80 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



when the statutory limitations restrict to 82,500 the salary of the 

 chief of the Division who directs and coordinates the work. It is 

 therefore the low statnto^y salaries that block the way to the present 

 development of the tobacco interests in Texas and Porto Rico and 

 make it even doubtful if the work alreadj' started in Connecticut, 

 Pennsylvania, and Ohio can be long continued, owing to the fact that 

 we can not keep our men. The tobacco men are preeminently busi- 

 ness men, conducting their work on business lines. They have already 

 demanded that if these lines of tobacco investigations are to be con- 

 tinued and the interests of such important districts as Texas and 

 Porto Rico are to be taken up by the Department, thoroughly compe- 

 tent men must be secured and retained. The Department must i3ay 

 what these men can command outside in order to liold them. 



This is a matter at present wholly bej^ond your power to change, 

 and the tobacco associations are already memorializing the commit- 

 tees of Congress and are demanding that if the work be continued 

 and extended it shall be in a way which they can approve and sup- 

 port, and by men in whom the}' have iierfect confidence. From this 

 point of view, as business men, they are demanding that the work be 

 well done or that it be not undertaken. The work of the Department 

 in these lines has touched these commercial interests so closely and 

 has already giv^en j)ramise of so much of value that the people fee 

 that they must be heard in this matter and that their interests should 

 be full}' recognized. The statutory salaries therefore block the exten- 

 sion of the tobacco investigations in the lines in which they have been 

 planned and even imperil the continuation of the work already 

 undertaken. I would respectfully suggest that this matter be brought 

 to the attention of Congress. 



THE EXHIBIT OF AMERICAN LEAF TOBACCO AT THE PARIS EXPOSITION, 



• 



The leaf-tobacco exhibit of the United States was by far the largest, 

 most complete, and most attractive exhibit of the kind at the Paris 

 Exposition, and it was pronounced by many persons competent to 

 judge to be the finest exhibit ever made. The exhibit consisted of 

 about 2,000 sam]3les, representing every type and grade of tobacco pro- 

 duced in the United States. A full report will be published in due time 

 describing the exhibit in detail. It is s:^fficient to say here that it took 

 the grand prize, nine gold medals, five silver medals, and honorable 

 mention for many of the exhibitors. Two significant facts were brought 

 out in the jury of awards. The Florida-grown Sumatra leaf was found 

 to require 25 more leaves to the i)ound of a given grade than the samples 

 exhibited from the island of Sumatra. It received 20 jDoints of excel- 

 lence against 18 for the Sumatra, and was i^ronouuced by the jury to 

 be perfect. The bright yellow toljacco of Virginia and Xorth Carolina 

 was awarded 18 points of merit out of a possible 20, or the same as 

 given to the Turkish tobacco, which it resembles in many points and 

 with which it most closely competes. Many very strong letters have 

 been received, showing the appreciation of the growers and leaf deal- 

 ers of this country in the work the Department did for the tobacco 

 interest, and much verbal praise was given bj" the jury of awards and 

 by "visitors to the exposition. It is firmly believed that this exhibit 

 has done nnich for the tobacco interest of this country in showing for- 

 eigners the great variety of tobacco grown here and the excellence of 

 the different types and grades. 



