The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1918-08-09
NOTE BOOK SKETCHES

. NOTE BOOK SKETCHES .
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Unless the prospects of the new to-
bacco crop improve wonderfully within
the coming few weeks, the firms who
handle large quantities of Wisconsin
LEAF will have reason to congratulate
themselves on their wisdom in calling
off the buying movement few weeks
ago, for the writer is compelled to say
that the crop is not doing as well as
was hoped. The hot, dry days have
sent many of the fields t6 premature
bud, while all the time shortening the
prospective yield. Considerable of the
late planted portion of the crop on land
lately plowed shows remarkably un-
even appearance, while some of it can
hardly hope to reach the sheds for the
plants have scarcely grown since strans-
planting. There is very little in the
outlook that would warrant continuing
the buying movement at the top prices
paid few weeks ago. If the larger
operators were to call off their agents
for another 80 days at least they would
then be able to form better estimate
of what the growing crop is likely to
yield for binder purposes. The great
majority of the fields at present are at
stage when suitable weather cOndi-
tions can produce quick changes OF i'm
provement. Often this occurs and
makes complete change in the char
acter of the crop within week or so.
At the present time soaking rains are,
greatly needed in much of the growing
territory, and should they come early
enough there is still chance for more
hopeful prospect.
-
A committee representing the Cigar
Manufacturers association have sub
mitted to the Ways and Means COM
| mittee of congress proposed schedule
| of increased revenue duties that is es-
| timated to yield $49, 600 of rev.
| enue. After citing official figures to
show there has been steady decline
in manufacturing since the last revenue
| increase, the committee urged that it
| was clearly apparent that more rev.
enue can be obtained by fixing moder-
ate rates such as need not too seriously
|lessen consumption. The committee
also assured the government that the
cigar men IN company with ali loyal
Americans stand ready to make any
sacrifice and cheerfully submit to any
hardship that the exigencies of the war
call for. Their schedule proposes an
increase of At per cent over present
war tax rates.
| According to government experts,
| there has been no decrease in the con-
| sumption of tobacco despite the tax in
creases authorized last year, despite
| the fears expressed by the tobacco men
| when the act was pending in congress.
| The experts recall that tobacco men
said that they could not increase the
price of their products to the public
and that the only thing to do would be
to decrease the size Of the packages of
| cigarettes and tobacco and the size of
cigars. 1t was pointed out by one of
| the government tax experts that con-
| gress authorized a reduction in the
| packages They say they have noticed
since then that the tobacbo men have
increased their prices to odd-cent fig
ures like six and seven cent cigars, six
| and twelve cent tobacco, and eleven
and sixteen cent cigarettes. They
think that it speaks well for the Amer
ican demand for tobacco that the pro-
duct has stood what the government
people are disposed to call double in
crease in price, namely by reducing the
size and also increasing the price, be-
sides the big increase in internal rev.
enue taxation.
| ~
The factories of the former subsid-
iaries of the old American Tobacco Co.,
says the Wall Street Journal, as well
as the plants of the various indepen-
dent concerns are operating at capac-
| ity. In fact, the demand for all forms
| of tobacco goods is showing such a
| steady increase that in numerous in
stances night shifts are employed.
Heavy increases in the numbers Of our
| troops overseas have increased the de-
mand for tobacco goods, particularly
cigarettes. While the cigarette busi-
ness has been growing by leaps and
bounds during the last few years, 1918
will break all records. In fact, it is
more than likely that sales of cigar
| cites by the various companies in this
country in the current year will exceed
I %a-,