The Topeka state journal., 1899-02-20
A RACE FOR A BIG STAKE.
American and European Syndicates
Rivals for the Control of Gu
ban Tobacco.

New York, Feb. 20.-The Herald says:
A fortnight will probably determine
whether the controlling power for sup
plying the demand Tor Havana TOBACCO
is to rest in American hands or in those
of European capitalists. Several rumorS
have reached New York from time to
time of a syndicate which was forming
to buy up the tobacco lands in Cupa.
These have had to do principally with
a combination in which American cap
italists were concerned. 1t was reported
a day or two ago in Havana neWspa-
per that a second American syndicate
was in process of formation and it was
learned that prior to the appearance
of the American operators a foreign
syndicate had secured an option on a
number of factories with tobacco bear
ing lands.
The present indications are that it will
now resolve itself into a race between
the two syndicateS as to which will Sc
cure the valuable properties necessary
to make the operations of a syndicate
successful. From what was learned,
the Americans are now in a safe posi-
ton to get all they want, the only fur
ther thing necessary being speedy
elimination of their plans and a posi-
tive forming of the syndicate.
Although the matter has been in con-
temptation for some time as Indicated
in Havana dispatches, and although
there is every Indication that the Syndi-
cate will be formed it can be positively
asserted that up to the present time the
final steps have not been taken. The
present plan is to cOnsummate the deal
if possible, within the next two weeks
and unless this is done the options will
be lost. Hugo G.. A. Won ReiZenStein is
the man who at present represents the
syndicate in Cuba and he has already
secured enough options to assure the
success of the project. Among the bet
ter known factories which are secure to
the American syndicate at present are
those of Perico Murias, Flor de Cuba
and Manuel Carria- The options on
these factories include large areas of
valuable tobacco land.
The three factories named have an
aggregate output of three hundred mil
lions of cigars a year. In addition, op-
tions have been secured on many small
er factories, most of which have some
land attached.
said to a Tribune reporter: ffI think the
syndicate is as good as formed. If it is
formed, it will certainly be one of the
biggest things of the century and in
eight or ten years it will control all
of the tobacco in Cuba. If all the avail
able land is used the annual crop will
amount to between $35,000,000 and $4O,-
600, 900. The intention is to begin with
about $40 000, ,000-enOugh to control
quarters of this crop, besides the
factories. The only persons who might
lose by such a combination are the
farmers and the cigarmakers. A profit
will certainly result to those who make
the investment. If the syndicate is
formed 1 will manage it's Cuban busi-
ness.
Options have already been obtained
on twelve or fourteen of the best fac
tories in Havana The idea is to buy
these factories for about what they are
worth and for the time being to buy
tobacco enough to supply their needs.
AS time goes on more land will be
bought. The coming crop will be re-
markably fine in quality, though con-
siderably below the normal quantity.
81 have made a careful survey of the
farming regions and estimate the crop
of Vultas, between 12 900 and $4,000 bales
of particles, and between $4,000 and 30,
900 bales of Santa Clara The entire
crop this year will be less than one
fourth of an ordinary CROP