other tobacco 

 users world-wide increasingly demanding cigarettes. 

 Because flue-cured represents an important part in the 

 makings of a quality cigarette, the Bright tobacco in- 

 dustry in Georgia and throughout the Bright belts took 

 a new turn for the better. 



By 1917, manufacturers and growers in Virginia and 

 the Carolinas were looking south to Georgia and even 

 Florida for an expanded tobacco market. Railroads 

 donated seed and tobacco demonstrators throughout 

 south Georgia and two tobacco warehouses were 

 opened in Douglas. Within a year, 15 counties were in 

 the tobacco business full strength and the numbers of 

 operating warehouses were multiplying. 



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