The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-31
THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY OF TEXAS.
stined "a Re One Important In the 'o
~ - = i .rpe Warehouse Houston.

Sc in Houston.
to do so. and no permanent success can
be secured In any line OF business unless
this policy is enforced,
Is there any reason why Houston should
not be made tobacco market? II our
citizens devote one-tenth the energy to this
trade that they have given to the cotton
business Houston will in few years be
one CT the leading tobacco markets in the
South. There is no reason why our cot
ton business should be lessened and 1t will
not be. On the contrary this line OF trade
will increase each year, for Houston has
every inducement to offer as cotton mar
ket. We can diversity our markets with
out curtailing business in any one line.
Nearly every county in South and South
east Texas can raise tobacco Many OF them
do cultivate the weed. The finest tobacco
grown in the world is produced in Texas.
II is said that fifty times as much Texas
tobacco Is sold In New York as is raised
in tho State. Dealers realize that it is no
longer necessary to call everything in the
line of tobacco Cuban" They are be-
ginning to apply the fraud to Texas, and
are trying to steal the Texas name and
reputation.
It will be one of the duties of'this ware
house company to see that Texas tobacco
is marketed as Texas product, and to
try to prevent imposition as much as pos
sible.
The managers will establish system Ut
grading that will insure the most mex
perienced grower that his tobacco will Sc
cure whatever 1t is worth. Every endeayor
will be made to educate the farmers in re-
gard to the proper methods of cultivation
and curing.
The tobacco sold by this warehouse will
all be properly assorted, and the buyer will
be able to select any class or quality
desired. Nothing will be wasted, and moth
proper classification.
1t is said that there are now IN the
territory tributary to Houston 10000 to
25o, 900 pounds of tobacco, in scattered lots.
The amount in one growers possession may
be 100 pounds, or 1t may be 10000 pounds.
Most Of 1t has doubtless been grown by
men of little or no experience. In many
| instances it has not been sweated enough
and is not. therefore, in a merchantable
condition.
With tobacco warehouse at Houston all
these odd lots could be bought from the
growers and placed in condition for the
market. The tobacco could be carried
through the various processes of curing,
and then assorted and graded and put iu
| cases.
What is Of most importance, probably,
is that such a tobacco warehouse would
be able to store and keep this product
| until 1t was properly aged. 1t is we'll
known that the tobacco leaf. like wine, i'm
proves with age, provided. of course, it is
| given the proper care and attention when
| stored. While tobacco thus placed away
loses about 8 per cent from shrinkage, It's
market value in two years is increased 10
| per cent.
1t will be seen from these few facts that
there is every inducement for the estab-
| fishing of a tobacco warehouse in Hous-
ton. II properly conducted 1t will make
money for those who establish 1t, give the
grower an assured market for his crop,
and place Houston one step further in the
line of commercial expansion
The success of such warehouse would
also mean that in few years Houston
dozen cigar factories But that's another
! story, and can be reserved for another ar
ticle.