TOBACCO MANUFACTORIES. In consequence of consolidation, the number of factories have been reduced since the industry was reported in 1899-only thirty reporting in 1901 as against forty in 1899. For the same reason a decrease is apparent in items Value of Product, Wages Paid and Capital Invested. See Increase of wages reported by four factories, ranging from 3 to 10 per cent. The reports give the conditions generally as good and the prospects fair. The reduction of the tax on manufactured tobacco has had the effect of meeting in part the short profits entailed by advances in raw material. Numbers of the smaller manufacturers complain of the methods of the large combination, and express apprehension that they will ultimately drive small competitors to the wall. |