Evening star., 1899-03-18

Rio, though there is also some from the
Partidos district in Havana province. The
manager who shows the privileged visitor
through these private store rooms will ex-
plan that they do not place greater COM
mercial value on the Vualta Ahajo leaf than
on that from the Remedies district in Santa
Clara province. The Remedies leaf, he will
say, with shrug of his shoulders, is good
very good-but 1t is strong and is better
adapted for mixing with the American pro-
ducts The value of the Vuelta Abajo leaf
he will add. lies in it's flavor rather than in
its strength, and as his factory makes
cigars known by their delicate aroma, it
naturally uses the finer grades from Pinar
del Rio. But the Remedies leaf is good
very good-and where strength is wanted
it does excellently well to mix with the
American products. This is his way of say
ing that the Americans do not smoke the
best cigars.
OF the score of large factories in Havana
each one has its special brand of dollar
cigars. Some are sold at a dollar and a
half each, instead of at a dollar apiece;
but they are called dollar cigars They are
all the long cigars of Havana Each
cigar manufacturer has his own private
supply One of the leading ones is in de
spair this season. His private stock is
made from a small patch in the choicest
district of Pnar del Rio. Sometimes it
produces little more than is needed for
his own use. Then he distributes the ex-
cess among the reigning soveregns of the
world and his closest personal friends. One
ce'i iit sent SSNeIdi DpheS TO TTeSluent NC
kinley. This season he sought to compli-
ment the American officials in Cuba with
demoralizing results. They were so Pleased
that they at once sent to his factory orders
to supply them with the same brand of
cigar for their future use. They did not
know that if this could be done the actual
cost would have been about So per cigar.
The choice spot in the choicest section of
Pinar del Rio is producing less than the
average leaf this season. The manufac-
turer does not know why. The whims of
the soil and the mysteries of nature in to-
bacco production are beyond him. He is
compliment to the American officials by
sending them each box. with an eXplana-
ton why that particular brand is not an
article of commerce. The Americans Is a
rule like strong cigars, and the market for
those which are manufactured at a cost of
81 each is not in the United States. This
manufacturers private make is noted for
its aroma rather than for its strength and
he does not understand the sudden change
in the liking of the American officials. They
are dwelling in happy ignorance of the
perpleXity which they have caused and are
waiting for their orders to be filled
..- Conjecture as to the Future.
The future OF tobacco production in the
island is largely a matter of conjecture
| Those best competent to judge are all con-
fident that it will increase, but they do not
know to what extent. The value of the
output in normal times was s20,0o0,OO0
Some of the men who have been engaged in
the culture of tobacco, as well as in its
| manufac cture think they will live to see the
value of the annual crop doubled. The pur-
chase of both factories and tobacco lands
by the American syndicates is certain to
stimulate the production and increase the
output. Abundant capital is now seeking
investment in Cuban tobacco lands as well
as in factories. The tobacco growers next
fall will be able to secure advances which
will insure the planting of a full crop.
Though the syndicates will operate with a
fair degree of success, 1t is not believed
that any of them will secure monopoly
of tobacco production. If this could be
done the control of the factories would be
an easy matter but the conditions under
which Cuban tobacco is produced are so
varied and complicated that the best
opinion is that it will never be monopolized.
The area of cultivation is sure to be eX-
tended During the insurrection the eX-
pertinent of raising tobacco in the Isle of
Pines was tried by the Henry Clay and the
Book companies Fifteen hundred laborers
were taken from the Pinar del Rio and
employed in the isle A passabie grade of
toba eco was raised, but the experiment did
not seem to warrant its continuance so
long as the Vuelto Abajo district could be
worked. AS soon as peace between the
United States and Spain was settled the
laborers were taken back to Pinar del Rio.
II is expected that the coming season there
will be "a considerable immigration from the
Canary Islands to Cuba of farm aborers
to engage in tobacco production 1t is the
testimony Of the largest growers that the
Canary Islanders make the best tobacco
farmers They do not work in factories,
but the cultivation of the soil suits them.
In past seasons many have been in the
habit of coming to Cuba to work in the
fields as laborerS and then returning to
their homes across the sea. The aim now
is to attract them as permanent immigrants
and to enable them to procure small farms
of their own either by purchase or by
lease. CHARLES NJ fEfPER