CHAPTER II. 



STATUS OF THE TOBACCO INDUSTRY ON THE USE OF 

 THE WEED. 



The demand for prime quality tobacco is constantly 

 increasing, because of the increased rate of consumption. 



In the United States, while population in 1896 is 

 only two and one-half times greater than in 1860, con- 

 sumption of manufactured tobacco is fivefold greater, and 

 of cigars tenfold, to say nothing of five hundred cigarettes 

 per capita consumed annually, which were unknown be- 

 fore the war. In the twelve years ended with 1892, do- 

 mestic consumption of cigar leaf tobacco increased forty 

 per cent, while the quantity of manufactured tobacco 

 consumed (smoking, chewing and snuff) just about 

 doubled. Exports have doubled within two decades, 

 and now average one-third larger than ten years ago. 



The per capita consumption in France has trebled 

 in little more than half a century, while a somewhat 

 similar rate of increase is apparent in England and 

 other European countries. In other parts of the world, 

 for which statistics are lacking, it is believed that the 

 per capita consumption is increasing even more rapidly. 

 Add to this the growth of population, and it is evident 

 that the market for tobacco is certain to be an expanding 

 one. This is in marked contrast to the staple necessi- 

 ties of life, such as wheat, rye and potatoes, the consump- 

 tion of which for each unit of population appears to be 

 comparatively stationary. 



An advance in the value of tobacco has been coinci- 

 dent with this increased demand. If 100 is taken to 

 16 



