The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-08-15
TIE
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edgerton, Wisconsin.
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES.

The weather of the week has not been
what the tobacco growers wished for to
finish out the crop for the harvest. The
temperature for several days was cool
and at night dropping pretty close to the
freezing point. Such weather is unus-
ual at this time of the year and is espec
tally unseasonab BILE for either the ripening
of tobacco or the development OF the
later fields. There is tendency in cool
weather for thickening of the leaf,
condition undesirable for good binder
tobacco. Neither do the later fields
with such weather take on the spread
that is hoped for. There is also consid-
cradle disappointment concerning the
size of the tobacco that is now being
harvested. Despite the fact that the
crop had most excellent start and came
up under the most favorable conditions
for some weeks, it has not reached de-
velopment that was expected. So far as
our information goes there are but few
pieces OF really large growth in the early
tobacco. The later fields would reach a
better average size leaf if the cool wealth
er does not continue too long. The har
vest is now we'll started in all sections
and will be in full swing the coming
ing week. The crop now being secured
is exceptionally sound and is going into
the curing sheds in fine condition.
Xxx
The annual report of the Commission
er of Internal Revenue contains interest
ing figures concerning the domestic to-
baoco manufacturing industry. The re-
suit SO far as chewing and smoking
tobacco and snuff are concerned, was, Of
course, due to the further reduction of
the internal revenue tax, July lst, with
rebate of three and six tenths cents per
pound, under the act of April II, 1902.
1t was generally believed, however, that
the overproduction in anticipation of
the reduction and rebate would be much
less this year than last year. But, as a
matter of fact, there was more. The
continued remarka BILE activity of our cl-
gar manufacturers was In no wise due,
however, to prospective tax change,
and the gain is all the more important
in that it was over an output stimulated
last year by pending reduction and re-
bate, small but important. Even the
cigarette industry has shown some inn
proyement during the year, and the out
put, while still far behind lS97-l09S and
several previous years, exceeds both 1900
1901 and 1899-1900. AS revenue pro
ducer the tobacco industry did not, of
course, equal it's enormous record Of
1899 1900 and 190O-19O1, but the aggre-
gate collections, nearly S52 100000, we're
not far behind the total for the first year
the full war revenue taxes we're in force.
Since the institution of the system of in
ternal revenue taxation, in 1862, the to-
bacco industry has paid the government
the enormous total of 81 800 ,399 ,548.S.
THE FISCAL YEARS RESULTS.
1901 1902. 19OO-19O1. Increase
Tobacco, lbs 298, ,O48, ,339 294,1O415 3,946,624
Cigars, No. 6, 1OS, ,567 265 5O,934369 1862, 1896
Small cigars. .76O, ,932,37O 6o4,504050 76,42S,320
Small .ta, ,64a se1 ,s14 s,s71 ,e2e 81 sss ,s1s
Large. 49,. 8, ,656, 1858 5,447192 32O9,661
Total .2, ,65l, ,e1s,7e7 2,977. .O69818 7454s, ,979
Snuff, lbs . II. .6T 1876 1881 841 979 292
Includes 2,275 5,510,055 at S10S per thousand,
and 367, ,451, ,SS9 at 81 cents per thousand
In every particular save paper wrapped
cigarettes the output during 19O1-l9O2
was substantially greater than in any
previous year, and all made very salts
factory gains over 19O0-1901.
*x*
just how far into the northern coun-
ties of the state tobacco culture can be
successfully extended is yet question
to decide. Mr.. G. S. Curtis of Wausau
thinksit can be done beyond the middle
of the state. In a recent interview he
says: 1.-The soil upon which the pines
grew is good for more things than is sup
posed. We are proud of our fine grasses
and pasturage and of the stock that is
bred ON them and we are proud of the
other Things we are raising. Now we
have tried tobacco, which is generally
thought of as southern crop, and our
soil, you know is still regarded by many
as an arctic soil. Experiments have
shown that tobacco grows we'll in the
soil and We are trying now to see ii it is
a safe and paying crop. If it SO proves,
Marathon county will become good to-
bacco country. The growing of tobacco
is a great industry in Wisconsin and year
by year the crop reaches further north.
Marathon county is the farthest north
they have dared to try it as crop, al
though some choice leaf was ripened in
a garden as towering plant at Iron
wood several years ago. We are filling
up the country up north and every new
thing we find to grow with profit helps
us just that much in developing the
country. People ought to come up in
the valley and see just what it can do. y
***
Manufacturers who are shy on Wis
consin binders are taking an active in
terest in other tobaccos that promise to
make good substitutes, says the New
York Leaf. This morning disposed of
a good sized lot of the new Pennsylvania
that caught the fancy of one of our man
ufacturers. And l don't think he will
have any reason to regret his purchase
either. There is no denying the fact
that forced sweating is great aid to to-
bacco that is inclined to 60 wrong in the
cases. I saw packed last winter lot of
120 cases of tobacco that am sure
would not have been worth ten cents a