Tobacco

The American Tobacco Co. did remarkably well last year, according to its annual report last week. This company makes a horde of useful products--Lucky Strike (It's toasted"), Egyptian Straights, Herbert Tareyton, Johnny Walker, Lord Salisbury, Melachrino, Naturals, Omar, Pall Mall, Sweet Caporal ("Ask Dad, he knows"), Bull Durham, Tuxedo, Serene, Old English Curve Cut, and many another. Their sales--billions of cigarets and tobacco packages--netted the company $22,238,919 last year. This meant, after preferred dividends were paid, $9.77 a share (par $50) on the $97,639,600 of common and common B stocks outstanding. In 1924 the net income was $20,784,869 or $9.02 for similar shares.

The American Tobacco Co. (Percival S. Hill, President) is by far the most potent of U. S. tobacco manufacturers. It was incorporated in 1904; dissolved as a trust in 1911.

Present great competitors are: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co. (W. N. Reynolds, Chairman; Bowman Gray, President), which makes Camels ("I'd walk a mile"), Prince Albert, etc.; Liggett & Myers (C. C. Dula, President)--Fatimas ("What a whale of a difference just a few cents make"), Piedmonts, Chesterfields ("They Satisfy"), Masterpiece Smoking; P. Lorillard Co. (B. L. Belt, President)--Murads, Helmars, Deities, Moguls, Between the Acts; Philip Morris & Co., Ltd., Inc. (R. M. Ellis, President)--Philip Morris, Marlboro, English Oval. This last concern is affiliated with the American Tobacco Products Co. (T. B. Yuille, President), which controls the Surburg Co. (Zig-Zags), Stephano Bros. (Rameses), and the United Cigar Co.

Great cigar makers are the General Cigar Co. (Fred Hirschhorn, President)--White Owl, Robert Burns, William Penn.