The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-02-21
TIE
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edperton. Wisconsin.
NOTE BOOB SKETCHES.

NOTE BOOK SkEIUHhS.
The tobacco dealers whose business
has been largely of an export nature in
former years are somewhat puzzled over
the condition of trade that confronts
them at the present time. Foreign ex-
port markets have long been considered
the dumping ground for the low grade
goods of all cigar leaf producing states.
If the goods could be offered cheap
enough there was no question about the
quantities that could be unloaded in this
market. AS long as this condition pre-
vailed there was never danger of the
home markets being overstocked with
goods unsuitable for domestic needs and
the better grades of leaf were never men
aced by unstable tobacco. But the ex-
porters are now facing different propo-
sition. Of late years the European mar
kets are calling for better grade of leaf
for which they are willing to pay better
prices. They want the same grades the
home markets would consume and ne
glecting the cheap grades which the leaf
dealers would like to sell abroad. Filler
leaf is no longer saleabse to export except
Of the thin, leafy variety that will answer
the purposes of binder market. Bra
lillian tobacco has stepped in and mo-
nopolized the foreign markets for cheap
leaf. That country has already unload
ed upon the European markets more to-
bacco than the manufacturing needs by
at least 100000 bales the present season.
The question is now up to the Wisconsin
dealer If he buys the cheaper grades OF
last seasons crop with a view OF export
ing it where will be found a market tor
it, and what can he afford to pay, taking
his chances of holding his purchase un-
til an overcrowded Earopean market is
relieved. The present outlet seems
rather in converting the low grade goods
into stripping stock FOR which there is a
certain domestic demand.
sw*
From the Treasury statistics of i'm
ports and exports of leaf tobacco the u.
S. Tobacco Journal has figured out that
the total quantity of foreign leaf con
s,aned the year ending in Eaegemher
equals about 0ne-sixth of the total Leaf
consumed in the cigar industry. La
other words, of the 20odd million pounds
of foreign leaf imported, nearly 5 million
were of wrapper and Is million filler to-
hacco. The consumption 'of Sumabra
leaf is fgUced at $4,000 bales or 1000
more than in 1900 There was in bond
on January LIST $4,000 bales or consider
ably more than was consumed during
the year. Another crop will now be of
fered ia about a month. In filler leaf
the consumption was about 100000 bales,
of which 125,0O0 bales were of Havana
tobacco. This is much less than our
actual consumption of Havana leaf
should be. If it had kept pace with the
increase of OUR cigar production since
1898 it should have reached 100000 bales.
1t is evident, therefore, that the largest
and almost the only benefciaries of the
enormous increases La our cigar produc-
tion since 1898 amust have been .our do
naestic leaf growers.
~
The American Economist is authority
for the statement that 95 per cent of all
the cigars manufactured in Cuba are
controlled by trust which is practically
IN English hands. and the tobacco lands
are more or less controlled by this same
trust. 1t is this trust that demands
these concessions; it is this crust which
would be benefited, not the planter in
the Island of Cuba. The entire capital
invested ia the raising of tobacco, in the
packing of the leaf, and in the making of
cigars in the United States is probably
not less than S2O0,O00,O00, and the num-
Der of people employed is somewhere in
the neighborhood of ]. 100000. Yet it is
proposed that this vast industry be Civ
en- over, bound hand and foot, to the gi-
gantlc trust above referred to. Ii this
be not at the bottom of all agitation, and
ii this is not the source from which the
sentiment is created, then there must
exist promise made by some one that
We will do certain things. Why should
the tobacco industry be singled out to
make good this i'll advised promise? If
it be moral obligation, why not draw
on the overfowing Treasury of the u. S.
and discharge this obligation, instead of
crippling so vast an industry? In the
last year we have taken practically 80
per cent of all the tobacco that was
raised in the Island of Cuba, and the
prices for the article in Cuba have been
above the average, and the trade reports
state that the prices are constantly ad-
vancing on what is left of the 1900 crop.
None of this tobacco is in the hands of
the planter. True, Ghere are large quan-
titles held in Havana to be dumped on
this country just as soon as they succeed
in lowering the duty. The reports from
Cnba further state that there is scar
city of labor, and that the price of labor
is quite high. Now, in view of these
facts, so far as the tobacco industry of
Cuba is concerned, who are they that are
starving? Who besides the spectators
in tobacco realize the urgency of relief?