The patriot. (Glenmora, La.) 1918-1955, 1921-07-15
MANY INDUSTRIES.
TIED TO TOBACCO
Prohibition of Weed Would Mean
Big Financial Loss to
Allied Trades.
WHO USES THE MATCH7
The Smoker MaInly-AIso Responsible
for Spending Hundreds of Millions
Annually for Lieorice, Sugar,
Coal Cigar Boxes Tin - g.!
Foil, Etc.
BY GARRETT SMITH

How many times day Is that ques-
ton asked in these United States?
How many more timesSis the question
unnecessary because most pockets are
kept well supplied with the useful
little article? Anyhow, inasmuch aS. it
Is estimated that there are 10000, 900
tobacco users in the country. We would
guess that the answer to that question
would run. into the hundreds Of mil
lions. ~ *
For If 1t weren't for the smokers in
these days Of electric lights how many
matches. would be used7 A pretty
small proportion Of the number Of
these Sticks Of blazes" produced Ia
the country every year. Abolish to.
baccofAnd the match business. would be
shot to pieces.
But the match business is only one
of a dozen or more allied industries
which derive large revenues directly or
indirectly from the tobacco trade and
would suffer heavily If national pro-
hibitIOn Of tobacco were to 60 into
effect as some of our refOrmers would
have it. The ANIMAL sales Of tobacco
products, based on retail prices, Is es-
timated at 1893. 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 1t up.
S25 ,000, 900 Year for Boxes
For example. the tobacco trade con-
sumes each year 100000 pounds OF
licorice, 100000 pounds of sugar,
both used In, favoring tobacco, and
65O,OOO tons of coal. Il Is estimated
that the value Of wooden cigar boxes
used is s25, 100000 a year. quite an
item to 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-
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. 000,-
600. Replacement, up-keep and inter-
est on the investment make no small
aum annually.
And let realty men note there are.
approximately $4,000 tobacco farms
In the country, with q, total estimated
valuation of S160, O0O. 900. OF further ins
ferest to real estate men is the fact
that there are 100000 retail establish
ments selling tobacco, involving total
rental and up-keep impossible to esti-
mate, besides the large amount OF Of
fee space occupied by administrative
branches of the general business.
The insurance men, too, have their
share of the pickings. The tobacco
bust pays out annually 100000
in premiums In the United States.
And there are the railroads who reap
revenue from 2.210.0OO tons Of tobacco
products every year.
AS for the advertising business.
here again 1t Is Impossible to form
any estimate Of the enormous annual
outlay.
The prohibition of tobacco would also
knock good-sized hole in the receipts
of the United States government.
The internal revenue receipts from
tobacco for the fiscal year 1920 amount
I'd to 1895 SOC, 355.44. Customs duties
provided an additional $2S.0O0000 ii
round figures making the total revenue
Eeturn 70 ne Government $500. 90. 0