New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-20
CONTROL OF CUBAN TOBACCO.
BIG AMERICAN SYNDICATE LIKELH
TO GIT IT.
OPTIONS ON SEVERAL IMPORTANT FAC
TORIES AND TOBACCO GROWING
LANDS sECURED-A TALK WITH
FRANCISCO GARCIA.

TO the great army Of American smokers VINO
appreciate the fragrance OF good Havana to-
bacco ard whose appetite for the soothing weed
has been shlrpened by the lCrg continued snort
age Of that article \ fortnight VIII proDaDy
determine whether the controlling power Tor
supplying the demand for Havana tobacco Is 70
rest in American hands or In those Of European
capitalists Several rumors have reached New
York from time 10 time OF syndicate whlch
was forming 10 buy up the tobacco lancs IN
Cuba These have had TO DO principally with
n combination IN which American capitalists
were concerned. 1t was reported day or Two
ago In n Havana newspaper that secoho
American syndicate was in process OF forma-
ton and II was learned yesterday that PRIOR
10 the appearance OF the American operators.
foreign syndicate had secured an option on
number Of factories with tobacco-bearing lands
The present indications are that II VIII now
resolve itself into n race between the two SYM
dicates as TO which will secure the valuable
properties necessary to make the operations or
syndicate successful From what was learned.
the Americans are now in safe position 10 get
all they want the only further thing necessary
being a speedy elimination Of their plans ana
positive forming Of the syndicate.
Although the matter has been in contempla-
tion for some time as indicated In Havana dis
patches and although there is every indication
that the syndicate will be formed. Il can be pos
itively asserted that up to the present time the
final steps have not been taken The present
plan is TO consumnate the deal. If possible. with
in the next two weeks and unless this is done
the options will be lost. The persons. however,
who have been ntrusted with investigation
Of the situation are said TO be we'll pleased with
the outlook and there is little or no doubt that
the matter will reach head before the time
limit expires Hugo g. A. Won Reizenstein Is the
man who at present represents the syndicate IN
Cuba. ard he has already secured enough OPP
tions to assure the success of the project Among
the better known factories which are secure 10
the American syndicate at present are those OK
Perco Murias, Flor de cuba and Manuel Gar
ca The options on these factories include large
areas Of valuable tobacco land
HAVE 4 BIG OUTPUT.
The three factories named have an aggregate
output OF three hundred millions OF cigars
year In addition. options have been secured on
many smaller factories. most OF which nave
some land attached The general plan OF 'he
syndicate is similar 20 that Of others when nave
been formed having in view the concentration
Of labor and Of the farming interests. An as
sertion which il true. VIII be Of interest 10
smokers is that the control Of the tobacco crop
bv 4 syndicate will lower prices. or at any rate
enable the dealers to supply a better article for
the same amount Of money now paid
The history Of the present syndicate dates
back TO last September Immediately after the
signing u the Peace Protocol number of men
conceived the idea OF forming H. 1hey cahed
upon Francisco Garcia, who has for the last
forty years divided his time between Havana
and New-York. Mr. Garcia is large manu-
sfrr,ah has
thousand men working in his factories in Cuba
He was asked - formulate a definite plan and
it vas proposed I'm the event Of the syndicate
being formed that he should undertake the
manarerrent OF Us aft airs in Cuba. Mr. Garcia
accented the offer and outlined the plan Hs
then started for Spain. where lie went 70 cele-
brate his brothers birthday. II was understood
that as soon as he returned he would begin MS
active duties for the syndicate. Upon arriving
AT Callao he was just in time 10 attend his
brothers funeral the latter having died whhe
Mr. Garcia was on the voyage
When Mr.. Garcia returned TO this country hs
announced that the shock which he had re-
ceived from the death OF his brother had de-
strovcd his ambition, and he had decided not
10 enter upon the new responsibilities An ei-
fort was made to induce him to reconsider his
determination. and several times later he was
approached on the subject. but he refused To
entertain the proposal. H.. suggested the names
of several men whom be considered competent,
but the persons interested seemed to feel that
he was the right man to undertake the work.
ard for 4 time the matter was dropped.
A few weeks ago Mr. Garcia went to Havana
in The interest Of his busress. lie returned
Yesterday afternoon. and was seen by Tribune
reporter at his home Immediately after his ar
rival
As GOOD As FORMED
II think the syndicate is as good as formed"
he said If IT is formed. IL viii certainly be
one OF the biggest things Of the century. ana
in e.ght or ten years II VIII control an OF tho
tobacco IN Cuba. II all the available lana ~
used the annual crop will amount 10 between
So 900 600 and S4OOO0 0D The intention IL ID
begin with about ACKNOWLEDGMENT u con-
trol three-quarters Of this crop besides the rae
tories. The only persons who misht lose ~
such combination are the farmers ana the
cigarmakers. proht WIN cer'a'nly result "
Although had announced my determination
not 10 go into the syndicate after my return
from Spain. have made up my mlnd TO enter
il II il is formed. did not 60 90 Cuba IN con-
pection with this. however. While there Mr.
Retz ensteln came with letters from an cii
friend. asking me to do what could l wou'd
refuse the person in question n' thlhE' ana 1
began to investigate the matter AT once l
found t.1t some English capitalists had Sc
cured options on several good factories but l
have arranged IL that the American syndi-
cate viii have a two wecks' option on them.
ana by that time IT IS altogether likely that
the matter will be settled u th" syndicate Is
formed | will manage It's Cuban business.
Options have already been OBTAINED on tweiVe
or fourteen OF the best factories IN havana Inc
idea is TO buy these factories for about Wnat
they are worth, and for 'he time being TO Duy
tobacco enough 70 supply their needs AS tiine
,s an more land will be bought The coming
crop will be remarkably fine In quaIity' 'housn
considerably below the normal quantity.
II have made a careful survey OF the farming
.uions ond estimate the crop will be between
soo00 ard lOOO00 bales OF Vultas between
- 600 and $1,000 bales OF PaflIeos ana pe-
- n,-Ire crop this year will be less than one
fourth of an ordinary crop