Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-04-09
BUREAU OF SOILS.
The Report Deals With Tobacco Crow
 ing in the Connecticut Valley

Washington, April 9.-In a bulletin just issued by the bureau of soils, the department of agriculture speaks or the monetary value of the work of the bureau in establishing the relation be- tween soils and crops. It is claimed that the soils of the Connecticut val ley, which the bureau declared were adapted to the growing of Sumatra to- bacco, have increased in value more than threefold.
 Tn treating of the history of Su- matra tobacco experiments in the Con- necticut valley, the report says: Tn 1900 an experimental tract of one third of an acre of Sumatra tobacco was grown under shade. The product was so fine that in 1901 over forty one acres were planted, and in 1902 this was increased to seven hundred acres. The yield per acre of the 1901 crop was about 14,000 pounds, and the nv craze selling price was $1.20 per pound. The 1902 crop nas not yet been sold, but using the figures of 1901 as a basis for comparison we can safe ly say that the TOO acres under shade produced about 100000 of cured to- bacco, or 800,SO0 pounds of bale to- bacco, exclusive of trash The total value of the baled tobacco at $1.20 per pound would be $900,o60. During the season of 1903 about TOO acres of shad- ed tobacco were grown in the Connec- ticut valley. The industry Is now es- tabiished on a sound basis and the work of the bureau has been discon- tinued i'll this locality.
 The commercial value of this work can be appreciated from the fact that
  $6,000,0O0 of wrapper tobacco from Sumatra. The imported article brings from $2.50 to $3 per pound, and even at that price is found cheaper than home grown selected" wrappers at 50 cents pound. It Is expected that the demand for this tobacco will be largely, if not entirely, met by the American growers within few years It is estimated that there has been in- vested in this industry in the Connec- 1cut valley, in the form of shade, barns, warehouses, etc, nearly $1, ,00U,- OOO."
 The 116th annual gathering of the Oriental society is in progress in this city, and many prominent educators are among delegates to the convention. Yale university is represented by Pro fessors Torrey, Oertel and Hopkins, all of whom will read paper. sProfessor Hopkins is corresponding secretary of the society and Professor Torrey is one of the editors.
 The census bureau has just issued a bulletin showing the estimated popu- lation of the United States for 1903 exclusive of Alaska and the insular possessions. 1t is stated in this re- port that the United States now has population of 79,90O,3S9, which is an increase of 3,905, ,S14 since the census of 1900 The following Connecticut cities are included among those that have more than 25,O0O inhabitants: Bridgeport, 77,635; Hartford, S7.S36; Meriden, 25,0SS; New Britain, 28,508; New Haven, 144,600, and Waterbury 56521.
 A large party of members of con- gress left last night for Charleston, s. C., as guests of Congressman Le- garde of that state. Most of them were members of the river ana harbor committee and the naval affairs com mittee. They went to inspect the navy yard and harbor of that place, and the party will return Sunday night. Congressman Brandegee was a member of the party.