Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-09-19
H.vANas WILL Be HIGH.
No Cuban Crop Next Year Fine Cigars
will Be Expensive.

Smokers of fragrant Havana cigars
will learn with sorrow that the supply of
| tobacco from Cuba Is practically ex-
hausted and there is no prospect of a
crop next year. This does not mean,
however. that Havana cigars have gone
out of the market, or that the prices are
at present prohibitive. The stock is in
| the hands of the manufacturers. and
most of them in Boston have one or two
years supply on hand so that the fam
| inc will not be felt very seriously until
| next year, when the prices are likely to
be so high that Havana cigars will be in
| deed luxury. The following year the
loss is likely to be felt even more. as
even II the Cuban rebellion is settled
within a year, it will be impossible to nut
in new crop and have it ready for the
is almost exhausted.
The normal tobacco crop of Cuba is
about 100000 bales The crop this year
amounts to about 10000 bales. or ten per
cent of the usual supply. Owing to the
war the present crop which is now prac-
tically all in the hands of the manufac-
turers. will be the last sent out of the
island for some time There are no la
borers to cultivate another crop this
year, and even if there were it is unlike
ly that the insurgents would allow them
to work. Then it must be remembered
that of the crop produced only about
forty per cent is exported, so that the
supply of the United States this year is
small indeed.
Only the best grades of Cuban tobacco
are exported, and unlike sugar or any
other productions of Cuba, the tobacco
deficit cannot be made up from any other
source. as there is no imitation of real
Havana" which can take its place. The
insurgents are in possession of tho Nuelta
Abajo and other districts which raise the
finest tobacco produced in the world and
they will not permit the raising of Il new
crop.
When the prices of Cuban tobacco be-
gan to so up owing to the instruction.
American manufacturers began increas-
ing their supplies on the rising market.
SO that they now have about double the
usual quantity on hand. The retail
trade has not yet felt the advances that
must come later. The price of tobacco i'll
Cuba has gone up about sixty per cent
and while the prices here have not yet
that much higher figures will be quoted.
There is no prospect of any material sup
ply for year or more and the prices
next year may be double 1t may be Il
year before the retail trade will feel the
advance seriously. and the manufacturers
may not increase their prices as much AS
the Cuban dealers will owing to the sup
ply they have on hand, but considerable
advance seems certain. The MAN who
has been buying two Havana cigars for
twenty-five cents will not feel like paying
twenty-five cents apiece for them. The
supply may last longer than is expected,
but there will always be Il demand for
Havana cigars by people who can afford
to pay the prices asked. One thing is
certain: there never can be anything TO
take the place of Havana cigars: no
country on earth can produce II substi-
tute. People may be forced to accept d
poorer quality of cigars but it looks now
as though Ravanas will be able to COM
nsnd their own price in year or so. as
there seems 10 bs. no prospect Of settl"-
ment of tn. cuban troubles.