Evening journal., 1899-12-11
GONE UP IN SMOKE:
BUT FEWER CIGARETTES ARE USED
THAN FORMERLY.


Tobacco Chewing is Also Somewhat
on tho Decline, but SNUFF Taking
Still Continues-Interesti statis-
tics From the Government Report.
The Government reports just issued
shows that during the fiscal year Of
1S9S-99 this country manufactured for
home consumption 4,529,ST2, ,304 cigars.
This is an apparent decrease OF 12,144,-
266 from the year before. II should
be stated that in April and May, 1898,
when It was known that the tax was
to be increased, there was rush to get
goods shipped out Of the factories to
escape the new tax, and II is estimated
that about 12O0O0,0O0 cigars were thus
made in excess of the normal product.
These cigars really belong to the fiscal
year Just ended, and so it may be said
that there was an actual increase in
stead Of a decrease in production.
The tax amounted to S16,307, los for
1S9S-99 against $13,926,O40 in 1S9I-9S,
an increase of S2,6S1 ,05S. 1t is also in
teresting to note that on the renewal OF
prosperity the product Of what was
generally regarded as tn G cheap cigar
districts no longer showed the great
Increases of a few years ago. The
stogie districts of Pennsylvania show
decrease of 2O,OO0000 for the year,
while the higher grade Philadelphia
goods show an increase Of nearly ~
100000; the cheap goods Of Ohio fell
off 100000, but the Virginia cheroots
and st0gies show a gain Of lOOOO,OOo.
The districts manufacturing fine Ha-
vana cigars from imported Havana to-
bacco show increases, Key West ana
Tampa gaining 2,50O0OO and New York
gaining 100000.
In cigarettes there is a crisis. For
the past ten or twelve years this prod
net steadily grew. increasing from
2.151. .515. $50 in 1889 to 4,063, 169,O93 In
1897. passing even the record of cigars.
Then came the anti-cigarette agitation,
and the tax was advanced from 30
cents a thousand TO S1.50. The effect
is seen in the fact that this year the
total production amounted TO 1885, ,69S,-
906 only. That there Is apparently 1T
tie decrease in the worlds demand for
cigarettes is shown by the fact that the
exports OF American-made cigarettes
continue to increase despite the num-
bers of European firms with American
machinery and American methods
which have recently begun business
For the eleven months closing May 81
the total exports of cigarettes was L.
/ 064, 4,517, 900, as against S99,3l1OO FOL
| 1S97-9S, or an increase of lOo,2UOVOO
/ The tax collected on paper cigarettes
In 1S9S-99 was 81 ,203,T35, as against
| S3.593.O11 in 1S97-9S an increase OF
S61O.742. On all-tobacco cigarettes th'
tax collected was S547,4f5, in lS9S-99
as against S405,676 in 1s97-9s, an In
crease Of S141, ,T3S.
In manufacturing tobacco, which in
cludes chewing and smoking varieties
there is the greatest change. The heav,
decrease in the chewing districts shoy
apparently that at last the habit is wei
under way TO extinction. The strong
hold of the chewing industry, Missouri
shows a decrease of 100000 pound
last wear. the Fifth Kentucky distrlc
shows a decrease of 100000 pounds
New Jersey shows a decrease of nearl
i 5000. 600 pounds, and the New Nor
) district making the fine cut chewin
: tobacco, has a decrease of 100000
mounds. The decrease of 81, l55, p
? pounds in manufactured tobacco froI
4 a gross product in 1S97-98 Of 299,2sI
941 pounds would seem TO be in chew
Z ing tobacco rather than In smokin
tobacco, although there appears httl
: doubt that while the production OF IN
cheaper kinds Of smoking tobaccos ha
3 largely increased. the high-price
GRADES. selling at 81 pound and III
/, ward. have greatly decreased in pol
5 ularity. Once again the exports te
2 a different story. Last year there wa
Z exported TS1.471 pounds of plug toha,
! co. as against 709.64S pounds in lS9
9s. an increase Of 73,S25 pounds for th
3 year.
OF snuff there is little to be said.
: shows a total product for the year &
!. 14.6271O6 pounds, this being deereas
= Of 9O4. .O45 pounds from last years re-
ord; but this proves nothing, snuff b'
. ing product which is aged befor
. sale. and the last two years combine
2 show gain of pretty large propo
al ffpne