Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-08
ANOTHER BIG INDUSTRY.
A Large Tobacco Factory One Of the PROBABLE
tiles in the Near Future.

A Large Tobacco Factory One Of the PROBABLE
tiles in the Near Future.
Considerable discussion has been IN
dulged in lately concerning the establish
ment of large tobacco factory in Wien
tia, and yesterday representative OF the
EAGLE called on Mr.. ". Z. Norman, the
merchandise broker, who is undoubtedly
the best posted tobacco man in the city
and asked his opinion Of the probable sue
cess of such an enterprise. Mr. Norman.
who was raised in the tobacco belt and en-
gagged In the tobacco trade during all his
business life, unhesitatingiV stated that
such an Institution could not help being
conspicuous success from the start.
Il have been awaiting a favorable
opportunity" said Mr.. Norman TO breach
this subject to the active members OF the
board of trade and get them interested in
it. and intended to do so as soon as they
were through with several other big en-
terprises which are just now assuming the
shape and conditions Of Wichita 1nstltu-
tons" "a plug tobacco factory contin-
ued Mr.. Norman started in Wichita would
be a sufficient distance from St. Louis
where the nearest plug tobacco factory is
located, to command all the trade west OF
Missouri. Being IN the midst Of the trade
gives the tobacco manufacturer the advan-
tage OF al competitors at a distance. For
instance when Liggett & Myers opened
their factory il st. Louis twelve
years ago. Lorrillard the tobacco
king of Jersey City, y j.
laughed at them. He is not laughing.
af,,-. IL ff.ag.fG
Of the western market on navy tobaccos
by the young giants Of St Louis, viz: Llg-
gett and Meyers and Drummond Tobacco
company. In their first year Liggett &
Meyers worked up $4,000 pounds of to-
bacco, and last year they worked up not
less than 10000, 600 pounds. Comment is
quite unnecessary. Being in the midst OF
the trade Of the great southwest they have
simply worn Mr.. Lorrillard's business to
fragile IN this section A factory started
now in Wichita would have only the same
difficulties to overcome as experienced By
Liggett & Meyers, aud you see what their
unparalleled success has been. We are
far enough west OF Liggett &
Meyers here to command and secure
all the trade of the west and great south
west, there being no tobacco factory west
of this city except in San Francisco. One
of the objections that would perhaps be
offered by the ubiquitous skeptic TO the
success OF such an enterprise, would be
the fact that raw material would have TO
be shipped in here. Leggett & Meyers
bring every dollars worth Of their raw
material from Ohio, Kentucky and NIr-
GINA, and aside from that fact, all manu-
featured tobacco has to be shipped here
aud freight paid on it. Where Is the diff
ferencee The raw material can be manu-
featured here as cheaply as any place on
earth, and then we have the adj
vantage OF freights to the west
ern and southwestern markets.
know many tobacco manufacturers in
the east, who are men of wide experience
in the business and who possess capital,
but who have not been able TO success
fully cope with larger concerns and who
will probably go out Of the business in
few years on account of the fierce COM
petition so near them. Such men | believe
would gladly avail themselve Of this
magnificent field of operations and COM
ing here with practically no capital, no
competition and with their experience
and capital, combined with the liberal
inducements that have always character
lzed our board of trade towards all honest
industries, they could, with the proper
effort, build up wonderful business
in few years. There is
now no longer any doubt about
Oklahoma being opened up to settlement,
and when it is tobacco factory in Wich-
tia would reap the harvest. l tell you
there are imitless possibilities connected
with such an industry and interest in it
should not be allowed to waver for an in
slant until it is an assured addition TO
Wichita constantly increasing indus
tries. | am quietly informed that move
ment looking TO the contamination OF such
an enterprise is now on the taps, and lam
also in possession of information to the
effect that several we'll known business
men of the city are ready to meet any
manufacturer with liberal inducements
who will investigate Wichita's claims as a
great distributing point, and come here
with the intention of starting such an in
dustry.