The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-13
Cuban tobacco Growing in the

south.
Tobacco growing in the south, and Gu
han tobacco growing in Florida espeei-
auv. is attracting a good deal of attention.
In a recent issue the Manufacturers Rec
ord of Baltimore says:
The development of the tobacco indus
try in the south has been greatly stimu-
]3ted during the past two years of the
war in Cuba, which has resulted in the
Immigration of many Cuban tobacco cul-
1hators to Florida and other southern
states. Mr.. Charles Dittmar, prominent
leaf-tobacco dealer of Baltimore, has re-
ceutly been visiting the tobacco planta-
lions in the SOUTH and in an interview
is quoted as follows:
when l left Baltimore I went direct
to our own packing establishment in
Vera Cruz, to inspect the condition of af-
fairs there; then went to Fort Meade,
Fla where there is a plantation of to-
bacco from Cuban Seed owned by a COM
pany organized to promote the industry.
They have a Cuban colony there, the peo-
pie being called vaguiras, which means
farmers in English. At that place they
have IFS acres planted, although the COM
pany owns much more ground than that
This plantation was formerly on the line
Of an experiment, but is now an assured
success, and the tobacco compares very
iayorably with the Cuban leaf 1t has
good color and excellent combustion quail
ities. With the means of irrigation now
employed, they can raise two crops yearly
on the plantation, and it promises to be
a factor in the tobacco world, and will,
without doubt, be one of the best sources
Of wealth for that section or the country,
rs the product will ultimately be utilized
in the manufacture of high grade domes-
tic cigars.
II visited Willis, in Montgomery county,
Texas, which is a short distance from
Houston, in the cotton belt and found the
industry, owing to the demand for Cuban
tobacco, and its scarcity, expanding won
derfully. The climate of that section has
the finest tobacco-raising features of any
other part of the United States. The soil
is very nearly as fertile as that of Cuba,
and the heavy dew which settles over that
region is sufficient irrigation for the crops.
Tobacco-raising was started there in
small way, a few years ago, one or two
farmers planting a couple of acres in Gu
ban seed, 10 test the fertility of the ground
and the effect of the climate. Such good
results were obtained that others engaged
in the industry, and there are now planted
in and around Willis about 600 acres in
tobacco The prices on the crops, when
marketed, average about As cents per
pound. This tobacco compares with Cuban
tobacco III point of smoking qualities bet
Ter than any grown in the United States.
The climate and soil conditions give Willis
a future of great promise. l brought some
types of the tobacco home with me, and
good judges are of the uniform opinion
that there is a considerable quantity of
Cuban tobacco that would not compare
1avorably with it,"
Discussing the same matter, the Herald,
OF Tampa says: r. Mugge writes to the
Herald brief outline of what he calls
golden opportunity for the wage earners
IN Tampa to permanently better their con-
Uuon and become In a manner independ-
ent He says:
I have been reliably Informed that Flor
lda raised tobacco is priced very highly in
Europe, most particularly so in Germany;
mat there never can be any oVerproduc-
uon and that good round figures can all
ways be obtained, even after Cuba will
again be in condition to supply its share
Oh tobacco. Therefore l would suggest that
clubs of ten be formed for the purpose of
raising, curing, selling and manufacture
ing tobacco. Each shareholder should con-
U1bute, say 81 per week. One of the mem
DsrS who should possess talent as a man
aser and have a family, should live on the
laIm drawing a salary but also contrib
'7 MS ~ pSt WCth III OluSA " S4NV etC
poorest chance, two or more could own
one share of stock, having of course but
one vote. Stock should be negotiable, but
40 one family should be allowed to hold
more than one share The several clubs
should join in curing house and selling
agency. Improved lands can be had for less
Mah the improvements cost.
HE rule should be esta blished that for
number of years all the earnings must
ge relnyested and the dues kept up. BY so
uons there is no limit to the possibilities,
ana certain it is that in but a few years
az nose who hold out will be wage earn
eIs no longer"