The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-02-23
FUTURE OF HAVANA CIGARS.
Tobacco Supply Nearly Exhausted
and Prices Must Go In

New York, Feb. pa subject which is
interesting many people in this country
at the present time is the outlook for the
tobacco trade with the island of Cuba.
As every one knows, the best cigars in
the world. or at least, the best tobacco for
their manufacture, comes from that
island. From time to time it has been re-
ported that the supply of Havana to-
bacco was almost exhausted and that
the smokers OF Havana cigars would have
TO dispense with them altogether or pay
exorbitant prices for them. This gloomy
view of the Havana cigar and tobacco
outlook has been intensified by many ex-
porters of the article and others engaged
in the tobacco trade. 1t Is admitted in
commercial circles that it is only natural
that Havana tobacco dealers, or at least
number of them. should take this view.
for the purpose of increasing prices, If
for no other reason.
RicadO Book, the head of the Book CT
gar Manufacturing Company. was quoted
recently as saying that Cuba, in a COM
mercial sense, was lost to Spain, and that
instead of drawing any revenue from Gu
ba Spain was losing money in retaining
the island. IL has been said that the
province OF Nuelta Abajo, the richest to-
bacco-growing district of Cuba. had been
so devastated by the Cuban insurgents
that little could be expected from it in
the way of producing tobacco for at least
twenty years, eren- If peace was immedi-
ately declared. After General Weyler's
decree prohibiting tobacco exports, the
insurgents. IL has been said, attacked the
plantations with fury. and i'm 1886 destroy
ed twenty million pounds of tobacco.
Several leading importers in this city
who are closely identified with the Ha-
vana cigar and tobacco trade, when seen
by reporter, did not take so gloomy
view of future Havana cigar production.
One of the leading merchants seen was
w. j. Merrall, Of the firm of Acker, Mer-
rail- & Condit.
IL disagree with the opinion of many
men quoted IN relation TO the future Of
the Havana cigar and tobacco trade,
said Mr.. Merrall I'VE do a large bust
ness with the Book Cigar Manufacturing
Company and the Henry Clay people, and
/ know that our orders are all promptly
accepted by them. or course. Havana
cigars and Havana tobacco, like all 9TH
or products, are governed by the mex
orable law Of supply and demand. When
ever there is "a poor crop Of Havana to-
bacco the price is sure to go up, but we
would certainly have been informed by
our agents in Cuba II an increase I'm
prices was expected in a short time. As
long there is "A demand for Cuban to-
bacco, I have no doubt that il will be
supplied. Like sugar eane tobacco is one
of the products which support Cuba. and
neither the SDaniaTds nor the Cubans
can afford to prevent its production. The
Spaniards have always been destruction
lists in their mode of warfare. but to do
this they would be killing the goose that
lays the prOverbial egg of untold value.
The price of Havana tobacco may go
doubt decrease. Many people who smoke
Havana cigars will learn to smoke those
of n domestic brand. ] have not only
smoked cigars Of American tobacco, but
have enjoyed them. IL is largely a matter
of taste cultivated by the use of a par
ticular brand of cigars. be it made of
either Havana or domestic tobacco. And
in the use of domestic cigars we are
helping along President McKinley's and
Mr.. Dingley's idea of helping the pro-
ducers of American goods There may
be considerable difficulty in obtaining Ger
tain sizes OF leaf for the wrappers Of GER
tain brands Of Havana cigars. and also
the same in relation to color but there
be obtained. AS long as this is the case
we can manage very well. as there is an
abundant supply Of Sumatra tobacco.
which is largely used for wrappers to Ha-
vana filled cigars. 1t IS for these reasons
that | do not take so gloomy a view Of
the outlook for the Havana cigar trade.
There you have the whole thing in
nutshell