The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-04-11
TIE
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edgeton. Wisconsin.
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES.

At a recent meeting of the GAINESVILLE
Leaf Tobacco association considerable
time was devoted to the discussion of
the advance in insurance rates which
many of the old time companies are seek
ing to put in force. So far number of
companies have been found who con-
tinue to insure at the old rates, and these
companies are getting all the new bust
ness. The question of forming local
insurance company was discussed by the
large number present at the meeting
and goodly number of them were
strongly in favor of stock company
with capital of from 100000 to $780,
600. It was generally thought that such
an enterprise would be paying invest
ment and about half dozen at the
meeting offered to take $1,000 each, and
some of them larger share. 1t appears
from the report of Insurance Commls-
sioner Giljohann that S., ,3O7 was re-
celved by the companies operating IN
this state as premiums on business writ
ten the past year. There was paid in
losses S3,758, ,146, or IS per cent of all
premiums was paid out to the insured.
In the light of these figures it may read
lily be seen that after the expenses are
paid the insurance companies did not
pocket very large profit on their Wis
consin business last year. 1t is we'll
known, however, that the profit on the
tobacco risks must be much larger than
the total shows.
Xxx
The census returns Of 1900 covering
tine tobacco manufacturing industry have
just been made public and contain some
interesting comparisons The aggregate
value of all products manufactured was
$263, ,076,546 in 1900. In spite of the ten
dency toward consolidation the total
number. of establishments increased 81
per cent and the capital increased 29.1
per cent. The number of wage earners
increased during the decade 15.9 per
cent and wages rose 11.9 per cent. The
cost of materials had advanced 16.1 per
cent while the value of the products in
creases 4s237 per cent; which is twice
that of the advance in labor and mater
ials. The magnitude of this industry it
would seem is sufficient to impress upon
congress the dangers of tariff legislation,
having tendency to disturb the salts
factory business conditions. Can as
much be gained to our people by grant
ing concessions to Cubans as we stand
to lose through our magnanimity?
***
Either someone has been stuffing Con-
gressman Babcock with lot of facts
that are not so, or he is hedging from his
position upon the Cuban tariff conces-
sion, if the correspondent of the Mil
waukee Journal tells the truth. In any
event Babcock displays an ignorance of
the tobacco situation that is laughable
in the following: Mr.. Babcock has no
beet sugar in his district, but Vernon
county raises good deal of tobacco, and
he tells me that the reciprocal arrange
ment with Cuba will benefit rather than
injure the Wisconsin tobacco raisers. It
seems that climatic conditions have so
largely to do with the quality of tobacco
that Wisconsin leaf will make better
cigar wrapper in New York than it will
in Wisconsin; a still better one in Key
West than in New York, and if worked
up in Havana, it improves still more.
Experiments have proved this, and in re.
cent years Wisconsin tobacco has been
shipped to Florida for this purpose.
With reduction of the tariffs between
Cuba and the United States, Mr.. Bah
cock says that Wisconsin tobacco will be
sent to Havana and used there for wrap
pers, with the resulting advantage to
Wisconsin that it's tobacco market will
be enlarged and benefited.
According to reports from Louisville,
KY, the tobacco trust known as the
Continental Tobacco company has pur-
chased controlling interest in the F. f.
Adams Tobacco company of Milwaukee.
E. G. Lutz of that city has come to Mil
waukee to represent the new stockhold-
ers, and. according to the dispatches re-
ferred to, he becomes a stockholder and
director in the company. He himself
says that his position is that of chief
clerk, and that he has come to the Mil
waukee firm as a result of reorganiza-
tion of the company. 1t is said that the
firm contemplates some extensive i'm
provements on its property.
*x*
A cigar leaf tobacco grower, who re-
ported that he proposed to manufacture
cigars from tobacco which he raised
himself, and who inquired whether he
would be required to qualify as a manu-
facturer and pay tax on the cigars, was
advised that every person who makes
cigars for himself, or employs others to
make or manufacture cigars is regarded
as manufacturer of cigars within the
meaning of the law, and is required to
make return on form IL and pay special
tax; and in addition to this requirement
,oI1Ct filn cfatorppt On form S61/ and