davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-11-27
Vol. xxi. No. 40. Whole No. 092,
Cigar Tobacco Industry in Middle Florida

Cigar Tobacco Industry in Middle Florida.
In ante -bellum days, as we say South,
Florida tobacco commanded very high
price, in fact a higher price than any
other tobacco grown in the United
States. But this was long years ago,
and long before the tobacco industry IN
the Island of Sumatra was dreamed Of.
The principal demand for Florida to-
bacco at this time was for export, and
the finest and best Florida leaf was ex-
ported to foreign countries and com anded
fancy prices. After the war closed and
business assumed It's normal conditions,
cigar tobacco growers in Pennsylvania,
Connecticut, New York and perhaps one
or two of the other Eastern states grow
ing cigar leaf endeavored to improve
the quality Of the tobacco. With that
end in view, they commenced to import
seed from Cuba, and to grow what is
known as the Spanish or Havana seed
tobaccos, in contradistinction of what
had formerly been grown. Tobaccos
grown from these imported Cuba seed,
producing the Havana of Spanish vari-
ETY. of leaf slowly developed and gradu-
ally found favor with manufacturers,
and eventually this type Of tobacco be-
came most popular for wrappers, and
leaves of the best variety averaging from
twelve to fifteen inches in length. This
Spanish American tobacco once intro
duced, was also largely exported, and
foreign manufacturers sent their repre-
sentatives TO the United States, who in
many instances purchased from the
grower direct for export shipments.
The type of Florida tobacco grown at
this time was an entirely different type
of tobacco to that grown in the eastern
cigar leaf states, as we'll as also an en-
tirely different type to that grown at
present; the leaves were very large, in
fact in many instances they we're pro-
digious, running from thirty to thirty-slx
inches in length. The introduction,
however, of the Cuba seed into the East
ern cigar leaf states, producing this
Snanish- American tobacco, revolution
lzed the type of tobaccos, ideas and
tastes had changed, in short tobaccos
had adopted new style, for it was
found that the small thin leaves OF the
Spanish variety grown from the i'm
ported Cuba seed was more desirable for
cigar wrappers than the large thick leaf
which was more than apt to be rather
coarse. Unremitted exertion and atten-
tion was paid to improving this.
NEW TYPE OF TOBACCO
in the eastern cigar leaf growing
states and the demand continued to in
crease, while Florida growers instead OF
changing with the times and planting
largely to meet demand, improving their
tvpe of tobacco, were ultimately con-
fronted by an almost entire abandon
ment by the trade Of Florida tobaccos'
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-11-27
DeLand, Fla, Wednesday, November 27, 1895.

Florida leaf was not wanted, and the
tobacco industry in Florida became
practically lost art. A few of the
larger planters still continued to grow
tobacco for home consumption, little
of it still continued to find It's way to
market from time to time. but it COM
manded very little atten zion, the last
crop of this type that commanded any
attention being the Florida crop of 1877
rs, when Florida tobacco culture it may
be said lapsed to innocuOuS desIetude
until the year 1885, when Mr.. II. L.
Duval was appointed receiver for the
Florida Central and Western Railway
and the Florida Transit Railroad which
were consolidated and known as the
Florida Railway and Navigation Com
pany, now the Florida Central and
Peninsular Railroad, Of which cor any
he is now the president Prior that
time Mr.. Duval had been for manN wears
in charge of the traffic of the N"'y York,
Lake Erie and Western road aud con.
Meeting lines, and in that capacity he
had made extensive contracts for the
transportation of large consignments of
Wisconsin tobacco to the firm of Messrs.
Stratton & Storm of New York City, who
were one of the largest dealers in tobacco
raised in Wisconsin, This firm owned
their own warehouses, packed their own
tobacco at various points in the state OF
Wisconsin, and some eight to ten thou
sand cases of this tobac co passed through
their hands. These contracts brought
this firm in close business relations with
Mr.. Duval, and when he came to Florida
to take charge of the railroad interests
as above stated, which lines traverse the
entire State almost centrally north to
south through the peninsular and east
and west entirely across Northern Flor
ida, his first effort being to develop the
AGRICULTURAL resources along and con-
tiguous to the line of his railway prop
erty, feeling with assurance that the
promoting of these resources could but
enhance the value Of these lands and
create at same time revenue for his
road. Among other things he enquired
closely into the tobacco question, and
finding that Florida had once led all the
other states in the
CULTURE OF FINE TOBACCOs,
which commanded a higher price than
any other tobacco raised in this country,
induced him to correspond with Messrs.
Stratton & Storm of New York, offering
them all the facilities at his command
to investigate the matter thoroughly.
AS a result of this correspondence, repre-
sentatives of Messrs. Stratton & Storm
were sent to Florida with instructions to
carefully examine all the tobacco lands
in the State, with further instructions
to purchase all the tobacco in the hands
of growers. Mr.. Duval having the pre-
vious year distributed quantity OF fine
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-11-27

Cuba seed to planters along the Line of
his railway--in order to test the value
of Florida tobacco as compared with
that grown in other states, as we'll as
from the different sections of Florida,
grown from i'm ported Cuba seed.
These representatives speLt several
months travelling over tie 5 a.e, AMI in
making careful and critical exam jua-
ton of the character Of sol $ for t'i'.cco,
and the acreage that had or'-n i,.lnted
the year before. This rep 'rt Sh W that
for the year 1996S7, there Was u total
acreage Of 3G2 acres, this small acreage
of course being divided amonga great
many growers, all Of them. in fact being
experimental, and it is safe TO say that
the average would not 60 over one-half
acre to each experiment. The majority
of the planters were inexperienced IN the
handling Of the crop. and as natural
result, while some of this experimental
crop was fine, a great deal of it was very
poor, but the greater portion of the crop
how ever, was shipped to Messrs. STRAIT
ton & Storm, New York, where it was
carefully tested and worked. This firm
was simply astonished at the excellence
Of the tobacco, and at once determined
to use Florida tobacco in the future, as
far as it was possible to obtain it. The
question now arose as to the best means
of increasing the area in order TO obtain
a sufficient quantity Of this tobacco to
supply their factory requirements, to it's
introduction and the inducing OF other
large manufacturers to handle it. The
average Florida grower was inexpe'
rienced, and in fact was unable to erect
proper curing sheds, or to plant tobacco
on a large enough scale to meet such a
demand even as this firm now offered for
the very next crop, and to wait until the
planter could equip his plantation suf-
ficiently for fair size crop, would take
several years perhaps in many instances;
so in order to comply with it's needs and
requirements at once, the firm of.Strat-
ton & Storm decided to purchase their
own lands in Florida, erect their own
necessary curing sheds, and grow the
new type of tobacco on a scale sui
ficiently large to meet their demand,
with the additional assurance to the
planter that this firm would purchase
all the desirable tobaccOs that could be
raised in the State. This offer was
made to stimulate the industry, and in
duce the growers to plant and cultivate
tobacco extensively and not to devote so
much attention to cotton as a staple
crop, as no other crop was expected to
yield over $500 per acre, whereas one
acre of fine tobacco would command not
less than 5000.
Messrs. Stratton & Storm had no in7
terest in Florida and were welded to no
particular section of the State; it was
their in tention to purchase their tobacco
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-17

Quite a number Of Sumner county
people are talking southern Missouri
and Arkansas, but we would advise in
vestigatiOn before moving,
Is it dangerous to tell a downright,
bareface lie? If 50, woe be unto some
of the g. G. p. editors who say the Pops
have only six congressman.
Blessed am he what don't expect
muffin, for he eshall not be disappointed.
The g. o. p. promised nothing, hence
we will not be disappointed.
Let us put our shoulders to the
wheel and push the subscription list
to double its number during this year
and be prepared to give a reason of
the hope that is in Us, that the cOun-
try with its millions of starving peO-
pie will be freed from political rotten
ness in '96. May its editor live long
and cease not to declare all of the
POpulist doctrine until the corruption
Of RepublicaniSm shall be forever and
eternally obliterated.
Quite a number of our male citizens
have resolved to quit the use of to-
baccO, In conversation with one old
gentleman IN reference to its effects
upon him, he said he had not used
any tobacco for week, but that he
had been hungry, sleepy, thirsty, mad
and had a constant headache all week.
He said he had been using it for fifty
years. Suppose he used SIS worth per
year for fifty years, tue expense would
be S750-a neat little sum.
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-17
CLEARDALE,

The Frantz Bros. stock of Hard
ware at Wellington is being closed
out regardless Of cost. Sale to con-
tinue until stock is sold. d23
Colds are fashionable.
Considerable sickness, So says DR..
GeeSlin.
Mrs. Grey's house burned down on
last Saturday night.
Elder Crensbaw commenced a series
Ofmeeting at Cleardale on Sunday last.
MeSsrS j. Vaughn, ]. Wright and
Elder Crenshaw visited the county
seat Monday.
The meeting at old Cleardale is
progressing nicely under the manage
ment of Rev. Owens.
DIED-On the Sth, little Ethel War
tick OF membranOuS Group, and was
laid to rest on the 9th in the old
Cleardale cemetery to await thatgreat
day. Brother Graham made some
very appropriate remarks at the church.
The family have the sympathy of the
entire community.
Put away the little dresses
That the darling used to wear,
She will need them never, never;
She has climbed the golden stairs.
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-17
JACKSON CENTER.

= The Frantz Bros. stock of Hardware
sat Wellington is being closed out re-
gardleSs of cost. Sale to continue
until stock is sold. d23
Mrs. Geo. Smith is on the sick list
Charley Fox is very low with lung
fever.
Geo. Smiths little boy is reported
as being sick.
Grandma Ono Of Rome is reported
to be much worse again.
G. G. Ross has been quite sick for
some time with dysentery.
Alva and Tilden Albright and Ross
Rider have enlisted in Co. B.
Two of Fred OmO'S children have
been sick the past two weeks.
Lank Briggle is spending much of
his time courting-in Wellington.
Henry Armstrong has been very
low with pneumonia the past two
weeks.
Geooge Armstrong; little boy has
been confined for some time with
lung fever.
Rev. J. r. Milsap will preach every
alternate Sabbath at II o'clock, last
Sunday being his regular appoint
ment. The Epworth League meets
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-17
PORTLAND,

The Frantz Bros. stock of Hardware
at Wellington is being closed out re-
gardless CT cost. Sale to continue
until stock is sold. d23
Weddings are very numerous in this
section of the country.
S, L. Jones is sick with a cold and
is threatened with fever.
Last Friday night was the cOldest
night we have had this winter.
The literary society at Portland
was well attended last Friday night.
S. H. Riley and VIM. Weekley
drove down to Blackwell last Friday.
Charlie Hopper and wife started to
Oklahoma last Monday on a prospect
ing trip.
Mr.. DickerSOn, the teacher at the
White school house, lost his claim at
the contest lately.
Mr.. Horn and Miss Sprauge, W. A.
White and wife, called on Miss Nettie
Culver last Sunday evening.
R. H. Behimer's youngest boy who
has been very sick with Group, we are
happy to say is little better.
William Bartlett and Jessie Camp
bell were married last Saturday. We
wish them long life and happiness.
Some think that the soft wheat is
badly injured by the late freeze. We
can tell better next March Or April.
Oscar Evans says when he builds a
house on his claim in the strip he in
tends to have hall in it if it is not
more than ten foot square.
On Friday evening, Jan. %, the
ladies of Portland and vicinity will
do the debating at the literary
society. The question for debate is,
Resolved, That the negro has more
right to complain of his treatment
from the white man than the Indian. "
Affirmative, Mrs. Pearl White, Mrs.
Horn, Mrs. LobdeIl, Misses Wilnette
Donahue and Iona Thorp. Negative,
Misses Julia Sprague, Hannah
Richardson, Grace WhiteSide, Lila
Knapp and Miss Ford.
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-17
Correspondence.
CORBIN.

The Frantz Bros. stock OF Hardware
at Wellington is being closed out re
gardleSs of cost. Sale to continue
until stock is sold. d23
Mrs. D. N. Stiles spent Monday last
in Wellington.
Miss Jones mother, of Milan. Wis.
tied her last week.
Prof. Limbert's school closed On
Tuesday of this week.
John Gross is able to be around
again after a severe illness.
: J. B. BrOwnback shipped two cars
)Of stock to Kansas City last week.
Eva Howe is visiting at Mr.. Reiser's
this week, one mile east of Perth.
Elder Crenshaw will preach at the
ME. church on Thursday and Friday,
January 24th and 18th, no providential
Interference.
The farmers are greatly rejoiced
over the rain Tuesday followed by
snow. The ground is wet more than
1t has been since the majority of
whnat vUac ooun
The COrbin six got together Monday
night and produced some fine music.
You may call them the big six, little
six, or any other kind of a six. they
get there just the same.
Robert Thompson, nothing hinder
ing, will preach at the school house
in Corbin on Saturday night before
the first Sunday in February, Sunday
at eleven and Sunday night.
DR.. W. F. Willhoite assisted by DR..
GeeSling, of Cleardale, successfully
removed four and a half pound
tumOr from the side of Mr.. Snyder
living seven miles southeast of here
On Friday last.
At the ciphering match last week.
Miss Jones, our primary teacher, was
first, last and all the time at the
board, but what strange excuses the
big boys and old teachers made for
getting left.
We understand that it is known
how much Of the district coal has
been used by the church. Now if the
deacon will return the coal and fix I'D
she coal house, the matter may drop
s'here, and save trouble. Because a
man becomes deacon in a church is
no sign the earth belongs to him.
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-17
MAYF1ELD.

Mrs. Widnie Miller is on the sick
list.
Grandma Joseph is slowly recover
ing from typhoid fever.
Mrs. c. c. Roberts is suffering with
infamatOry rheumatism.
Elder Voils preached to a large and
attentive audience last Sunday.
Weunderstand Elder Fly will preach
for the c. P. brethren this year.
The prayer services last week were
well attended, closing at the Presby-
terian church.
Mrs. George Steele will leave for
! Kansas City next Thursday, where
she will join her husband.
Ed Hill and Alonzo Brummett have
taken to themselves wife. We wish
them smooth sailing through life.
The Methodist brethren will begin
series of meetings in the upper room
of the high school building Thursday
night.
The Baptist church retains Elder
Vols another year which makes four
years he has served this church as
pastor.
We suppose the corn and Oat crop
will be beautifully provided for, if it
is not unconstitutional. The bankers
land loan companies charge from / to
36 per cent, but this is constitutional.
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-17

each Sunday night at 7:3O. Prayer
meeting on each Thursday night at
Bethel church.
Chas, Murlin of Rome, attended
court on Friday last, in the interest of
the Rock Island Lumber Co.
The literary at Rome last Wednes-
day night was well attended. The
literary program was well carried out,
but the debate was rather "tame, s"
the question being, Resolved, That
Church Property Should be Subject
to Taxation" The negative won the
day.
The attention of many has been
attracted by the rising of wateTin the
small streams in various parts of
the country, and much comment has
been made as to the cause of this phe-
nOmenOn. 1t has been our ObServa-
tiOn that wherever such is the case
the stream, bayou or pgnd has its
source in or is fed by springs, and the
SuppOSitiOn might be inferred that
such springs are periodical, and if such
is the case the external conditions
would have no effect, or at least very
little, upon the flow of water. Thus
in wet season the water coming
from the springs would hardly be
noticeable, while in an unusually dry
year, like the present, it would be-
come apparent at once. As for the
omen fOretelliDg a golden harvest, :"
we know nothing about, but hope
such will eventually be the case.
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-17

Arkansas City is making a rigid
effort to enforce Sunday closing of all
places of business where employees are
kept by hire. They have passed an
ordinance requiring all business
houses to close, except news stands,
which may be kept open one hour in
the morning and one LOur in the
evening. Policemen were stood off
with reuOlvers for attempting to ar
rest jointist last Sunday, and a bar
Der was arrested for giving a man a
bath.
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-17

Mr.. and Mrs. W. NJ. Ready drove
out to the residence OF. j. W. Tynman
some ten miles northwest this morn
ing to attend wedding. Miss Cap
pie Twinman is to be married tonight
to Robert Smith.
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-17

An exciting runaway occurred late
last evening on G street. George r.
Fultz, Jr, had been hauling some
household goods in L. J. French's
wagon. When he was nearly in front
of W. A. Renn's residence on his way
to Mr.. French's home a tug dropped
loose. The team becane frightened
and in a moment were beyond control.
They ran south to the Me. church.
where the wagon was overturned and
considerably damaged. George
Fultz, who had staid in the wagon
during the runaway. was thrown
headlOng into the street, but sustain
ed only slight injuries. The team
was stopped there, and further dam
age prevented.-Mail II.
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-17

An accident little less than fatal
befell the little four year old daugh-
ter of Mr.. and Mrs. A. II. Shipman
about noon today. Mrs. Shipman
had dissolved some concentrated I've
and set it aside in "A cup, while sue
turned her attention to something
else for a moment. The little girl
not knowing the death.dealing power
of the solution, snatched the cup and
before Mrs. Shipman could interfere,
had taken mOuthful Of the fiery
liquid. DR.. Reid was summoned at
once, who pronounced the case as not
fatal at all, since the cnild. he thinks
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-17
CONWAY SPRINGS.

Ed Clark and wife have returned
from the Strip.
Miss FlOSSis Arnold is seriously i'll
with pneumonia.
J. o. Kincald, the Clearwater P. NJ.
was in our city last week.
Miss Laura Adair returned from
Wichita last week and will remain at
home some time.
Miss Sadie DOnneley, of Concord,
Oklahoma, Is visiting her many
friends in this vicinity.
Henry Cline, who has been to Ar
kansas dispOsing of some horses, re-
turned last Thursday. He brought
back some work oxen and other cattle.
Albert Wharton and Mr.. Jones were
suspected of knowing what became Of
a load of wheat which Mr.. Herring
ton missed. The wheat was taken to
Milan and sold. Detectives have been
quietly working at the case and on
Saturday Constable A. c. LOOmis
rounded up Wharton where he made
a clean sweep of the affair. He gets
thirty days in Jail and costs to pay.
Jones has not been captured yet.
Mr. Jacob Kenney, of Springdale,
died last Wednesday from nervous
prOStTatiOn. This closes another
chapter in Anderson Gray's history.
Gray, while living with his second
wife, who was perfect lady in every
respect, gained the affections of Kin
ney'S wife, induced her to secure
divorce and then married her, and
those who knew Kenney best know
that he died of a broken heart. Mr..
Gray is UniveraliSt in belief and if
his conscience is doing its duty he
must surely be getting his pay as he
goes along.
The only literary remnant of our
college now remaining with us is the
EmerSOnian society. The big brick
building looks down on the city in
gloomy silence except on Friday eve.,
when the alumni gather from miles
around and the walls reSOund with
the thunder of the future presidents,
supreme justices and congressman.
The "Greek meets Greek" and anon
"COmes the tug of war;. The tariff,
trusts, transportation, bond issues.
COxeyism, equal suffrage and foreign
immigration stand with bated breath
and awful sOlemnity while the burn
ing words fall from the lips of the
WebSters, Clays and the Blaines for
ever seJtle their future. Seriously,
the boys and girls have a good time
and the literaries are interesting and
instructive to listeners as well as par
Elephants. Tomorrow, Friday, even
ing a very interesting program will be
rendered by Messrs Allen, Orr, Atchi-
son, Parsons, ChenOweth and Oster-
hOut, Mrs. Durham, Misses Hill, De-
Haven, Gable, Smythe and others.
Socialism will be discussed.
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-17

The Santa Fe has written a nice,
kindly letter to the county attorney
at Emporia which breaks the news as
gently as possible that No passes will
be issued to county officers this year
except to SheritfS.
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-17

The following were the bids for the
position of janitOr of the court house:
Fl. NJ. Bowers, salary $40 per month:
]. L. Richards, s25; Elmer Cyphers,
$40; Turner Barnett, $40; 0. NJ. Moore,
s45: W. F. Driver, $40: U. H. c. Bow
ers and E. E. Newland left the Ques-
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-17

Anchor Lodge No. 8, X. of p, in
stalled the following officers last even
ing, Grand Chancellor Elliott conduct
ing the ceremonies: j. NJ. Grifice,
&C.; E. B. ROser, VIC; H. L. Buttrey,
Prelate; A. A. Lichtenberger, NJ. of E.;
Ed S. ChristiansOn, NJ. of F.; Frank
JunkinS NJ. of w.; Fred L. Naugle, NJ.
at A.; W. NJ. Ready, I.G.: ]. W Cor
bett. O.G.:
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-17

The railrOaders and many friends
Of Jake Albright who used to run out
Of this city and was lone Of the
boys" will be interested, no doubt, to
learn of his recent resolve to change
his vocation in life. Mr.. Albright
passed through the city this morning
enrOute over the Rock Island to Den
yer, Col. While the train was still,
he stepped upon the platform long
enough to tell friend that he was
going to Denver to study law in the
office Of his brother, who is an attOr-
ney. He said he had decided to cease
railrOading and would henceforth en-
deay0r TO see to it that justice was
properly administered. Jake will no
doubt be successful.--Mail. II.
People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-01-17

The retiring state officers, employees
and associates of Governor Lewelling
called on him at the ThrOOp Monday
night and presented him with a beau
tiiul Masonic shrine watch charm.
The presentation speech was made by
Judge S. H. Snider, superintendent Of
insurance.