The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1908-07-10
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.


::.::.........:.:.:
1t is seldom that a tobacco crop has
had better sendoff than the one just
planted in this state. From start to fin
ish the weather conditions could hardly
be more favorable for the transplanting
OF the crop. Frequent rains have tended
TO give the plants an early roofing after
being set in the fields, so there has been
hardly any checking of the growth in
the transfer. But the wet weather has
also given the cut worms a chance to
work injury to the recently set fields, re-
quiring some extra work to keep the full
complement of plants standing. The
conditions that bring about rapid
growth in the fields have also given the
weeds good start which now need at
tention. The outlook for the crop. how
ever, is very promising at this date and
the commencement of an early harvest
seems certain. From this time on hail
is the most to be feared.
~
The night riders of Kentucky are be-
ginning to get their just deserts. At
Paducah last week DIR. E. Champion was
convicted of night riding and given one
year in the penitentiary. Ten of the
jury were for sentence of ten years,
,uhila +x,< xyo+ad frr ooou;t4oI Tho ro;d
occurred in April last when an aged ne
gro and his granddaughter were shot
and killed. At Hopkinsville Robt Wood
was sent to prison for three months for
sending threatening letter in the name
of the might riders" The courts may
make the reign of outlawry quite unpop-
ular if such proceedings continue.
-
j. B. Killebrew, special agent of the
department. of agriculture, who has been
in Kentucky for the purpose OF COLLECT
ing data on the tobacco situation, has
returned to Washington and makes the
report that there will be only the SEM
blance of tobacco crop raised in the
blue grass section this year. The agent
made thorough canvas of the Burley
tobacco belt of the state, and his obser-
vations, which will be Incorporated in a
report to be issued by the department. of
agriculture, will show that the percent
age of crop will be very small indeed.
He reports the unqualified success of
the Burley tobacco growers in forming
their pool and their agreement to raise
no crop IN 1908.
~
Robert L. Kitchin of Cincinnati Ohio,
wholesale tobacco iobber, speaking of
the tobacco troubles in Kentucky, said
to Washington Herald reporter IF
the time ever comes when the warning
factions in Kentucky decide to smoke
the pipe of peace, there will be an ample
supply of tobacco with which to cele-
brate the event, as the greater part of
the crops is being held by the organized
growers. How much tobacco these de-
termined men are holding you maygath-
or from the fact that the total amount
of tobacco grown in the United States
in the year 1907 was almost 700,000,000
pounds, of which Kentucky produced
more than one-fourth The men who
are now Waging war on the so-called
trust are said to be carrying 350,000O0O
pounds of the weed, or 100000
pounds more than was produced by all
the growers in Kentucky last year. In
other words, the organized growers have
the pool, and have been living for two
years on borrowed money in many in
stances at the sacrifice OF many of the
comforts and not a few of the necessities
of life. The money tied up in the pool
is approximately S35,000,000. To move
the tobacco held in warehouses under
this pool would take almost $4,000
freight cars, which would make 466
trains of 25 cars each. All this tobacco
is held for more money than the trust
has been willing to offer up to this time.
***
Undoubtedly the biggest sufferer from
the effect of the panic was Uncle Sam.
Truly stunning are the figures of the
loss in his income For the deficit in
the receipts of the treasury department.
for the fiscal year of 1907 and 1908 just
ended amounts to S59,656, ,361 as against
a surplus one year ago of $50, ,945,5 ,542. In
other words our government ran behind
during the fiscal year just closed S146,-
6O1 ,903 which tremendous figures repre-
sent the governments loss due to tie
panic. Among the items that make up
the figures OF this tremendous loss are
decrease OF S47, $4,000 in the receipt
of customs and decrease of S19 559, 900
in the receipt of the internal revenue.
The large falling off in the output of our
cigar and tobacco industries and the
shrinkage in leaf imports naturally con-
tributed their share to the loss of the
governments income. And congress has
G1s1 4 4.