The record-union., 1896-11-18
GOOD CALIFORNIA TOBACCO.
It is Now Successfully Grown in San
Diego.
An Interesting Report on the Subject
to the State Board of
Trade.

The following report has been filed
with the California State Board Of
Trade:
Gentlemen: We, your committee ap-
pointed to inquire into the merits Of
certain California tobacco grown ex-
tensively by J. D. Culp at San Felipe,
Santa Clara County, and to give an
opinion as to the feasibility of manu-
featuring the same into cigars and other
merchaEtable products, beg leave to re-
port as follows:
We find on a casual examination of
the tobacco industry in the United
States that it is one of great magnitude,
and that in sections where tobacco is
grown it produces more in value to the
acre and is generally more profitable TO
the planter than almost any other sta
pie yield
The tobacco yield of the United States
is something like 100000 pounds per
annum, which, one year with another,
brings on an average, including all the
varieties and qualities, about { cents
per pound, or a total of $:6o, 600, 900. In
addition to this large production, the
United States imports something like
bacco products each year. We submit
these figures to show the Importance of
the industry in this country, and Incl
dentally to indicate what may be done
In California when it once shall be sat
1sfactorily demonstrated that this State
possesses in its soil and climatic condi-
tions all the requirements for the pro-
duction of a superior quality of this i'm
portant staple.
AS a rule, the tobacco crop in other
States is not certain, but IS often at
tended with total or partial failures.
Too much or too little rain, windstorms,
hail or frosts, which occur in Eastern
and Southern States, are drawbacks to
the success of the tobacco crop
None of these elements prevail in CAL
fornia to such an extent or at such sea-
sons as to render them items of danger.
Here the season is long and dry and
warm, enabling the planter to count
with certainty on a crop each year.
Again, the use of fertilizers in most
Of the tobacco producing localities of
the United States is an item of consid-
cradle expense, while here but little fer
tilizing is required.
AS indicating the value Of the tobacco
crop per acre as compared with other
staples, it is only necessary to point to
the fact that the California wheat crop
OF 1888, which amounted to little less
than S2O,OO0,O00 was grown on 2,60U.-
0oO acres of land, while the entire to-
bacco crop of the United States for the
same year was grown on 100000 acres
of land.
Those best advised on the subject
claim that California has within her
border over 100000 acres of land suit
able for the cultivation of high grade to-
bacco. When this area shall be utilized
In growing tobacco, as in time 1t may be,
the output of the State win aggregate
more than the present total output of
the United States. From such an in
dustry on such a scale the ADVANTAGES
that would accrue are difficult to con-
template. Manufactures would arise
TO work up the raw product in all CEN
ters Of trade and population, and the
lsborers required in these factories
would be legion. The railroads and
other carriers would find increased
business IN freighting out of the State
many tons Of tobacco and tobacco pro-
ducts where they are now carrying in
one ton. The farmer would receive a
benefit that cannot be easily estimated.
L is we'll known that choice tobacco
lands in the Eastern and Southern
States rent readily for $50 or more per
acre per annum, and what is true In the
East i'm regard TO the value of land for
the production of this staple would be
more than true In regard TO the same
item in California
The increase in the value of the pro-
duct Of the California farm would add to