The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-04-29
BY WILLIAM r. sANeoRN

Industry has been in a very unsettled
condition, taken as a whole, from the
date OF the armistice down to the
present time.
This does not mean, however, that
the tobacco manufacturing industry
has suffered great losses, or that the
manufacture Of smoking, plug, snuff
and cigarettes, has undergone great
shrinkage. Not yet, by any means,
and now that we are getting down to
business once more, in all lines Of
trade and endeavor, we feel that the
tobacco trade, as whole, and includ-
Ing the cigar manufacturing end, has
seen its worst days.
The conditions should constantly i'm
prove from now on. unless indeed
something serious should happen to
the crops, which would, Of course. have
universal effect.
No portion of the business interests
or the country has been more respon-
sive to all the demands of the govern
ment as to the various loan calls and
appointments for war relief work,
than have the tobacco men. In the
second loan call the New York district
tobacco men subscribed more than
ten millions when but three millions
had been asked. When the Fourth
Liberty loan was apportioned the to-
bacco and cigar men were asked to
raise twenty millions and they re-
sponded with an over-subscription Of
seven millions Of dollars. AS to the
, Victory loan, the four largest sub
scriptions so far reported by the
trade are: Liggett G. Myers, $4,000
900; American Tobacco Co., 100000
and the United Cigars Stores Co., ST. :
100000.
UnexampIed Prosperity.
The very fact that the manufac-
turers Of tobacco and cigarettes have
long been enjoying the most pros
porous conditions in their history
gives hope that the cigar maker will
again shortly come into his own.
This by no means follows, how
ever, for the fact remains that a
large proportion of the increase in
demand for cigarettes and smoking
tobaccos was largely at the expense
of the trade in five and ten cent
cigars. Just how soon that situation
may be reversed cannot be stated.
It Is the one problem awaiting solu-
ton; affecting all forms of cigar leaf
and every manufacturing plant Of
size, having shipping trade.
One feature Of the trade worth
especial mention Is the fact that the
makers of clear Havana goods have
not found 1t necessary to curtail pro-
duction in any where near the pro-
portion that the makers of the cheap
er lines have been forced to do.
Once an Havana smoker always so,
Is the rule, where income permits in
dulging the taste for this class Of
cigars.
But regardless Of how rapidly the
ordinary cigar manufacturer gets
back 70 average output, there is al
ways the hope that cigar leaf will
presently obtain the right-of-way and
go abroad to fill the large gap in
supplies. The long awaited export
demand has so far failed to material
ize, but that 1t must come sooner or
later would seem to be assured, II the
Europeans intend continuing the man.
ufacture OF the class OF cigars for
merly in favor, and in which all
grades of American leaf were used
to greater or less extent.
An Uncanny Situation.
A New York tobacco exporter said
recently: "As for the filler market,
a situation exists which is well-nigh
uncanny, and one fraught with most
Interesting possibilities, which only
the future can reveal. However. pack
ers must realize that the dealer in
tobacco today must never lose sight
OF the fact that though the long-look-
ed.for export demand has not yet APP
peared, there always remains chance
that it may. No mans prophecy is
OF much value, and the best posted
can only guess what the future may
bring"
This, in a nutshell, seems to ex-
press the views of cigar leaf packers
both east and west. But regardless
OF when the export movement may
begin it is fact that there is an
increasing demand and a growing out
put of class &C" cigars right now:
that is Of cigars selling above eight
cents each. This Is surely health
full sign and forms a break in the
monotony Of recent advices.
Planting to be CurtaiIed.
There can be no doubt Of the fact
that the tobacco acreage is to be cut
in several districts. This is undoubt-
eddy true Of Connecticut shade and
sun grown, If the reports coming from
the growers associations may be re-
lieu on. lneSo COIle Will SuSu a Soih
plete detail that we must give them
credence. But what Is done In the
Connecticut River valley does not so
greatly concern either Ohio or Penn
sylvania just now, though shortage of
wrapper or binder would have its eff
feet later on, and binder is actually a
short crop right now. as binder stocks
were low, comparatively, when the
1918 crop came into sight.
The Edgerton, (Wisconsin) Report
err says: THE great menace to re-
munerative prices for the present year
will be the size of the crop planted.
A cut OF $4,000 to 10000 acres from
that produced in 1918 would do more
to stabilize prices than anything that
can be done at the present time. If
Wisconsin could cut it's acreage to
100000 or 100000 cases Of binder leaf
for a season or so, to be gradually in
creased as the production Of manufac
tured cigars regained its normal pro-
portion, then there would be good rea-
son to look for a return of a remun-
erative market and ready sale OF our
tobacco
In view of the demand for binders,
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