The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-10-06
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES


SS*$'F'$'s's'S''s'ss''syFs's
The first dry weather of the season has
prevailed now since the harvest and
should it continue much longer may
have its effect upon the curing of the
hanging tobacco, in that it would dry
out the late harvested tobacco faster
than was considered good for it. In Ghis
event growers would do we'll to keep
their sheds closed during the hot dry
days and open them nights so the mois-
ture from dews might reach the hang
ing leaf The situation would be further
helped by wetting the floor of the sheds
occasionally, for it is generally believed
that frequent casing of the leaf helps
materially in the curing.
*xx
The statement is made by buyers who
have been busily engaged in the buying
movement of late, and competent to
Judge, that Lot to exceed one-tenth of
the new crop is now remaining unsold.
Taking this statement as approximately
correct. the crop is as closely gathered
in already as the average season after
the close of a buying campaign. It often
happens after crop is considered prac-
tically bought up anywhere from 5 to 10
per cent still remains in country hands
In the main this tobacco is in the hands
of growers who rightfully should be
termed spectators, for they seldom sell
until the crop is packed and passed
through the curing process. The tobac-
CO then in their hands is as completely
out of the market as though it was un-
der contract. So the situation as sized
up to date would indicate the 1905 crop
more closely bought up than ever before
at this date. The most significant thing
about the movement is that the crop
has been absorbed without the assis-
tance of the American Tobacco Co.,
which in late years has been so impor-
tant factor in lifting the Wisconsin
crop. While the trust has some years
handled from a quarter to one-thlrd of
the entire production of the state, it so
far is practically out of the movement in
the 1905 crop from first hands, whatever
interest they may take later in packers
holdings.
***
The Wall Street Journal is authority
for the statement that the earnings from
the properties of the American Tobacco
4 W |,eE
the aggregate net returns are better than
at any period since the various concerns
were drawn together under the domina-
tion of the present company. According
to we'll informed authority earnings are
at the rate of 40 per cent. on the S4O,-
100000 common stock, while the outlook
FOR continuance of excellent business
conditions is very bright. The popular
ity of the company's products appears
to be increasing without the necessity of
the expensive advertising, which was
such a feature of the business few
years ago. In some lines, particularly in
cigars, advertising is still carried on to
large extent, but the expenses of this
department absorb a relatively much
smaller proportion of the gross business
than was the case when strong opposi-
ton was encountered in the plug tobac-
co and cigarette trade. The latter being
now practically controlled. there is little
need for advertising, but in the cigar de-
partment, where there is still much COM
petition both from home and foreign
brands, cost of advertising still absorbs
quite large proportion of the gross
business The campaign in cigars is ex-
pected to end ultimately as in the other
lines by eliminating much of the compe-
tition and giving the combine tight
grip on the trade.
-
The bureau of statistics of the depart
ment of commerce and labor has pre-
pared an interesting bulletin showing
the total consumption of tobacco IN the
leading countries of the world and the
amount consumed per capita. These
figures are analyzed by the bureau and
are supplemented with q new table of
special value showing the public revenue
derived by the governments of the prin-
cipal countries from the taxation of to-
bacco in all forms. The text of the bull
letin is as follows The United States
leads all other nations in the total con
sumption of tobacco, while Belgium
stands at the head of the tobacco-con-
suming countries so far as the per capita
consumption of the fragrant weed" is
concerned. Germany and Russia are
the only other two countries besides the
United States which show total con-
sumption of over 100000 pounds. In
this country the total value of tobacco
manufactures, according to the twelfth
census, was in excess of 1858, 100000, ex-
elusive of the value of imported manu-
factures of tobacco and profits of all
kinds, which are comparatively high in
the tobacco trade. The total govern
ment revenue of s65 5,o00,0SO constitutes
thus much smaller percentage of the
total consumers cost than in the Euro
pean countries, with the possible excep-
tion of Germany and Belgium, where the
tax on tobacco is comparatively small.
The taxation of tobacco appears to be
highest in Italy, France and the United
Kingdom, and lowest in Belgium, Mex
ico Germany and the United States, in
the order named. On the whole, it is
true thai the countries with the highest
taxation show the lowest consumption