The herald., 1896-08-28
MARKETS OF THE WORLD
Local, Eastern and Foreign
Commercial Dealings
WALL STREET SPECULATION
Patents TO Initiate Sumatra Leaf Tobacco
Spots
New York Bank Reserves Much Reduced-Ihe
Worlds Supply and Con umption of
Coai-The Local Markets

Several patents have been obtained for
methods of spotting tobacco leaves ar
tiftcially: In a certain district of Sumatra
which produces an exceptionally fine TO-
bacco for wrappers. the leaves of the plants
are commonly speckled in a curious way.
One amusing theory advanced to account
for this phenomenon is that the dewdrops
on the leaves form small lenses which con-
centrate the suns rays and burn the veg
etabe tissue. The fact is, however, that
the spots are due TO the work of species
of fungus that attacks the growing to-
bacco.
The spots in question have come to be
regarded as sort of trademark of the
tobacco yielded by the district referred to-
and, owing to the demand for speckled
cigars, the price of this tobacco has risen
enormously So manufacturers and grow
ers in this country have been engaged re.
Gently in devisng processes for counter
feiting the Sumatra speckles. This is ac-
complished by sprinkling the leaves, either
on the growing plants or after they are
dried, with various alkaies and other
chemical compounds. BY such initiative
methods certain ingenious farmers in Con-
necticut expect to add 80 per cent to the
selling value of their tobacco crop during
the coming season.--Grocery World.
.Ihe weekly statement of the associated
banks showed much larger loss in re-
serve than expected last week. Surplus re-
serve decreased s., ,913 OPS and now stands at
$l3,S15,515. Loans contracted only 81, ,4gS 500
but deposits decreased S. S49 500, while cir
culation increased S163, 200 Species increas-
cd S29l 100. and legal tenders decreased $6,-
166. 50O.-New York Empire of Finance.
In 1880 about the time the steam engine
was invented, the consumption of coal
IN Great Britain was. some $50 900 gross
tons a year. 1t has risen to q, ,00O.0 600 tons
in 1876 to 50,S750O0 tons in 1850; to "a, ,042 69S
tons in 1860; to 112 S75, 525 tons in 1870 to 146
969 469 tons in 1880; to S1614, ,2ss tons in 1890
and tn 4
tonsl in 1894. The result of the discussions
on the subject of the duration of the coal
supply Of Great Britain was the conclusion
that if the output increases in the same
ratio as it has for twenty or thirty years,
the coal will be exhausted in a little over
century These estimates are now regard
there is IN each nation limit to indus
trial development, which, without consd-
ering the great economics in the use OF fuel,
will also limit the expansion of coal pro-
duction.. Mr.: Gruener places this limit for
England to 250, 900 tons. which supposes
a mining population of 600 6o GOO 90 miners and
In the United States the production of
coal has been increasing in much greater
rat,o i, than an in Great Britain We eannot
figures of production of coal. nor is that
necessary in order to indicate how enor-
ton and consumption in the United States.
At the tenth census. $780, the production of
coal in the United States is reported at H.
4oI,oU net TONS, at tne eleventh census,
1889. it had risen to al, ,229, ,513 net TONS near
ly double and in 1893. according to the re-
port of M. e. w. Parker. of the United
States geological survey. it was 1872, 352. IA
net tons, an increase of more than two and
one-half times in thirteen years, doubling
about every five years.
Similar increases could be shown for the
other great coal-producing countries, a
Belgium Germany. Austria, France and
Russia. The worlds demands for heat and
power are increasing marvelously while
the worlds supply of coal is a definite
quantity. and it is an evident proposition
that with the exhaustion of its coal not
only will the power and influence of a ma
tion decline, but even It's existence may be
mperiled.-Cassier's Magazine.