The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-07-17

| Empire Tobacco Company of Canada. By
close and careful attention to the bust
ness, his thorough knowledge of leaf to-
bacco and his business foresight, he has
made himself an important factor in the
Canadian tobacco business: and, though
still a young man, he is said to be one
of the best experts on the continent. He
is now at the head Of the Empire To-
bacco Company's Leaf Department, and
has his headquarters in bennington, On
tario.
Mr.. Gregory is now spending the sum
mer in North Carolina, and will have
the pleasure of seeing his many friends
throughout the State.
The following extract from a speech
delivered in the Canadian House of Com
mons by Hon. NJ. K. Cowan, NJ. P, on the
tobacco industry of that country, and
printed in the Toronto Blobe,' is not
uninteresting in this connection. 1t will
be noted that in this speech the expert
testimony Of Mr.. w. T. Gregory figures
conspicuously, and was very favorably
commented upon by the Canadian press.
In the course of his remarks in the
House Mr.. Cowar said:
"Then l come to w. T. Gregory, who is
a native Of a tobacco district, who was
brought up in the leaf tobacco trade,
and has been for years expert tobacco
buyer for the largest factories in the
United States. For two years he has
been buying in Essex. When the attack
was made on Canadian tobacco by the
honorable member for Richmond, N. s.,
(Mr. Gillies}, expecting to follow that
honorable gentleman, l telegraphed to
Mr.. Gregory asking him to wire reply
as there was no time to communicate by
mail. l have here Mr.. Gregory's tele-
gram in answer.
March 10, 1900.
To M. K. Cowan.
In reply to your inquiry, would say
that the class of grown leaf
that enters into the manufacture of to-
bacco is Of the same type and equal in
quality to the foreign leaf used by man
ufacturers in this country.
Il subsequently wrote to Mr.. Gregory.
asking him three questions. First, what
his experience had been; second, the
names OF the firms for whom he had pur-
chased in the United States, and third,
their financial standing. l will give you
his reply:
LIN reply to question No. /, regarding
my experience in tobacco, will state that
| have been in business thirteen wears.
and during that time nave bought -. 0OO.-
O00 pounds OF tobacco. Bought two years
Tor j. ID. Cooper, exporter and Spectator;
bought four years for Allen & Ginter. one
largest firms in the United States. and
was for seven years buyer for the Amer
lean Tobacco Company at Rocky Mount.
n. c.
was raised on a tobacco farm, and
nave seen the tobacco business in all its
forms, from the field to manufactured
product. The firms named are of national,
reputation. as you asked me to state
size and standing Of firms that the writer
/ represented.
IN regard to the amount of Burley
used would ask you to notice this
point particularly, and I wish TO diyerge
again TO say that nearly nine-tenths Of
me TOBACCO consumed in Canada outside
of fancy Virginia grades, cigarettes and
havana cigars, is made from the Burlev
type:
In reply to question No. .. in regard
10 amount OF Burley used in manufacture
OF plack chewing tobacco in Canada. will
say that the Burley type is used al
most exclusively. In regard to .smok-
ing, VIII state that it IS not used to
!he extent as for chewing, but the writer
mas seen a remarkable, yes. phenomenal
&c III the sale Of Burley smoking
= rs past Twelve months. The State of
hehtucky (Which produces Burlev exclu-
7Nely) IS by far the largest tobacco-pro-
e 0'ate IN America, and a very large
majority OF all tobaccos are made from
ne 0urley type, Virginia and Carolina
sps oelng used almost exclusively
uof cigarette and light smoking. Canada
- capable OF producing a type of tobacco
tLdt III naVor, texture and general chow
VIII onpare most favorablv with
the hentucky product. In fact. there is
tooacco IN the warehouse in Leamino+on
no" that IS equal in every respect to Tho
foreign leaf Our growers are lust ha-
ginning 10 reach that stage where +hev
can gro" 1t to perfection, having nasse5
tne experimental stage, Il &
) the opinion of one of the best
] TOBACCO experts on the continent" 80