The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1885-11-13
STUPENDOUS TRADE IN TOBACCO.

Years before the war of the rebellion
it used to be said Cotton is king"
that being the controlling product in
the markets Of this country. Since the
kingship of cotton, other products have
had a preponderating power in the
marts Of trade. 1t was entirely unsus-
pected many years ago that tobacco
would become a leading commodity in
the market. A generation ago it was
regarded an Insignificant production,
tolerated to crafty few smokers and
chewers Of the weed. It was little
thought that it's annual supply would
be many millions of pounds, valued at
hundreds of millions of dollars, taking
rank mong the leading articles of
commerce. But whether it be for the
enriching of the people collectively and
the country in general are ques lions
which open a wide field for discussion.
To arrive at the amount of tobacco
manufactured for use in the United
States is not by guessing or uncertain
methods. Every pound of tobacco
converted into use for chewing or
smoking must pay the tax imposed by
the government; if disposed Of with
out paying the tax, severe penalties
are incurred. In this way the govern
ment is advised by the revenue officers
of the amount of tobacco legally sold
in the United States
The report of the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue indicates that about
100000 cigars, 1O0,O0O.O00 cigar
cites and 10000, 900 pounds Of chew
ing tobacco were consumed in the
U nited States in the single year 1854.
A writer in the Inter Ocean on these
statistics bases the calculation that it
would take one man 10000 years to
count one by one the number of
cigars smoked in the year 1884. 1t is
estimated OH the statistics furnished
that the annual cost of tobacco con-
sumed in this country is $500, 900.
There may be political economists in
America who can show how the PEG
PIE, collectively, have been benefited
to the amount of one dime by the con-
sum ptiou of this enormous amount of
tobacco. Have the people, as a whole,
been advantaged morally or intellec-
tually by this tobacco absorption? Has
it reduced the cost of family expenses.
and, in short, wherein have been the
resulting economies? The columns of
this paper are open to any one who
can enlighten the public in respect to
these queries.
The fur0re which was so widespread,
a few weeks ago for gong into the
business of raising tobacco subsidized
rather suddenly. Hundreds of farm
ers calculated on great profits in grow
ing the weed next year. just as might
have been expected, the tobacco market
has taken tumble; there has already
been over-production, and it is well UNI
derstood the people cannot subsist on
tobacco. The late tobacco convention
resolved to appeal to Congress to in
crease the tariff on tobacco imported
from Sumatra; the quality of the ar
ticle grown in that island, being SUI
peri0r to that raised in this country.
takes the preference in the market
here. Some of the more cautious citiz-
ems have given timely warning that
the general rush into the growing of
tobacco is likely to result in disapp0int-
ment. similar to that of the hop grow
ing business, which some years ago
promised for short time to make men
rich, but was soon overdone and end
ed in disappointment.