The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1907-10-11
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

The state meeting of tobacco growers
held at Madison Tuesday and Wednes-
day of this week, under call of the So
| ciety of Equity, was IN many respects a
notable gathering. With an attendance
OF over 400 farmers it is certain that the
subject under discussion, that of mar
keting the present tobacco crop, is one
the growers are deeply interested in.
While the writer is not yet ready to en-
dorse the scheme of producers attempt
ing to fix the market price of their COM
modify before it's character and quality
can be definitely determined, we are dis
posed to look upon the earnestness of
the meeting as more of protest against
the methods that have prevailed for
some years in receiving the crop that
had been contracted for months in ad-
vance of the delivery. The practice Of
buying tobacco at one price and receiv-
ing it at a lower figure is an unsatisfac-
tory way of doing business and the
sooner the trading is put on more hon.
orable basis the better. Much of the
trouble heretofore, Of course, has been
due to the reckless buying of the crop in
fields, sometimes before it was grown.
and always before it's true value could
be arrived at 1t is an encouraging sign
to note that the tobacco growers Of this
state have set about reform that must
certainly work to the advantage of the
reputation of the state.
*.*
Mr. A. d. Campbell, the newly Gre
ated commissioner of immigration, is out
with a pamphlet booming tobacco grow
ing for the settler in northern Wiscon-
sin. While we commend the laudable
ambition of Mr.. Campbell to make a
good showing and calling Wisconsin to-.
bacco a world beater," we almost suspect
he is somewhat OVERRIDING the business.
It is questionable whether he is doing
the small farmers in the new country
good turn by holding up before their
eyes the big tobacco results. In doing
so we notice he figures the selling price
OF the product at Is cents which ie alto
gether an exceptional and extraordinary
price. It is better, in our opinion, to be
fair in statements CT this character. The
new farmer can hardly afford to suffer
the disappointments that are sure to
follow if he accepts the advice of such
teachings. Mr.. Campbell. we think,
overlooks very important factor of sue
cessful tobacco growing-that of exper
ience. which can only be obtained after
years devoted TO careful observation in
growing and curing the crop. Tobacco
culture is almost profession by itself,
built up in training of actual experience.
To encourage the new farmer to engage
in this business without these requisites
is to almost invite failure. No other
branch of agriculture that we know of is
so exacting in the matter of experience
and knowledge required. A public off
cial therefore, ought to be especially
careful not to misead the unthinking
settler into tobacco growing unless he
be first equipped with good deal of in
formation regarding the growing, curing
and marketing of this crop.
*x*
The French government derives a
larger revenue from tobacco than any
other country in the world. The manu-
facture and sale OF cigars and all other
kinds of tobacco products are conducted
by the government itself. Much of its
tobacco is bought in the United States
and all is manufactured in France. In
1906 the revenue amounted to over
eighty six millions of dollars, leaving a
net profit of over seventy millions. In
other words, in an investment of sixteen
millions she realized profit of $50 per
cent. Her revenue from tobacco is
twenty millions more than that OF the
United States, and yet France has only
one-half our population, and does not
consume more than one-tenth the tobac-
co of our people. But the French gov
ernment has a monopoly of the business
and charges what she pleases. 1t is an
example of a government making use OF
business or utility to derive profit of
$50 per cent. from it. Italy also makes
a monopoly of tobacco, and in 1905 6 de-
rived 100000 from it, of which 1884,
100000 was clear profit, about 375 per
cent. on the investment of 100000. Ii
the United States were to declare the
tobacco trade monopoly and put her
prices where France and Italy puts
theirs she would realize a revenue of
several hundred million dollars. What
would our people say to such public
utility?"
*
Few persons realize the Importance of
the tobacco crop in Wisconsin or are
aware of the fact that the badger state
stands fifth in the amount of the weed
produced in the United States, sixth in
acreage, second in yield per acre and
second in price paid to the producer.
Further, it will surprise many to know
that the county of Dane produces more
tobacco than any county in the United
States; yet this is true in the light of
all the statistics given in the government
reports and will undoubtedly stand the
test of exhaustive investigation. Another
point of distinction that marks Dane
county aS fOremOSt in the union is the