The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-06-05

The Annual COnsumpslon q Eega1 In the
UnltoA States.
TO TIE EDITOR OF THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Some time ago you desired to be enlightened on
the consumption Of homemade scgars, and will
try to satisfy you.
New York contains, a. per Wilson'S Directory
about three hundred segarmakers. We can safely
put down the neighboring cities, Brooklyn and Viii
hamsburg, and the country along the North river
and jersey, for 100 more; Philadelphia contains ~
per Directory, about 200 Baltimore may count up
100; and we may value the nunber in the Western
cities-Cincinnat, st. Louis and all others-at 400
at least Connecticut and Massachusetts, may be
counted for 300, there being many in the villages
OF the first State,) which gives Us total of 400
as a basis for our calculations.
Many OF these employ from ten to twenty hands,
boys and girls, few only working alone; and taking
very low average at four hands each we have total
OF 900 hands.
Some are able to make 5000 week, others less;
but $500 week for each ia the least that can be
assumed, as; at the price per thousand, person
could scarcely live byit.
We thus obtain total Of 1880 900 week, and
taking the year at bat foryeght weeks. 100000 900
year.
Homemade segars cannot be averaged less than
81 thousand which is. .............. $5,OlO,OO0
Add toit, as profit of the jobber and
retailer, fifty per cent ..,......... 100000
Total Observation-Disclosures. S7,5G0, 900
That this valuation is below the mark is shown by
this that it brings segar to three quarters Of cent
only, while the very worst bunch OF stiakweed is
sold in retail at one cent.
Your calculation of the total value of imported
segars is likewise below the actual money paid as
the profits taken too low. A retailer Of segars
never makes less than so per cent, sometimes 100
per cent; and you bring the imported segars only to
about two cents apiece, whilst six cents for real
Havana is the common retail price, and persons who
buy them by the thousands even pay s25 to S35
thousand. And everybody knows that the middling
qualities sold in barrooms and segar shops are never
bought less than three cents yet will accept your
valuation at OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. $6,IS4,364
And add to it mine above. ............ 1860, 900
And thus obtain total of .. sl3,744s64
will now convince you that our calculation is
equally far below reality in point of quantity con-
sumed and made.
Rating the male population of the United States
at 10 GOO 600 we may, considering the great extent
this habit has obtained everywhere even among
schto and street boys, put down the smokers at
5000 GOO, which gives 10 every smoker only about
225 segars year. How far is this below reality
when the most moderate smoker at least consumes
two. and many dozen and over per day?
May we therefore not, at one jump, and without
exaggeration put down round sum of $3O00O,00O
spent for the qualification of this vile, health
destroying, and dsgra .eful habit, which makes its
yotares set aside all considerations of the right of
others to the enjoyment of a pure, uncontaminated
ar as GOQ mas created IT, ana orgetul OF all rules
of politeness and good breeding?
And yet we have not concluded. There is yet
cut smoking tobacco. chewing stuff, and snuff for
which we may add $4,000, 900 more.
And then remains yet the expenses for doctors
and druggists bills, in the vain attempt to alleviate
the disastrous effects Of this nasty habit, manifested
by nervous complaints, dyspepsia diseases of the
lungs, &C., &c Neither can WEI possibly estimate
the loss OF time in q dreamy dr0wsiness, the in
creased appetite for stimulating drinks and all this
because the boy apes the father, and is again aped
by his boy Oh, mani what blind, unthinking
animal thou art REFORMED SMOKER.
MAY IA, 1863.