The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1904-06-17

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The y. S. Tobacco Journal publishes
table of statistics secured from the De-
partment of Commerce and Labor, CIV
ing result of the first three months of
reciprocity with Cuba regarding imports
of cigars and tobacco. The first point is
the evident refutation of the great bene-
fit that was to accrue to the Cuban to-
bacco grower from the 20 per cent. duty
reduction on his product which was so
strongly urged by all zealots of that
treaty. For the importation of the leaf
did not only not increase, but actually
fell off by 588,6l9 pounds under the re-
duction of the duty and this in view of
the fact, as our Washington correspon.
dent points out, that it was we'll known
there would be 20 per cent. reduction
in duty on January l. it would seem that
the importers would have held back con-
signments of leaf tobacco to take advan-
tage of the reduction in the duty But
the alleged benefit that was to result to
the Cuban tobacco grower gets the
blacklist kind of an eye if we look at the
leaf importations according to their clas-
sifcation and value. During the four
months under which the duty reduction
prevailed we imported only 14,4 pounds
of wrapper leaf, while during the same
period of last year under the full duty
of S1.85 we imported 45,8SO pounds!
Rather strange, isn't it? That we should
import under a duty of $1.49, 81 ,467
pounds less wrapper leaf than under a
duty of S1.05, is rather most singular
occurrence. And who got the benefit of
this mysterious occurrence, for there
must be some mystery connected with
such an appalling falling off in the guam
tity Of wrapper leaf under a reduced
duty? Certainly not the Treasury De-
partment. It was argued if the Cuban
tobacco grower gets reduction of I
cents pound in the duty he would not
be sure to get also part of this reduction
in an advance of the value of his pro-
duct. The fallacy of the increased mar
ket argument is exposed in the by near
ly 100000 pounds less importation Of
Havana leaf and as for the advance of
the value it amounted to just three
tenths of cent! And for this three
tenths of cent which may 60 into the
willingly sacrificed a sure income of six
. anu SOVGi-G6uCLS CC1L5s <1bo GAdU 10
called Reciprocity! So much as to what
tobacco importation. AS to the cigar
importation they only confirm additional
evidence what we said in our comments
on the figures given for the importation
for the first three months: more than
perceptible increase in quantity and a
spending decrease in value amount
,yoc, loo +o G1 % ,,0.1r,I
The logical result will be the preponder-
ance of the imported dime cigar in the
near future, result bound to lead to
demoralizing some branches of the trade.
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Massachusetts probably has the dis
tinction of possessing the biggest tent
tobacco outfit in New England this sea-
son, says the Homestead. This is the E.
H. Smith farm at Feeding Hills. Mr..
Smith has not far from 80 acres under
tent. On this place three planting ma
chimes have been running for the past
week or ten days, and great progress has
been made. The bulk of the 140 acres
or so that Mr.. Smith reported to be de-
voting to tobacco this year is now prac
tically all transplanted.
*x*
One of the costliest fires in the history
of Danville, Va, occurred there June 9Th,
entailing loss estimated to approx
mate 100000 Four buildings were de-
stroyed and large amount of tobacco.
Nearly 100000 pounds of tobacco in
hogsheads were consumed by the flames.
The saving of the r. j. Reynolds factory
was due, to large extent, to the COM
pany's water system, sprinklers being