The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1905-01-20
TOBACCO INDUSTRY THREATENED.

The Edgerton Tobacco Reporter, the
leading exponent of the tobacco industry
in this state, judging from the many
articles published in it which are dis
crediting the sugar beet industry, is evil
IDENTIFY fearful that that industry may
crowd out the tobacco business in this
state. Edgerton has reason to fear. Out
of little country hamlet the tobacco
industry has made Edgerton thriving
little city with 80 warehouses furnishing
employment to her people. If the sugar
beet should displace tobacco, Edgerton
would be the heaviest loser in the state.
If the warehouses should become idle
elsewhere for employment. But it will
be hard for Edgerton or it's ably edited
paper to stem the tide of the sugar beet.
Sugar beet culture promises safer and
more regular remuneration for the farm
ers. 1t is little exacting during thin
ming time, but not much worse than is
the wedding of tobacco beds. After the
beets are thinned they are as easily cul-
tivated as corn, and one need not lie
awake nights in fear Of hail, storms or
frost. In the fall one can harvest his
beets this week or the next or the third
or fourth week, while tobacco must be
cared for on the particular day it is ready
or loss ensues. Labores know this and
charge for their labor accordingly. When
the beets are gathered they are sold and
in two weeks Or a month the money is in
the hands of the grower. Not so with
tobacco. The tobacco market is lot
terry both as to time of sale and price.
Only few large trust companies remain
in the field as buyers. and they seem to
have done away with all competition. Of
late years buying has been delayed for
the most part until near the spring of
the year when farmers must either sell
at the first and only price offered or sort
his crop. Tobacco growing often results
in total loss, but there seems little
chance of beets ever being total failure.
From present indications it seems prac
tcally certain that inside of two years
beet growing will reduce the tobacco
acreage by e-half.-Deerfield News.
In the opinion of the writer the tobac
CO industry has little to fear from the
sugar beet craze that has been so loudly
fouted throughout this section of the
state by paid promoters of the sugar fac
tories. All the farmers need is to be
told the truth about this sugar beet bus
mess. 1t is coming pretty fast now when
the growers begin to relate their expert
ence. The history of the rise and fall of
the industry in other parts of the coun-
try tells the rest. One or two poor to-
'bacco seasons or one or two exception
ally good beet years cannot make the
general rule. Take series of years and
compare the two products before draw
ing conclusions. Any farm crop is a lot
terry to certain extent, but one good
tobacco crop makes up for several par
tial failures. Let me ask the Deertield
editor, who seems to have forgotten what
has built up his thriving little town and
whom we suspect is under pay Of the
beet promoters, how much money is paid
ous to the laboring people of his town
through the beet industry? If every
case of tobacco handled at the packing
points of the state does not mean about
S. paid to labor IN those towns? And it
he does not believe in being loyal to his
home village?