The San Francisco call., 1896-11-22
Under Certain Conditions 1t
Would Rival New
York.
The Glowing Report of the Cali
fornia State Board of
Trade.
1t Is Thought S <. Thornton Will
Form a Company for Tobacco
Culture.

The California State Board of Trade has
been paying considerable attention here
lately to the subject of tobacco culture.
and after an investigation has come to
the conclusion that this State is better
fitted by climatic conditions for the rails
ing OF tobacco than nearly any spot in the
Union.
A committee composed of J. 4. Filcher,
Colonel Craigie Sharp and E. W. Maslin
has been industriously at work securing
data, and the result of their work has
been embodied in a report highly eulo-
CYSTIC OF California as field for tobacco
raisers. This report will be handed in at
the next meeting of the board, which will
occur the second Tuesday in Decem Der.
1t is understood that export Warden s.
K. Thornton has become interested in the
matter and will soon form a company for
the manufacture of cigars and smoking
tobacco as recommended in the report Of
the committee. Fhe following is the re-
port in full:
To the California State Board of Trade-GEN-
TLEMEN: We, your committee appointed to in
qulre into the merits OF certain California to-
baeco grown extensively by j. D. Culp a san
Felipe. Santa Clara County, and 10 give an
opinion as to the feasibility of manufacturing
the same into cigars and other merchantab BILE
products, beg leave TO report as follows:
We find on a casual examin alton of the to-
bacco industry in the United States that it is
one OF great magnitude, and that in sections
where tobacco is grown il produces more in
value to the acre and is generally N ore profit
able TO the planter than almost any other
staple product
The tobacco yield of the United States is
mum, which, one year with another, brings on
an average, including all the varieties and
quannes, ABOUT z cents per pound, or a total
of $35, 900 ,0U0 In addition TO this large pro-
duction the United ates imports something
like Sic, 100000 worth of tobacco and tobacco
products each year We submit these figures
10 show the importance OF the industry and
the extent of tobacco consumption in this
country, and incidentally to indicate what
may be done in California when it once shall
be satisfactorily demonstrated that this State
possesses in its sol and climatic conditions all
the requirements Tor the production of a su-
perior quality of this important staple.
AS a rule the tobacco crop in other States is
not certain, but is often attended with total
partial failures. Too much or too little
rain windstorms, hail froSts, which occur
In Eastern and southern States, are draw
backs 10 the success OF the tobacco crop.
None OF these elements prevail in California
to such extent or at such seasons as to render
them items of danger.
Here the season is long and dry and warm,
enabling the planter TO count with certainty
on crop each year.
Again, the use OF fertilizers in most of the
tobacco-producing localities of the United
States is an Item of considera bic expense,
while here but little fertllizing is required.
AS indicating the value OF the tobacco crop
per acre as compared with other staples, ii is
only necessary 10 point to the fact that the
California wheat crop OF 1898, which
amounted to little less than $20,000,000, was
grown On 2, 600, 900 acres OF land while the
entire tobacco crop OF the United States Tor
the same year was grown 700, 900 acres OF
land.
Those best advised on the subject claim that
California has within her border over l. 600 900
acres of land suitable for the cultiva ton of
high-grade tobacco. When this area shall be
utilized in growing tobacco, in time 1t may
be, the output OF the State will aggregate more
than the present total output or the United
States. From such an industry on such a
scale the advantages that would accrue are
d1hcult to contemplate. Manufacturers would
arise to work up the raw material in all CEN
ters OF trade and population, and the la aborers
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 prod
ucts where they are now carrying in one
ton. The farmer would receive benefit that
cannot be easily estimated. 1t is well 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
duction OF this staple would be more than true
in regard TO the same item in California. The
increase in the value of the product of the
California farm would add TO the value OF that
farm and result In corresponding increase
TO the assessment roll The increased number
OF factories in cities and towns would give an
impetus to all lines of business and send for
ward the value of all city and town property
San Francisco would become the rival of New
York as a cigar-manufac turing center and its
output OF plug and smoking tobacco would
surpass the output in these goods of Richmond
or st. Louis.
To accomplish all this it needs but to be