The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-01
THE SUPPLY OF HAVANA TOBACCO.
Indications That tho Famine Here May Ne
Relieved Before LonE.

Relieved Before Long.
For O year or more the smoker of hiRh.grado
cigars. whether imported or made in this coun-
try Of Cuban leaf tobacco, has been having O
very hard time. He has had to pay consider.
ably moro for his cigars. a d as a rule has seen
the quality deteriorate. The manufacturers
have tried to find a substitute for the famed
leaf OF Pinar del Rio, but without much succeso.
The wrapper supplied from Florida was hand.
some. glossy, and light colored. but muddy in
taste and smell. and the Mexican. while not bad
to look at. was utterly lacking in aroma and the
capacity to bring out the fragrance of the Cuban
filler. which was also mixed literally with other
growths. In some cases even domestic grown
Connecticut Havana seed tobacco was used. All
these experiments had the result simply Of
demonstrating beyond question that there is no
product on earth as yet to t ko the place of the
Pinar del Rio growths OF Cuba.
To what an extent this fine leaf tobacco
famine has gone is shown by the fact that two
or three years ago the factories in Havana paid
81 a load to have the useless stems taken away
from the factories. Just to get them out of the
way. while now these same stems are sold at IS
aioad to the cigarette manufacturer Of Havana,
who cut them up into thin slivers and mix them
with the regular tobacco.
Now there seems to be a change in the situa.
ton. The indication was the fact that certain
American firms. obtained permission to export
IN ~ " eSLlCd
by the loo. 900 pounds. Then one OF the leading
factories in Havana. after advancing its prices
that the advance would Be a oIished. Last Of all
came the new decree, which raised the export
duty on tobacco leaving Havana from $3.50
tobacco, and $40 I kilogram for wrapper to-
baoco, with a proviso. 1t is said. that any bale
pers should be classed as q wrapper bale
Throughout It" and md 90 pay the $40 rate; 4,
average 10 per cent OF wrappere. this clause
strictly interpreted would cover most OF tho to-
baceo exported; These changes arc taken to
tation OF certain kinds OF leaf tobacco is to DO
manufacturer viii be SO handicapped BY the
the increased export duty that his competition
will be nulliied. This will not be the case, 40
Whatever price ice the fne IL leaf fob tobacco sof may g'S BRINE
t4red here. The increase in export duties, viii
only be bringing back the scale OF
ER ssif. f Fhas w Tn1s sSs i Pc,ss q Rs ras SM 81 PInsy
del Rio tobacco by Americans and others, more
will come into the Havana market, and this will
that the Increase in export duties viii In ali
probability be practically nullihed by the fall In
biEh.srade clear Havana cigars will simply 60
on getting the same. or an improved product,
and will probably not long, be asked to pay
The scarcity Of Havana 10 4 has brought out .
new cigar which appears likely TO live. and that
combination, filler and a Mexican wrapper. 10
be acceptable, How largely this type has
best shown by the receipts OF Mexican tobacco.
which, from Jan. to July 81. 1897. were oo7..
s sas 90q ponsa ssl MsFtb at a siss;oo for a. tho ss c g
spending months OF 1896, practically mono COM
ing to this country prior to that year.