The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1903-01-02
TIE
Wisconsin Tobacco Reporter,
Edgerton, Wisconsin.
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES.


The year just closing has been one of
the most satisfactory ones the tobacco
growers of the state can recall. The
crop grown the past season, which was
counted better than the average, has
been a ready seller at very remunerative
prices. The crop has sold very largely
in the bundle, relieving the grower of
labor charges beyond that OF stripping.
The balance of the 1901 crop remaining
in growers hands was little sought after
from the close of the packing season un-
til recently when a movement has taken
in good share of these remnants but
at prices that offered less margin than
the earlier sales made in the bundle. 1t
is generally conceded that there is less
tobacco of all descriptions in country
hands than the average season at this
date. The deliveries the next few weeks
will bring to the tobacco growers the
largest amount of money ever before
taken for this product. The distribu
tion of between three and four million
dollars about the growing sections of our
state shortly must put an end to any
doubts about the profits farmers obtain
from tobacco culture.
~
With the local packers theyear has not
been one of the fat ones sometimes
known to the trade. The boom for 1900
passed early in the year and subsequent
sales were made on dragging market
and packers accepted less prices than
had prevailed before. While local pack
ers were not heavy investors in the 1901
crop, believing it cost too high, their
early convictions that it was not destined
to be money maker have SO far proven
true with regards those who packed the
crop. This crop has been slow seller
on the market so far, the release of a
few Vernon county packings comprising
the bulk of the sales, and these, too, it is
claimed without profit. The new year
will find the majority of local men with
smaller stocks of old leaf on hand than
is usually carried by them. Expectation
for better business the coming year is
hoped for. They believe that invest
ments in the new crop give promise OF
reasonable returns and are pinning
greater faith on the outcome of the COM
ing years business, despite the rate-cut
ting wars in the manufactured article.
The shadow of the great tobacco trust,
however, is making some of the dealers
cautic rs of the future.
~
Receiving of the new crop has pro-
gressed far enough now to indicate the
prominent features of the new crop.
Generally speaking the tobacco is COM
ing to the warehouses in very good pack
ing condition. Some portions of the
crop removed from the sheds early is in
rather light case, which is ordinarily
good fault unless it be too dry to pack.
Very little of high case or wet tobacco is
yet discovered. The crop is weighing
out much lighter than usual, a fact that
is causing some surprise because of the
well known large growth in the fields.
This is an evidence that the leaf is thin
as we'll as not in high case. Packers re-
port that the average yield of crops so
far received is considerably below 1900
pounds per acre probably 1900 pounds
would be the nearer figure. Should this
estimate be good throughout the crop,
there will be several thousand cases less
in the yield of the 1902 crop than was
expected. Three cases to the acre will
come nearer the estimated yield than
any figures yet made concerning it.
***
All interested in the development of
the tobacco industry OF the state should
keep in mind the date of the annual
meeting of the Tobacco Growers and
Dealers Association at Madison, We'd
nesday, Jan. 21st, 1903. 1t is expected
that large display of leaf will be made
offered by the convention. Growers
SAOulQ dIIdDRC W OAAuS5 AL SumpACS VI
their crops and compare notes.
~
Manila cigars and tobacco from the
Philippine Islands are scheduled as
strong competitor with our own pro-
ducts in the very near future. For a
bill reducing the import duties on all
products of the Philippine Islands to %
per cent. of the Dingley rates has passed
the House with almost no opposition and
its quick passage by the Senate is thus
also assured. Under this provision to-
bacco from the Philippines would be ad-
mitted under the following rates: Wrap
per leaf at 46A cents pound. and filler
leaf at 8s cents pound. And the duty
on Manila cigars would be: A specific
rate of sl.1211s per pound and 81 per
cent. ad valorem. Cigars weighing II
pounds and costing $40 in the Philip
pines would have to pay duty of S14.12
thousand, and would, under the recent
decision of the attorney general, be free
besides from the payment of the internal
revenue tax. Then there will come the
nice question whether the invoice value