The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-07-15

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 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. M. X. 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.. Cowan said:
''Then | come to w. T. Gregory who is
q native of 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, NJ s..
(Mr. Gillies), expecting to follow that
honorable gentleman, 1 telegraphed to
Mr.. Gregory asking him to wire reply
as there was no time to communicate by
mail l have here Mr.. Gregorys tele-
gram in answer.
March 10, 1900.
To M. X. Cowan.
In reply to your inquiry, would say
that the class of Canadian grown leaf
bacco is Of the same type and equal in
quality to the foreign leaf used by man
ufacturers in this country.
II 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:
In reply to question No. 1, regarding
my experience in tobacco. will state that
l have been in business thirteen years,
and during that time have bought Is .000,-
600 pounds OF tobacco. Bought two years
for j. d. 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..
al was raised on tobacco farm, and
have seen the tobacco business in all it's
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.
IS In regard to the amount of Burley
used-I would ask you to notice this
point particularly, and / wish to diverge
again to say that nearly nine-tenths of
the tobacco consumed in Canada outside
OF fancy Virginia grades. cigarettes and
Havana cigars, is made from the Burley
type:
In reply to question No. 2, in regard
to amount of Burley used in manufacture
of black chewing tobacco in Canada, will
say that the Burley type is used al
most exclusively. In regard to "smok-
Ing will state that it is not used to
the extent as for chewing, but the writer
has seen remarkable, yes, phenomenal
increase in the sale of Burley smoking
in the past twelve months. The State of
Kentucky (which produces BurIey exclu-
sively) is by far the largest tobacco pro-
ducing State in America, and very large
majority of all tobaccos are made from
the Burley type, Virginia and Carolina
tobaccos being used almost exclusively
for cigarette and light smoking. Canada
is capable, Of producing a type of tobacco
that in flavor, texture and general char
acter will compare most favorably with
the Kentucky product. In fact, there is
tobacco in the warehouse in bennington
now that Is equal in every respect to the
foreign leaf. Our growers are just be-
ginning to reach that stage where they
can grow it to perfection. having passed
the experimental stage,
"That is the opinion Of one of the best
tobacco experts on the continent"