The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-06-22

ton. Owing to a variety Of conditions
there Is little or no speculation IN 10
DaccO futures" When tobacco CHANGES
HANDS. the delivery of the actual bales
bought Is called for. and substitutes OF
equal quality and price would not De ac-
ccpted. SO that If the present year crop
g. once warehOused In Havana, where II
j. supposed TO be absolutely safe, II
would be this time next year before tle
scarcity or plentifulness OF the crop or
1886 would have a seriouc effect upon
prices then current
The two serious questions which arise
with regard 10 Havana tobacco are
whether the present crop can be trans
ferred safely from the farms. through the
packing houses to the great warehouses,
and whether the state OF the country
Will prevent the planting OF next years
crop.
A glance at the map Of cuba will show
how the tobacco-growing districts are ar
fected by the rebellion. Spanish authori-
~ Is weakest at the eastern end Of the
island. In the province Of Santiago, when
is sugar growing district II is little
stronger In Puerto Principe. which IS
STOCK raising country. The province or
Santa Clara Is where rather more than
half tho total tobacco product OF cuba
g. raised and this province has hitherto
been kept fairly well in hand by the
Spanish Government. althOl gh sporadic
attacks have been made upon Cienfuesos.
on the southern coast.
luelfa Abajo district. where the choicest
tobacco in the island Is grown. II is con-
coded on all sides that this region is Al
present peaceful, and likely 10 remain
so as long as the Spanish troops retain
command Of the capital But this district
United States only getting It's proportion
ate share.
This country's main supply Of Havana
tobacco comes from the Santa Clara pro-
zinc. rHFf4 NfsN.a
ported cigars OF the Nuelta AbdiO dis
trict cut very small figure in the nation
al smoking bill so that IL is the present
and probably future condition of the
santa cara province to which attention
should be directed.
II the revolutionists are able 10 over
run this province at any time for month
10 come, thep may burn, otherwise de-
siroy or confiscate the present years
crop. II they can OCCUPY 10 between the
end Of July and the beginning Of October
no crop will be planted for 1896. Whether
they are able TO over-run IL or not next
years crop is likely 10 be much smaller
man this years because Of the number
Of labOrers who have already deserted
their work on the tobacco plantations to
join the insurgents I'm Puerto PrilciDA
II the effect OF the civil war m this
country be taken as a guide il will be- a
long time before Havana tobacco RECEIVERS
from any severe crop shortage which NAV
overtake II In consequence OF military
devastation. The cotton crOD Of the
United States in lS60-sl was $3.50. 90 bales.
IN lNo-bb, after the war, the total crOp had
iailen 10 Z,S'e,o'V bales. and In the follow
Ing year It was still less. standing al
&,z,3.CD bales During the year 1861 the
highest price OF middling upland cotton
In New York was IS cents. and the lowest
II IL cents. Cotton touched It's highest
price during the war. in 1866 reaching
N% a pound. II fell in 1866 TO g cents
pound as highest, and % cents as lowest.
In the Following year 10 fell 10 u - cents.
II the disturbance in Cuba extern Is TO
Santa Clara. as there Is every prospect
that II Will the raw material OF most
of me hayana cigars manufactured IN
this country will be cut of This in turn
Will lead TO an increased importation or
tobacco from other cOuntris such as the
philippine Islands and Bur.nah here
moderately good tobacco for cigars Is
already grown. If the rebellion should
last Tor i've years, which rs only half as
iong as the last one. before the end OF
mat time this country should either have
discovered some good substitute for
havana, tobacco for all axc spt choice
imported cigars, or become converted
INTO nation OF pipe smokers Mean
while. with new tastes formed II would
be hard TO re-establish the old aScendency
OF Havana leaf after ;he 'estOrlti)n OF
peace. ana Us price, after rising for a fey
years, might fall until it was 20 higher
than that paid for the finest grades OF
Virginia tobacco.
f. Garcia. Of lG7 Water street. said yes
terday TO Il reporter for the New York
Times:
one OF my partners is nov n Cuba
In the Remedies district buying tobacco
Of the crop OF 1895. His latest letter says
that since he began 10 purchase stocks
OF tobacco from the planters the price OF
OF one OF the coarser varieties has adj
yanced from cents bunch 10 u cents.
. in a. l. rfHIT
he has been staying eight or ten men have
been reported Is missing each morning.
This means, OF course. that they have
gone 10 join the rebels. Moreover. there
Is great rush on the part OF foreign
purchasers 10 get their tobacco sent from
the plantations TO the packing houses
IN the towns as soon as possible, because
every one Is afraid that the rebels viii
make raids. and destroy or seize all the
tobacco they can lay their hands on.
Even in the towns the tobacco is not
considered safe. and In spite OF the scar
city Of packers. we are hurrying forward
all we nave bought 10 Havana for SAFE
keeping. The total yield OF the Santa
Clara Province Is about 10000 bales,
averaging over loo pounds each. of this
quantity. AT least three-quarters Is taken
by the United States.
THE tobacco seed Is sown in July ana
August. and the young plants are taken
out and set In drills in Oct)osr The
first cutting occurs in January. the sec
ond In February and March. and the
third in April and May. The first cutting
gives the finest wrappers. and me other
cuttings chiefly supply the Milling FOR the
cigars.
1.-THE present rebellion has greatly up
set the small tobacco planters. md | feel
quite sure that only a small acreage viii
be planted for next years crop As long
az the Spanish troops are able 10 ccniire
the rebels 10 Santiago. no great clstur-
bance to any OF the produces II Cuba. ex-
cept sugar, was 10 be apprehended.
Nov. however. that the rebels have
made good their hold on Puerto Principe,
they will have abundance OF provisions
and there is no telling when the rebellion
will end. From Puerto Principe they VIII
al least make sallles into the Province
OF Santa Clara, and 1 DO not expect that
the tobacco planters will settle down 10
regular work for the next two or three
years
"As to the general prices OF Havana to-
bacco. no effect may be perceptitle here
for some months yet. There IS a large
supply ahead in the Havana warehouses,
and most OF the tobacco remains eighteen
months in Cuba between the time IL il
bought by merchants. In the half-curcd
stage and the time 4 is finally shipped
for consumption here.
There are two reasons for this long
delay One Is that we have 10 pay a
stify export duty before the tobacco Is
taken out Of Havana. and a sitter i'm
port duty when II arrives here. The
rxE Ia ha ne a