The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-22
Plug TOBiCCO.
Its Consumption Has Fallen or, but an Old
Dealer Sings Its Praise.

Its Consumption Has Fallen OF, but an Old
Dealer Sings Its Praise.
The topic was the consolidation of the plug
tobacco Interests Of the country. recently ell
fected. making 1t the largest in the world. and
CIe # Il. Q oldest tobacco men in this city was
commenting on the time it had taken to bring
it about and the plug tobacco trade generally.
He said:
1T was In March. 1899. this matter was first
mooted. and the cause undoubtedly was the
difficulty OF finding n satisfactory way OF in
creasing the demand and selling the goods.
Although the figures OF production furnished
by the Government show a big increase in
that department. there Is no doubt that the
consumption OF plug tobacco has fallen of.
The increase shown Is due TO the fact that in
the returns smoking tobacco and chewing are
taken together as manufactured tobacco
bearing the same amount OF tax. so that al
though 1887 showed about BOZ, 100000 pounds
for tho year and S9S showed about 100000
600 pounds fiscal year., the increase is much
more in the smoking line than the chewing.
while the greatest profit lies in the latter.
ANY one who can look back thirty years
can remember that every one chewed. The
mems cabins on the 'ferrvboats were almost
imvassahle. At the theatre the flood flowed
from the rear of the orchestra seats so that
women had to sit with raised skirts and men
dare not place their hats under the seats.
What has done away with It? Well. largely
the introduction OF the cigarette At that
time boys al college who wanted to he manly
chewed because the men did. Later they
began TO smoke cigarettes instead. and so the
new generation did not chew. This view is
Endorsed by some OF the leading men in the
business.
II am rather sorry TO see the practice of
-. ..rn o,.n, MIA nhnurar IN a YpIn
was n good solid citizen: not light headed,
erratic or fighty. but given to careful thought.
and a pretty decent fellow at bottom. There
was also more fun around the chewing fra
ternity than ever there has been around cigars
or cigarettes. pipe smokers or shutters ! re,
war. / was out in, Galloway .countS, Mo, and
came across an old man boring l0;inch holes
with a lh.ineh 9it Int q ErettE solid ioE, and,
doing. He had Just bored the last Of Il chain
Of holes. three inches apart. the iull length Fl
show Yer. stranger Going to n bark %lean-to
he brought out tobacco leaf and q jar OF honey;
it down. dropped in a chunk OF honey, more
tobacco. more honey. ramming all tight NJ I'll
the. hole B, TS a. t fIled xo Tf ier q he @d %aI IN q a. plS ayn.
ing it twice n week he smiled heres a ripe
one, and Juggling out. another log from the
snlit Il from end 10 end, displaying two dozen
rude, but appetising plugs ready for use.
Me ana Ine DDSS kflH away VIII lhIt ~
mower during the winter nighCs. Try Il BIT
1T war the finest piece ! ever remembered
In another case q trend OF mine, a we'll known
dealer in Newark, \; j., in 1878 made z sum
Iaayenworth, Kan, was advised 10 take
plenty Of tobacco along, az II was better'n
money in that region. He did so,, and
wanted. one purchase being u pie. a sack Of
-four. a Young mig. bait for catfish. a gallon OF
home male wiLe and n basket OF line apples.
all bought for three twists and o deerskin
pouch costing n quarter in 1t. Louis.
Judges strong ~favorers OF the che wing brands,
and mighty good judges. too. There was a
Southern firm bought some plug OF q we'll
known Atlanta jobber and later refused to nay
for the goods. the plea being that the tobacco
was damagod. Tit case came up before the