The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-03-07
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Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edgerton, Wisconsin.
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES.

NOTE BOOK SKETCHES.
It is altogether likely that the tobacco
trade will protest vigorously against the
increased insurance rates, as we'll as the
instructions regarding the rating OF all
tobacco risks which the companies have
decided to enforce. The advance is so
marked and the regulations so radical as
to practically prohibit the using of a
certain class of buildings as storage
for tobacco. Already there is talk in
some quarters of forming mutual COM
panies among packers of tobacco to
carry the insurance risks that have here
tofore been the business of the old line
companies. One thing seems evident,
if the board companies insist on the rad
ical policy already outlined they must be
content to receive less insurance in the
line of tobacco risks. Insurance has al
ways been one of the large items of ex-
pense in conducting the tobacco busl-
ness and many packers feel there should
be limit somewhere in the amount
charged to this expense.
*A*
No long ago a prominent Philadelphia
newspaper, alluding to the opposition OF
the tobacco growers of the United States
to a reduction Of the present duty on
Cuban tobacco, suggested that our to-
bacco farmers should give up the grow
ing of that plant and betake themselves
to growing other crops. It was, perhaps,
the most foolish utterance made by lg-
norance in high places. 1t is recalled
now by a pamphlet called "Industrial
Cuba" This little pamphlet is wholly
devoted to showing how advantageous
reduction of our tariff on Cuban sugar
and tobacco would be to this country.
1t tells us that Cuba is almost wholly an
agricultural country, and yet, during
1901, her people imported food stuffs to
| the value of $22,O0O,OOO. Now, what
blanked lot of fools these same Cubans
| must be, living in a country that is cal
most wholly agricultural' to keep on
growing sugar and tobacco in a ten-fold
excess of their needs, and which, accord
ing to their own story, they cannot sell
at profit, when they might raise the
S22OO0000 worth of food stuffs which
they are compelled to import from for
| eign countries. We are further told, OBJ
| serves the Lancaster New Era, in this
same Cuban pamphlet that 'the island
! is peculiarly adapted to the growing of
fruit and vegetables" but that last year
4 '5400O000 was paid for the former and
| 100000 for the latter Why is it that
| these people do not raise the articles
| they buy from foreign countries when
| they could do it SO easily at home? Why
do they persist in growing tobacco and
sugar at prices that leave them no profit,
| as they say, when they could ease up
the situation by more diversified farm
| ing? These are questions which our
! Philadelphia contemporary should study
| without delay.
***
This is the philosophy of the Sparta
Democrat:
"Humph! She's only tobacco sorter"
| was the manner in which Sparta young
LADY" recently referred to an employe
of the tobacco warehouses. Well, and
| what if she is "only tobacco sorter?''
If she is pure and good she is the equal
| in the sight of God to any other woman.
If she is ''oNLY tobacco sorter" she is
earning an honest living in one of the
ways the Almighty has provided, and in
| perhaps the only way just now open to
her. To be "ONLY tobacco sorter" is a
| credit, not a crime merits praise instead
of sneers-and if every woman could
| truthfully say, when questioned by st.
| Peter at the gate, II was ONLY tobacco
sorter," there would be a decided in
| creae in the female population of Para
| disc.
| *
| The Kerbs, Wertheim & Schiller fac
| tory of the United Cigar Manufacturers
| has been improved, and several changes
| to facilitate business have been made.
| The Office force has been moved up one
flight, where they can work without in
terruption, and the space they occupied
on the ground floor has been converted
into private offices and spacious recep-
| tion room. These changes are decided
| improvements and the business now
runs smoothly and with an entire lack
| of hustle which was apparent under old
| conditions. The demand for the factory
| brands continues enormous, and it main
tanned throughout the year the prophet
ors expect the output of the com mbination
to approximate to 3O0,0OO,O0O. The re-
cent addition of two factories. one at
Perkosie and the other at Sellersville,
Pa, has relieved the pressure somewhat,
| and gives them twelve factories in active
operation, but the completion of the new
| factory at 68th street and Avenue A is
anxiously awaited. The new building
was to have been ready by May l, but
| inclement weather has interfered some
| what, and it is feared that the date of
completion will be delayed. The demand
| for General Arthur Robert Burns, Owl,
Capadura, Henry George and Tom
Moores is such that larger manufacture
ing facilities are absolutely necessary
| u. S. Tobacco Journal.
| ~
| According to the annual report of the
Secretary of Agriculture, just received,
the recommendations of the Department
have been followed in the methods of