The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1899-11-03
TIE
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edgerton, - Wisconsin.
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES.

The exporters of domestic tobacco
who have for years depended upon Wis
consin leaf for good share OF their
trade seems in fair way to get shut out
again on the '99 Wisconsin deal. Their
business is largely in low grade goods, or
more particularly tobacco that could be
laid down in the old country at a cheap
price. Tobacco of this description of
the '98 crop were quickly snapped up
by large consumers for home trade a
year ago and before the exporters were
fairly aware of the situation their occu-
patton was gone so far as that season S
trade was concerned. The same tactics
again prevaile3 with regard to the 99
crop. A movement was sprung last week
that looks toward the gathering up of
the hail cut and other cheaper grades OF
the crop so quickly that the exporters
will find themselves far short of their
usual supply. This is the first year the
American Tobacco Go. has entered the
market to buy from first hands, though
they have for several seasons taken large
quantities of the export grades but their
representatives have exhibited an ac
tivity that betokens tremendous large
deal. Enough buyers were put into the
field to gather in upwards of 5000 cases
in very few days and the prices paid
have exceeded the expectations of grow
ers generally holding this class of goods.
At least they are better than the ex
porters agents have been willing to pay.
One thing seems certain, Wisconsin leaf
suitable to be sent abroad in the future
will bring more money Or the foreigners
must look elsewhere for their supplies.
The general tendancy of better prices
to the producer is apparent and the ex-
porter we think must concede this fact.
*.*
The writer can scarcely share the fears
of Mr. Myrick, editor of the N. E. Home
stead, who recently in an address said:
The cigar tobacco, industry in the
United States, both in culture and man
ufacture, must be obliterated if cigars
and leaf come in duty free from the
tropics. Such policy would amount to
a bounty of S. to So on every pound Of
cigars and $1.50 on every pound of wrap
per leaf imported from the East or West
Indies by remission of present duties.
This would wipe out cigar tobacco grow
ing in New England, New York, Penn
sylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, Geor-
gia and Florida. The crop in the Con
necticut valley alone will bring upward
of $7,5OO,OOO. Even if the American
cigar makers worked for a fraction of
their present good wages, manufacturers
here could not compete with manufac-
turers of cigars in Havana and Manila.
This vast manufacturing industry would
be largely transferred from the United
States to the tropics. Such a change
would be the most complete and revo-
lutionary ever witnessed in the in
dustrial world. Cigar making is one of
the oldest and largest businesses in
America. It probably represents today
an investment of $1OO,OOO,0OO, an annual
product of $15O,OOO,OOO, employees about
125,0OO people and pays them upwards
of s6O,OO0,OO0 year in wages, and pays
S5O,OOO,OOO annually for leaf tobacco and
other supplies that are mostly produced
in the United States.
A contrary view is taken by the Hon.
Whitlow Reid, one of the Paris Com
missioners, who helped execute the
treaty with Spain which put us in pos
session of the tobacco producing islands.
In a recent address on the rights and
future policy towards the Philippines,
says: after the suppression of the in
surrection we ought to grant the Philip
pines civil rights. but political rights
never. Their future relations to the
United States should be one of depen-
dency, with their gradual development
to self government, which must exclude
the admission of their products free of
any duty to our country"
Xxx
Cuba is making arrangements for
big tobacco crop this season. Ell Tobac-
CO. of Havana, says that the number of
seed plots of tobacco sown is SO great |
that even if half the crop failed there |
would still be sufficient to turn the whole |
island into a tobacco field. The paper |
also says the sugar districts of the island |
are waiting for help from the banks and /
foreign syndicates in order to reconstruct |
them The tobacco districts, the paper
adds, were reconstructed with the help
of tobacco merchants, who furnished |
everything necessary.
*x*
The American Tobacco Company
fficials Sav it is not trlIn that that COM