The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1921-06-03
MANY INDUSTRIES
TIED TO TOBACCO
Prohibition of Weed Would Mean
Big Financial Less to
Allied Trades.
WHO USES THE MATCH7
The Smoker MainIy-Also Responsible
for Spending Hundreds of Millions
Annually for Licorice, Sugar,
Coal, Cigar Boxes, Tin
Foil, Etc.
BY GARRETT SMITH
Got a match"

Got a match?"
How many times day is that ques-
tion asked In these United States?
How many more times Is the question
unnecessary because most pockets are
kept well supplied with the useful
little article? Anyhow, inasmuch as it
is estimated that there are 5e,OOo,OOO
tobacco users in the country. We would
guess thatutbe answer to that question
would run into the hundreds OF mil
lions. j..
For II It weren't for the smokers In
these days Of electric lights how many
matches would be used? A pretty
small proportion OF the number of
these sticks Of hlaZes" produced i'll
the country every year. Abolish to-
bacco and the match business would be
shot to pieces.
But the match business IL only one
of dozen or more allied industries
which derive large revenues directly or
indirectly from the tobacco trade and
would suffer heavily if nHtioral pro-
hibition of tobacco were 10 go into
effect as some of cur refOrmers would
have 1t. The annual sales Of tobacco
products, based on retail prices, Is es-
timated at $1,93T 100000. OF the cost
of producing and selling this \quantity
of cigars, cigarettes and other forms
Of the weed, some hundreds of million
dollars are paid out for other things
than the raw tobacco and labor Of
making it up.
SOS, 100000 Year for Boxes
y For example, the tobacco trade con-
sumes cach year 45,OO0,O00 pounds of
Ticoricp, 5IGJa,GG0 pounds Of sugar.
both used in fiavoring tobacco and
G5O,OOO tons of coal. 1t is estimated
! that the value Of wooden cigar boxes
used Is $25,00OO00 a year, quite an
/ item 10 the lumber business and to
manufacturers Of the boxes.
In making these boxes $4,000
pounds Of nails are employed. Other
large items used in making and pre-
4 pairing tobacco for sale are tin and
lead foil, paper for bags and cigarette
wrappers, cloth for tobacco bags, la
bells, coupons, ETC., involving the print
] ing trade extensively.
Then building contractors and manu-
facturers of machinery are largely in
terested. Investments in plants and
machinery employed in manufactur-
ing tobacco are estimated at $102, 0OO.-
1000. Replacement, up-keep and inter
! est on the investment make no smafi
sum annually.
And let realty men note there are
approximately $4,000 tobacco farms
in the country, with total estimated
valuation Of $3.50, 100000. OF further in
terest to real estate men IS the fact
that there are 10000 retail establish
ments selling tobacco, involving total
rental and up-keep impossible to est
mate, besides the large amount OF Of
nee space occupied by administrative
branches of the general business.
The Insurance men, too, have their
share of the bicklngs. The tobacco
business pays out annually $7,OOoOOV
In premiums In the United States.
And there are the railroads who rear
revenue, from 221O,OOO tons Of tobacco
products every year.
AS for. the advertising business
here again it Is impossible TO fOrrr
any estimate Of the enormous annual
| outlay.
+. The prohibition Of tobacco would also
knock gOod-sfzed hole in the receipts
OF the United States government
The internal revenue receipts from
! tobacco for the fiscal year 1920 amount
ed TO 500, s09355.44. Customs sflitie:
provided an additional $25.000000 IL
round figures. making the total revenue
Eetura to the government $50 000.006