The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-14
SOUTH CAROLINA TOBACCO.
GOVERNMENT BEGINS TO RECOG-
NIZE ITS IMPORTANCE,

Department OF Agriculture Called
on for a Soil Survey and Expert
mental WOrI-Fair Prospects for
Production of Cuban Filler Leaf.
Department Has Arranged to Make
Experiments This Line in
North Carolina, and VIII Probably v
DO SO in south Carolina.
Columbia, Jan. 13.-Tobacco culture
has made wonderful progress in the en-
tire eastern section of South Carolina
within the past five years and as the
people become more expert in raising
it the foreign markets have shown a.
preference for the product of this state
The people believe that in certain sec
tions that an article can be produced
that can compare favorably with Gu
man tobacco-that is a filler" can be
produced that will equal the Cuban
product in manufacture of cigars.
Efforts are being made to attract the
attention of the national government
and induce il to include South Caro-
lima in it's experiment work. If the
department is assured of public inter-
est in the matter OF soif survey will be
made of a large portion of the state.
Almost every other state in the Union
has had Typographical maps made of
large areas yet up to now South Caro-
lima has none.
The survey would expend something
near the $50 900 mark as we'll as dis
close the wealth and resources of the
state.
The foIIoyinor oorroeyondaaao ha-
Just been made public and explains it
self:
U. S, Department of Agriculture,
Bureau of Soils,
Washington, ID. G.
Hon. a. G. Latimer, House of Repre-
sentativcs.
Dear Sir: Since the markedly sue
cessful results of the departments ex-
pertinent of introducing Sumatra to-
bacco in the Connecticut valley and of
the work on fermentation and the pre-
vention of black rot i'm Pennsylvania,
and since it has been announced that
the secretary has directed me to seek
for possibilities of producing a desir-
able filler leaf for domestic cigars to to
compete with the Cuban product, L
have had a number of urgent requests
that such experiments be made both
in North and South Carolina. The
North Carolina department of agricul-
ture has urged us very strongly to CO.
operate with them, and as we have
extensive soil surveys in that state, it
is my purpose to inaugurate expert
ments there next summer to see what
are the possibilities of raising the Gu
ban type of tobacco.
We had not looked for favorable con-
ditions in either of these states for
the production of domestic filler, but I
have recently had some samples sent
me from eastern South Carolina, claim-
ed to have been raised from Cuban
seed, which surprised me very much
and which indicate the possibility at
least of obtaining desirable product,
provided the proper method of hand
ling and cultivation are introduced
In view of these requests and the
unexpected indication that the Gu
ban filler leaf may possibly be pro-
duced in South Carolina, it seems to
me that it might be well to consider
the starting of a soil survey, to be
followed as promptly as possible by
the tobacco investigation. I should
| like to inquire of you whether you
think the interest in such work in
that state and the prospects of the
people taking advantage of the results
would be sufficiently great to warrant
us in considering South Carolina in
our plans for next year. The demands
for both lines of work are exceedingly
pressing and ] am not sure that we
could arrange for their extension
there, but | want to get all the infor-
nation possible regarding the advisa-
bility of entering that state to aid me
in formulating plans for the coming
| season. Very respectfully. Milton
Whitney, chief of bureau.
In his reply Congressman Latimer
assures MIR. Whitney of his interest
in this movement, and his desire to
cooperate in every manner possible,
promising to call the attention of par
| ties interested in the matter.