The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1907-12-27
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES


!: NOTE BOOK SKETCHES :
:.....:..:...s.:....:.:...: ...::.:....:...:.:.:..:.:
It begins to look as if there would be
very little doing in tobacco handling
points until well towards spring, which
will prove quite disappointment to
very large class of wage earners who de-
pend upon this class of work during the
winter months. Usually the warehouses
at the packing points open by or soon
after the holidays giving work for sew
eral thousand people during the busy
season. The financial pinch coming
just at the time of year when arrange
ments for the seasons business were be-
ing made, put such matters entirely be-
yond the range of possibilities, so if there
are evidences of dull Christmas to be
seen in the tobacco towns this year, any
further explanation seems unnecessary.
1t seems quite probable, however, that
sooner or later good share of the pres
ent crop will be handled through the
usual channels, and though delayed the
warehouse work will reach the market
points in due time.
*x*
A dispatch sent out from Madison this
week states that meeting OF the direc-
tors OF the tobacco branch of the Society
of EQUITY held there recently decided
that all tobacco not sold by January Is
should be sized and placed in pool.
The society has set figures practically
three cents in advance of the average
price paid last year. S. D. Kump, Sec
retary OF the state organization, says ar
rangements have been made for the
financing of the pools and also for as
sisting those who are not able to hold
their crops until the sales can be made.
It is war to the finish and under such
circumstances it is doubtful if much
tobacco grown in Wisconsin, will be sold
for many months to come The stats or
ganization, of which the tobacco society
is only department., will hold it's annual
meeting in Eau Claire on January14 IA to
| Is inclusive. More definite action for
the elimination of the middle man. in
business and the fight for increased
prices of farm products will be settled
upon at thattime. From the foregoing
the intimation comes that it is not en-
tirelyst the fault of the buyers that last
seasons crop is not moving. With the
price of all. other commodities dropping
off, the Equity influence is aiming not
only to maintain but advance the price
of their tobacco. The stand taken by
them must certainly lead to the handling
| and packing of large share of the pres
| entecrop: Such move too, will be look
ed upon with complacency by the manu-
facturers who must eventually consume
they find it extremely difficult to secure
| capital necessary in accommodating stocks.
The farmers are attempting friendly
act surely.
/
! It may be pleasing to recall, particu-
| larly in these distressing times, that our
tobacco industries had reached an al
most fabulous expansion at the close of
| the last fiscal year, that is to say on June
30 last. The output of our cigar indus
| try was over eight and half billions,
| had just doubled in ten years. Likewise
had the cigarette industry made phe-
| nomenal record, overtopped the five bill
| lion output by hundred and fifty one
millions. And there was an increased
production Sof over fourteen million
pounds in the manufactured tobacco
| and snuff. From these Industries the
| government derived an income of $751;
| 81 ,06969, which was increased by the
| collection of duties on raw material to
| 77,036, ,1O710. And yet in spite OF this
royal income the government treats the
| tobacco trades with but gingerly regard.
Of cigars we imported during the last
fiscal year 62,574,O00, showing a consid-
| erable decrease on account of the strike
| in Cuba which kept the cigar factories
| there closed for nearly four months. Our
| cigar exports figure with the trife of
| 1,925,00O while Of cigarettes we exported
| the stately number of 1898, $685. 900. But
| our government does not take notice
neither Of the contrast of these figures
nor does it lift it's fingers to create con-
| ditions by which our cigar industry
might just as we'll get share of the
| market. Quite the contrary, it seems
bent on reducing our cigar output even
| for our domestic market by it's Philip
| pine free trade bill and to inhibit our
cigarette export entirely by the execu-
| ton of confscatory policy
*.~
From the News Herald of Owenton,
KY, we take the following: 1.-The net
! profits of the American Tobacco. Compa-
| ny in 1903 was something over S37 ,00O,-
600, about AZ cents on all tobacco raised
in the United States. The American
Tobacco Company handles about 55 per
cent and made cents clear profit on
every pound it handled. That year the
Burley brought the farmers, abort $3.50,
thus giving the farmer about two-thirds
as much for producing the crop as the
do oloor y,r0f1f