The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-04-28
BY WILLIAM r. sANBoRN


Many cigar leaf growers could not
understand why there should have
been runaway market in Burley, in
the face OF constant decline in the
price OF cigar leaf, or indeed the alb.
sence OF any demand whatever for
Ohio filters. In comparison with the
various cigar leaf types Burley is real
ly cheap tobacco. The situation was
strained and apparently most unnat-
ural, as indeed it was, compared with
average times and years
Comparatively but small percent
age of our cigar leaf has ever been
exported, while Burley has always
gone abroad in large quantity, be-
cause it has always been the cheaper
leaf and more suitable to the needs of
foreign manufacturers. Burley is es-
sentially smoking tobacco; it is used
for pipes and in the manufacture of
cigarettes, and worlds of it have been
used in the manufacture of plug for
generations. The bright Burleys are
OF comparatively recent origin and
are really Missouri and not a Ken
lucky product. We had occasion to
write somewhat extensively as to the
development of the Burley market and
culture of this particular leaf some
years ago, at time when bright Bur
ley began to be the only leaf grown
IN many former Dark Burley districts
Demand and Supply.
Had the demand for cigar leaf types
ranked up with that for the Burleys
the former leaf would have undoubt-
eddy brought the most money But
there was no such insistant demand;
nor will there be. There will be no
reversal in tastes and demands be-
cause of the war But we must not
lose sight Of the fact that we have
been exporting no cigar leaf worth
mentioning for a long time So far as
can be learned and as is reasonable
to suppose, If they are going to manu-
facture any cigars in the war-torn
countries they must buy the leaf. Ad-
mfttedly there is a whole lot of infer
ior leaf in South American countries,
suitable for both cigar and smoking
material. And there is, moreover, an
accumulation of various grades and
types Of leaf in Java and Sumatra,
which the thrifty Hollander will as
speedily as possible, bring to home
ports for distribution. But none of
this will replace American leaf, wher-
ever it has been previously in favor
More than this the large contingent Of
our men which will remain abroad
will continue to use American made
cigars, and to continue to advertise
the goodness Of our leaf to the foreign
manufacturer. America is to the fore
front all over Europe, with the excep-
tion of the countries with which we
have been at war, and as purveyors to
the wants Of most of the earth, every
market will be practically open to
welcome all our products.
The American cigar leaf grower,
and his product, will not be made an
exception to this general rule. We
predict that more American tobacco
of every kind and grade will be sold in
Europe in future than ever before in
all our history. Millions of foreign
soldiers have learned to like it. AS
civilians these men returning to the
arts of peace will spread the gospel of
American made tobacco products, of
the goodness of American made cigars
and of the mild, sweet cirtues of our
domestic growths, as against the
usually rank tobaccos of the tropical
interiors and rainy coasts.
Insofar as the market for choice
Havana and the silky Sumatra is con-
cerned there is world-established
demand and one which has little or
no bearing on the use of American
types of leaf in foreign countries. 1t
is to be hoped that the very high
prices obtaining of late for Sumatra
will be reduced to the benefit of our
manufacturers, for this will also help
our domestic trade to the benefit of
filters and binders. 1t would also re-
duce the cost of manufacture, to a
degree and hasten the time when some
of the old time straight prices on
popular smokes will be re-established,
to an increase in sales and in leaf
consumption.
should now come soon, that tobacco
has the right-of-way on the high seas