The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-05-02
THE
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edgerton, Wisconsin.
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES.

NOTE BOOK SKETCHES.
The trade will wake up shortly to find
that the 1901 crop of Wisconsin is out of
growers hands. The absorbing process
has been going on so quietly that before
we are scarcely aware of the situation
the crop is practically gone. 1t is quite
probable that even at this writing it will
be hard to find twenty-five per cent of
the crop in the lower growing sections
yet in the farmers hands. At the pres
ent rate of buying it is only a question
of few weeks at most when the balance
is cleaned up The most singular feat
ure of the seasons business is that the
movement has taken place without the
help of any of the large operators whom
it was believed, a few years ago, were
necessary to move any crop of Wisconsin
leaf. It is quite likely that when the
buying is done the American Cigar Co.
will own about half the total crop. The
balance will be spread among a host of
small operators, the most of them local
spectators throughout the tobacco Sec
ton. For the first time in the history of
the state crop has been bought up
without the assistance of the eastern
tobacco dealers who usually furnish the
capital for the movement of the crop.
The fact remains that they are out of
the state for season at least people
who have handled Wisconsin tobacco
regularly for a quarter of a century or
more.
*.*
Packers Of tobacco who are accustom-
ed to satck up large quantities of leaf
in single warehouse are up against
new difficulty since the late insurance
restrictions were put into force. They
find they are unable to secure sufficient
insurance in single risk to make good
their losses Ina case of fire. It is not only
increased premiums and re-rating that
the insurance companies have put into
force, but they have ordered reduction
of lines carried in single warehouse.
Companies that were heretofore willing
to take $4,000 in risk now insist that
5000 is ample, and the $4,000 maximum
companies cut to $500 and SO on down
the list. Thus the aggregate insurance
which packer can spread among all the
companies which some of the large
agencies represent do not make enough
to cover the cost of the goods stored.
The tendency of these, regulations, of
course, will be to break up the bulk in
the Large storehouses and send it into
smaller buildings. The difficulty spoken
of does not apply only to the largest
storehouses-thoseh holding 5000 cases or
above-but will prove an annoying con-
ditionajust the same.
*x*
In some localities growers begin to
fear there will be shortage of plants
The.col dry weather delayed the start
ing Of the seed, while many were careless
about, watering the beds during the
drouth, all tending to give the seedbeds
late start. The heavy winds that pre-
vailed last week riddled many canvass
coverings and broke up the frames over
good deal of territory. Beds that were
covered with sand, straw and other loose
litter were stripped and in some in
stances the young plants were literally
blown out of the beds. The salvation of
the growers lies in having an abundance
OF plant bed area which most tobacco
farmers have learned to provide them
selves with to guard against such con-
tingencies as have arisen this season.
*x*
Let the results of the pending sale of
shade7grown leaf in Hartford be what
they may, there is no getting away from
the fact that the trade at large is deeply
interested in the experiment. And it is
equally obvious that there will be big |
attendance at the auction. The element |
of novelty may attract a few, but the |
majority will undoubtedly be on bust |
ness bent. A great deal depends on the |
outcome of this sale: it will determine |
whether or not shade grown tobacco is |
to be recognized as legitimate and i'm
portant factor of the industry or as a |
side issue. From the very beginning the |
Leaf has sought to encourage the enter
prise by all the means at it's command. |
and naturally takes something more than
a perfunctory interest in the issue.-N.
Y. Leaf.
*x*
: The Washington correspondent of the
n. I. Tribune telegraphs his paper that
the Senate leaders are preparing an inde-
pendent bill for reciprocity with Cuba
and utterly ignore the crazy patchwork
of the House on that subject. With this
object in view eiohteen of the most in |