Democratic Sentinel, Volume 8, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1884 — WESTERN TOBACCO. [ARTICLE]

WESTERN TOBACCO.

A Formidable Enemy to the Grower* of Connecticut—Wisconsin Grow* a Leaf Which 1* More Ruinous than the Importation of Sumatra—What a Hartford Healer Say* About It. [Hartford (Ot) Telegram.] The tobacco growers of this State, in convention assembled on New Year’s day. discussed the importation of Sumatra tobacco, and all agreed that it was ruinous to the tobacco-growing interests of the State and of the adjoining tobacco-growing States to have Sumatra imported to this country, except under a very heavy duty. Resolutions were adopted calling for the reversal of Secretary Folger’s decisions on the construction of the statute relative to the importation of Sumatra. By this decision cases containing less than 85 per cent, of Sumatra wrappers are admitted for a duty of 35 cents per pound. Tobacconists dealing in this foreign tobacco are in the habit of importing large amounts of Sumatra in cases which contain less than the prescribed percentage. By this means they make a large profit on the importation and handle so much of it that they deal but little in the native leaf. In conversation with James M. BisselL, a dealer in this city, he said that there was a tobacco grown which interfered more with the sales of Connecticut seed leaf than Sumatra. “What tobacco is this?” was asked Mr. Bissell. “Wisconsin,” was the laconic reply. “Why, the New England association in a resolution invited the Wisconsin growers to unite with them in waging war on the importation of Sumatra.” “Yes, I know,” was the reply, “but nevertheless the Wisconsin tobacco is a much more formidable enemy of the Eastern growers than Sumatra ?” “How is that?” “Because they can grow and pack an acre of tobacco in that State for less than it costs to manure the ground here. The soil is particularly adapted to the growing of tobacco, and it needs but little care. It therefore involves but little expense in raising tobacco there.” “Is the tobacco grown of a quality which satisfies the ordinary consumer ?” “I have sold several cases of it, and it has always given satisfation. The seed used is Havana and grows well. It is a long, light Havana and grows well. I have known five pounds of this leaf sufficient to wrap 1,000 cigars.” “How many pounds of Connecticut tobacco does it take to wrap an equal number?” “It varies. In an ordinarily good year from twelve to sixteen pounds will suffice, but I have known the time when it required from twenty to twenty-five pounds. ”

“What price does a Wisconsin grower get for his tobacco?” “The price varies from 5 to 12 cents per pound. The extreme cheapness of its raising renders it very low in value.” “For how much does Connecticut tobacco sell?” “Connecticut leaf ranges in price from 12 to 25 cents per pound. The average price obtained for a good clear leaf is 10 cents.” “You said that Havana seed was used in Wisconsin. Is there any used in Connecticut?” “Some has been used there, but it lias not been fully cultivated. I have sold some cases of Connecticut tobacco grown from Havana seed, but it was not satisfactory. The leaf does not burn well, and consumers complain of cigars made of this leaf.” From this it will be seen that our Connecticut tobacco growers have a home production which endangers their products much more than Sumatra, which is so great a bugbear to them. If a finer leaf can be grown at less expense, and give perfect satisfaction to the consumer, than any that is grown in Connecticut, then it is time that attention was turned to Wisconsin.