The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1911-09-22

because no OCN0E SLdL0 supplies IL, UuG
in binders, were it not for the ravages
OF the grasshoppers, Wisconsin could
go long ways toward meeting any
shortage that might occur in the mark
ct needs.
A prominent packer Of Wisconsin to-
bacco, who is in touch with every sec
tion of that state, gives The Tobacco
Leaf the following statement as to con-
ditions in that state, especially in re-
gard to the buying movement: From
the best estimates that | can get, of
the total acreage Of about 38, 900 acres,
which in all probability will yield about
$4,000, 900 pounds, there are not over
$4,000 acres contracted for at this time.
Of this amount, the American Cigar
Co. probably have about 1000 acres,
the United Cigar Manufacturers Co.,
1000 acres, and the balance to the 9th
ers who have entered the field for the
1911 crop. AS previously stated in The
Tobacco Leaf, considering the prices
that have been paid for the sound
crops in the northern counties, with the
attending. expenses in purchasing same,
a.lt. the prices they have paid for the
crops that have been mutilated by the
grasshoppers, it is certainly going to
make the tops cost higher than they
have ever cost before in the state, with
the exception Of the 1884 crop. With
this quantity contracted for, the two
large cigar manufacturing companies
named, do not appear to be keen to IN
crease their purchases. While condi-
tions have continued to be favorable
for the growing crop outside of the
damage that the grasshoppers have
continued doing, we have now had
several days of damp, muggy weather
that are not favorable for the tobacco
already harvested and in sheds. In
another ten days the harvest of the
crop will be completed. | understand
that the American Cigar Co. S buyers in
Wisconsin were called in to Chicago to
meet Mr.. Sylvester in August at which
time the prospects of the crop were
very poor, and there were only small
sections Of the growing districts that
promised at that time to yield leafy
crops. It is said that orders were given
to the buyers to proceed to get the
leafy crops. This fact caused keen
competition and the prices to soar.
Under these conditions, with lot of
inexperienced buyers put into the field,
a large amount of crops that were not
the best have been taken over at the
prevailing high prices. Some purchases
that have been made at from eight
cents to ten cents straight are for crops
that are no better than tobacco that
will be purchased later undoubtedly at
from six to seven cents. 1t does not
seem that the balance of the crop will
be bought at the prices they have been
paying for the purchases up to this
time. !"
What may we'll be regarded as the
most important happening OF the past
week in cigar manufacturing circles,
is the order sent out by Commissioner
of Internal Revenue Cable instructing
all collectors of internal revenue to see
that the time honored custom of allow
ing employees of cigar factories to take
from the bench or the bundle cigars
upon which the internal revenue tax
has not been paid, is Immediately dis
continued. Of course the Internal
Revenue Department does not say that
the manufacturer shall give no more
free cigars to his employees. But it
does say that he shall give no cigars
that have not been regularly packed and
stamped; and it is not at all likely that
the manufacturer will see his way clear
to add the cash outlay of taxation to
the cost Of the high-priced tobacco
which he has been in the habit of hand
ing out in liberal quantities to his work
men Indeed, it seems increditable that
any eigarmaker would expect this of
his employer The average cigarmaker
uses at least half dollars worth of
cigars in the course of dav. In the
course of 800 working days he has
smoked or given away $50 in tobacco
for which his employer gets no direct
return whatever. Figuring an average
of 1000 cigarmakers employed IN
Tampa alone throughout the year, the
result shows total of nearly 1000, 600
year. This figure does not include
the amount used by the clerical help
at the factories; the visitors, the dray-
men, the expressmen, ETC., all OF whom
make their daily calls and are usually
given their supply of smokers : The
total of cigars given by or taken from
the Tampa manufacturers in the course
of year would easily amount to at
least 81, ,25O,O00.