The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1901-08-23
TIE
wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edgerton, Wisconsin.
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES.

Though the information may be re-
ceived with some surprise, 1t is never
theless true that buying of the new Wis
corsin crop has commenced. The first
point of attack was in the new tobacco
sections of Dunn and Chippewa coun- |
ties which for the first time last season
raised about rs acres, the bulk of it very
good leaf. Buyers for the American Ci-
gar Co. dropped in there early in the
week and have since about cleaned up
that section, our correspondent in an
other column giving the particulars and
prices paid. Contracts were made with
the crop about one-half harvested. In
formation that comes to us from Vernon
county is that about fifteen buyers OF
the American Cigar Co. are riding the
tobacco districts and some sales have
also been made at prices ranging from s
to Il cents. Other buyers have of course
been attracted to the field and the whole
country will be swarming with tobacco
men before the week is out. The grow
ers are reported not as anxious to sign
contracts as in other years, not having
forgotten the trouble in delivering their
crops under written contracts last sea-
son. Further developments will be
awaited with interest.
***
With full knowledge that the growing
crop of Wisconsin tobacco was bound to
be short one, every growing section of
the state has been carefully inspected by
local buyers of late, and wherever a field
gave promise of producing anything like
desirable tobacco memorandums Of this
fact have been noted. Last week the Yer
nom county district was fairly swarming
with tobacco men and there were very
few fields that escaped inspection. This
county having been favored with rains
while the lower country was drouth
stricken, it was expected that larger
growth would be found there and the
harvest more advanced. In some re-
:spects they were not disappointed, but
we learn from dealers who have ridden
the country that even though the drouth
had not effected the crop so seriously,
the. hot weather produced contraction
of the plants and nowhere is the crop as
'leafy as other years. The green tobacco
worm in some fields has been doing
vast amount of damage and was never
known to be SO plenty. Growers have
been compelled to put on additional
help to worm the fields. It is very un-
usual thing for worms to be troublesome
in Wisconsin tobacco fields and growers
seldom have reason to give their pres
ence as much attention as is required in
Ohio and many of the southern states.
Xxx
The IS. Tobacco Journal has figured
out that the consumption of Sumatra
wrappers is not keeping pace with the
general increase of cigar production and
is suspicious that domestic leaf is being
used for wrappers much more generally
than was supposed, for it says concern
ing the showing:
That not more Sumatra should have
been consumed by the industry that pro-
duced during the past fiscal year nearly
six billions and half of cigars, big and
little, will no doubt come as great sur
prise to the trade. Worse still, the con-
of Snmatra does not seem to
rise with the phenomenal increases in
our cigar production. 1t averaged $4,000
to "a 900 bales a year when our cigar
production was only four billions, and it
still averages the same amount in spite
of the fact that Our cigar production has
increased more than so per cent. Evi-
IDENTIFY our domestic and not the foreign
wrapper leaf got the benefit from the
increase of our cigar pro-
duction.
On the other hand, the steadiness of
the quantity of Sumatra absorbed an
nually for the past five or six years
should serve our importers as warning
not to overstock themselves. The i'm |
ports on July already show surplus |
of two million pounds, or fully 80 per
cent. of the probable consumption dur |
ing the current fiscal year.
~
A recent dispatch from Porto Rico
says that the removal of the tariff has |
brought about revival of the tobacco |
trade in that island.
Owing to the removal of the tariff the |
tobacco business is reviving. One big |
factory here resumed operations and 150 |
hands are now employed in making ci-
gars. Other factories in the interior are
also starting up, and general boom is
anticipated. The large stock of tobacco
on hand is being rushed to New York.
Formerly shipments were Improbable
under the tariff. The people are await
ing with expectancy the decision of Sec
retary of the Treasury Gage regarding
the coffee tariff and meantime are for
tifying themselves by signing boycott