The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-09-04
CENTERS In EDGERTON.
How the Tobacco Industry Has Built up
The Town.


sity of her agricultural interests Wiscon-
sin possesses many resources which en-
rich the farmer. Among the more
important agencies adding to the wealth
of the farmers at the rate approximate
ly of 100000 annually is the tobacco
industry. In 1901 the total Wisconsin
tobacco acreage was 32,7O0 and last year
the reports show that 34.O19 acres were
utilized. The average yield for the two
years per acre was between 400 and
1900 pounds, and in the tobacco markets
of the state the yield brought from 5115
to S125 per acre.
Edgerton is the greatest cigar leaf to-
bacco center in the world, as it is the
principal packing point for this quality
of tobacco. In 1900 over so per cent of
the entire tobacco crop of Wisconsin was
handled at this point, and one firm alone
during that year expended over $4,000
for purchases of the product. The ex-
tent and Importance of the tobacco
warehouse proposition, as showing the
scope and character Of the tobacco bust
ness in this place, can be apprehended
when it is said that there are forty-three
large tobacco houses located here, and
that the labor employed in packing and
tutes the principal industry of this thrifty
city. The growth and development of the
industry has been so rapid that even the
business public of the state has paid lit
tie attention to the matter. Edgerton
has for many years been looked upon as
tobacco center, and that fact is practic-
ally all that is known. The financial
Importance to the farmers of Wisconsin
IF ho fol ho h,1c ipto
ests it attracts to the state, and the i'm
mensity of this one industry, as we'll as
the prospect for future development, are
matters of special interest to the people
of this state.
BEGINS ON SMALL SCALE.
The city is the central packing station
for the larger portion of the tobacco
grown in Wisconsin. Radiating from
here the tobacco men have branch ware
houses throughout the tobacco belt.
During the last two or three years there
has been a remarkable growth of tobacco
from the original tobacco counties. 1t is
claimed here that tobacco growing for
the markets can be traced to men who
immigrated from Connecticut thirty five
years ago and who began the work upon
a small scale. The first crop was grown
in 1862 in the town of Fulton, by Ralph
Pomeroy. From a small beginning a
business aggregating millions of dollars
annually has been built up. The prin-
cipal tobacco producing county in the
world is Dane. Rock county is next in
acreage and production. For many years
practically the entire market production
of the entire state was confined to these
81,
such, had it's origin here, gradually the
field has been extended, until today one
of the principal producing counties is
Vernon. Monroe county also shows con-
siderable development along these lines.
Crawford, Grant and other southwestern
counties are beginning the culture to a
marked degree. In the more northerly
portion, Pierce, EauClaire and Chippe-
wa counties are entitled by their produc-
ton to be classed among the tobacco
growing counties of Wisconsin. 1t is
claimed that the tobacco growing center
of the state is gradually moving north
ward. Expert tobacco men assert that
Vernon county is particularly adapted to
the culture; that it's side hills and ex-
ceedingly rich soiled valleys afford OPP
portunities for tobacco growing surpass-
ity. Eau Claire, Chippewa and Barron
counties are practically making their
start in this line of production AS the
assessors reports showing the acreage
of growing tobacco have not been com
piled for this year, it is impossible to
give the comparative county acreage,
but it is stated that the total this year
will he fully up to that of the last two
years.
QUESTION AS TO COST.
Opinions differ as to cost of raising to-
bacco. Farmers assert that it practical
ly costs cents pound to produce the
crop in Wisconsin. This is disputed by
men who have made practical tests in
raising the crop. In several instances
here, land has been leased by tobacco
men, and close account kept of the ex-
pense of everything pertaining to the
growing of the crop. In two cases inves-
tigated, the positive claim is made by
those who conducted the experiment
that the cost of growing these particular
crops was S3.75 a hundred pounds on
leased land costing S15 per acre. 1t
should be noted, however, in these cases,
all work was hired done, inclusive of all
teaming and cultivating. These men
claimed that the farmer can raise tobac-
co at a cost of $3.50 a hundred pounds,
varying somewhat with the season. Buy
ers here say that the yield per acre in
Wisconsin for the last three years has
reached total of about Sl15, equaling a
production of approximately 1900 pounds
per acre. The average production for
the last two years is claimed to be 1926
per acre by other competent judges
HEADQUARTERS POINTS IN THE STATE
These statements are made to give the
general public some idea of the posi-
bilities of tobacco growing, the amount
of money to be made, and some of the
business conditions surrounding the in
dustry IN this state. Edgerton, James
vile, Stoughton and Madison are the
headquarter points in this section of the
state. During the marketing season
hundreds of buyers make these places
their basic points from which to gather
the crop.
Men who have been engaged in the
business of raising and buying tobacco
for many years look with considerable
scepticism upon the proposition of grow
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