The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1916-01-07
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

pass into history as one of the most
unsatisfactory the growers of Wiscon-
sin have experienced in recent years.
Not only did the 1914 crop sell at small
er figures than any within ten year
period, but the disappointments of the
Is crop, which seems destined to bring
still lower prices, adds crimp to the
growing industry that may have its eff
feet on future production. The bright
est ray Of hope held out now is the fact
that before another crop can be pro-
duced the stock of old leaf suitable for
cigar purposes is very likely to be en-
tirely absorbed, leaving an excellent
prospect for a strong demand for bind
er leaf for some time to come. In the
nature of things, Wisconsin ought to
be due for another good crop the COM
ing season. The 1914 crop, thought to
be largely filler proposition and taken
over at very reasonable prices, has
proven to be the best investment the
packers have made in recent years. 1t
has been ready seller and almost the
entire crop has already gone to manu-
facturers at quite satisfactory prices.
There are still few thousand cases of
the '13 crop yet in the hands OF pack
ers, but the supply is far short OF the
needs of the binder trade before the
16 crop can be placed on the market.
-
Taking a retrospect of the year, the
u. S. Tobacco Journal says: 'Ail's
well that ends we'll" This might be
inscribed as an epitaph OF the year
1915. When the year started in, no.
body would have ventured to predict
that it would deserve to be graced with
such an epetaph. For the country
found itself still in the grip of the deep
depression caused both by the Admin
istration's economic blunders in legis-
lation and the trade disturbance due to
a continuance of the European conflict.
Idleness, in factories and mills, was
prevalent The transportation arteries
of the country suffered from lack of
freightage and reduction In their IN
comes; Wall Street was still in the
dumps; industrial enterprises failed OF
realization on account Of whatWas sup
posed to be the radically antagonlstic
policy of the Administration toward big
business. All of which had the dis
tressing effect of reducing consump-
ton, cutting prices, and fostering a
general sentiment Of pessimlsm.
Under this stress it was the cigar
Industry which seemed to suffer
most. From month to month the
record of it's output showed calam-
itous reductions. So it went on for
nearly nine months. But, during the
progress of the year, the country S
commercial and industrial distress com
menced gradually not only to abate but
to turn into fourishing recuperatlon
and expansion. The fabulous sums
that began to flow into this country In
payment for ammunition, foodstutfs
and all kinds of war material contract
ed for by the Allies, caused general
resumption of all commercial activities
and fructuated the soil of both industry
and finance for full bloom. With the
enormous accumulation of wealth by
ammunition factories and agricultural
producers, other factories and mills re-
ceived a stimulus to tap these rich
sources of supply and the recuperation
on their part began with steady ad-
vance. Money became plentiful. banks
accommodating and credits easily sus-
tanned. Confidence was restored in the
ability of substantial distribution and
of profitable trading. But the effect
has been realized before the close of
the year and thus 1915 will pass into
history as one of the most prosperous
years the United States has expert
enced. The first of the branches of
trade to feel the ease caused by the
propelling factors enumerated was the
cigar leaf market. The relief seemed
to have been anticipated even in the
cigar leaf trade, by quick and remun-
erative disposal, in the early months of
the year, of the great crops Of domes-
tic Shadegrown wrapper leaf. With
an almost intuitive knowledge of bet
ter times sure to come, manufacturers
did not hesitate to absorb quickly that
type of leaf. They had evidently re-
solved to venture fourth with new
product in order to stimulate the lag
ging caste and habit of the consumer.
The apparent success of these manu-
facturers seems to have confirmed their
Judgment. But the leaf market was
not neglected for it's other types. All
h1LOO VI OliIOCl 1901, kiS%A cASNie@AAJ viz
Wisconsin, moved as fast as they be-
came marketable It is hardly an ex-
aggeration to state that the close OF
the year will see the market bare OF
all kinds of available binder. The rapid
absorption of this grade did not depend
on its low value, for its average price
had reached an almost abnormal height.
After the disposal of the bulk of the
binder crop, the filler types were in
almost equally eager demand. Old
stocks moved fast, to such an extent in
fact that many previous crops, like the
Pennsylvania, which laid long and ne
elected in the hoard of farmers and
packers, became the subject of further
investment. But the prosperity of the
leaf market could not have become
staple if the general prosperity of the
country had not doomed likewise the
cigar industry. Struggling as the cigar
industry was during the first three
quarters Of the current year. striving
to guard against further slumps, it
sl1ddpplu broLa forth with the bpOin-