The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1901-07-12
THE
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edgerton, Wisconsin.
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES,

IU Uc CIuIulul We dlO GILL IPOAAOo "
say at this writing the prospects for the
tobacco crop are not at all promising.
The burning heat and scorching winds
of late are proving disasterously trying
to all crops. Tobacco that has been
any time the past three
weeks in the extreme southern portion
of the state has been so completely
burned out that it is practically of no
account. The plant beds have also been
so fired that it seems out of the question
to complete the planting even If rains
come soon. The lateness of the season
now would almost preclude any further
transplanting even under better condi-
tions. July Is is too late for planting
in this latitude. Under the most favor
able circumstances from this on, not
much over two-thirds of the intended
acreage will be standing in the fields at
this writing. What the outlook will be
week hence is hard to predict. We
very much dislike to give unfavorable ac-
counts of the crop but the truth must be
told. If failure should come it is time
enough to announce it when it arrives
and not discount bare probability now.
The folly of damage scares was amply
demonstrated in last seasons crop when
the growers we're the sufferers, by SINH
lar untruths. Give the new crop show.
***
The eastern tobacco markets are aWak-
ening to the fact that there is very likely
to be shortage of cigar leaf before the
new crops are available to the manufac-
turers. The output of cigar factories
continues at high water mark and no
surplus of stock suitable to their needs
seems anywhere in sight. The past six
months the manufacturers have been
buying from hand to mouth and very
few have stocks laid by for future needs
as in other years. Never before for many
years in the history of the New York city
market has domestic cigar leaf been so
completely sold out from packers ware
houses. The fact is the enormous out
put of cigars and cigarettes the past two
years has cleaned up about every scrap
of available tobacco which could be used
at reasonable price. Then, too, the
esssport trade year ago took large guam
titles of filler goods which could now be
used to advantage in this country. Far
seeing dealers who can read the signs
Alright can we'll determine what is bound
to happen shortly in the seed leaf mar
ket. It is unfortunate that so few local
dealers will be able to profit by the sit
uation.
Tobacco growers will be especially in
terested in a recent statement made by
Secretary Wilson to the president and
members of the cabinet. Secretary Will
son pointed out that this country pro-
duces about $50 100000 worth of tobacco,
and buys abroad about S13,OOO,OO0 worth
of the finer grades, not less than $5,OOO,-
600 going for Sumatra wrappers. He
said the department was instructing the
farmers how to produce this fine wrap
per tobacco, with such success that we
took the gold medal at the Paris exposi-
tion on the finer grades of wrapper leaf
He said the department is now conduct
ing the experiments which are expected
to result in success.
The above statement is the offence
that has caused the U. S. Tobacco Jour-
nal to say: GAS rainbow chaser Sec.
Wilson should be awarded the finest
leather medal by the Pan-American Ex-
position" and continues the argument as
follows:
"If the Secretary actually made the
above statement he merely talked through
his hat to justify the extravaganza of
Congress in it's ever-increasing appropri-
ations to his department. For he can
not be as ignorant as he talks, because
he would then be totally unfit for his
ury of millions and millions more to con-
duct experiments till doomsday, and he
will not be able with all the scientific
and fake talent at his disposal to pro-
duce filler tobacco that will displace
I1O hdFdud duu d wrapper IudC Will us
place the Sumatra. He could do it only
if he could change the soil and climate
of this country into that of the islands
of Cuba and Sumatra, but even the
brazenness of the Department of Agri-
culture will stop from claiming such a
wizard power"
***
The Porto Rico legislature met in
special session, July 4, summoned by
Gov. Allen, to pass joint resolution
notifying President Mckinley that with
the island annexed free trade may be
put into operation as estimates of local
taxation show the income will meet all
bills. On receiving this notice the pres
ident is required, by the terms of the
Foraker law, to issue proclamation to
establish free trade between Porto Rico
and the u. S. Now that the markets of
the U. S. are about to be thrown open to
all the tropical products of that island,
tobacco growers may soon expect to see
a trade of considerable proportion built
up by tobacco merchants. The Porto
crop of '00 made about 100000 lbs. and
was very poor, common grade, late as a
whole Under normal conditions the