Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1873-03-12
About Cigars.

About Cigars.
1t has always been, and probably
ever will be, tho common belief that
the best cigars arc made in Cuba, and
this is true in q certain measure.
Previous to the year 1850 the manu-
facture of cigars on that island was
monopolized by the Government, but
since then it has been thrown open TO
oil, and owing To the incessaut do
mands made upon the Cuban market
there is hardly any real competition
among tho manufacturers. Tho Gu
banss' brands seem to bring . higher
price than those of any other house.
The best cigars from that house occa-
sionally sell for fifty cents apiece in
Havana, or twenty five cents at whole
sale. Beside the immense quantity
sold for importation, over fourteen
hundred million cigars are annually
smoked on the Island OF Cuba. The
cigar manufacture is q Government
monopoly in the Philippine Islands.
The best tobacco is raised on tho nor
thern part of the Island of Luzon,
and is cultivated under the immediate
supervision of Spanish officials and
agents, who buy it directly from the
planters. There are three principal
manufactures. The largest is at Ma.
nila, and employs seven hundred wo-
men and twelve hundred men, oil of
whom are paid by the piece, to insure
greater expedition and better work.
The other two average about two
hundred hands each.
Nearly one hundred and twenty
FIVE million cigars, and q proportion
ately large number of cheroots and
cigarettes, are annually exported from
the Philippine Islands. The colonies
affording better opportunities and
more advantages for the culture and
preparation of the valuable leaf, but
few manufactures have been estab.
lished in Spain itself. Yet those that
have been started have nearly all con.
tinued in successful operation, and the
one at Seville has gained q world. wide
reputation, In Franco tho tobacco
manufacture in oil its branches has
long been one Of the principal sources
ofinternal revenue. As early as 1914
the monopoly Of the tobacco trade
was sold for six years to Jean Breton
for thc'sum of 7oo,O 900 livres, or about
"nn hnndrnd and fiftv thousand dol.
lars. The French cigars are mostly
Of a superior quality, and are go skill
fully shaped and delicately manipula-
ted that none but experienced con.
nossours can detect the difference
from genuine Partages or vuelto Aba
jos, whose superiority Is mainly due
to their peculiar flavor and uniform
combustion. Immense quantities of
cigars and cigarettes are manufac-
turcd in Bremen and Hamburg, with
very inferior and damaged leaves, and
are shipped to all parts of,the world,
to be sold at extremely low rates.
Bremen takes tho lead in this branch
Of trade, more than four thousand
persons being actively engaged in it,
and the yearly expectations from this
city alone numbering over three mil.
lion. En- passant, 1t may be interest
ing to the reader to know that seven.
ty thousand ordinary sized cigars can
be proftably manufactured out of six
hundred pounds Of good, unadultera-
ted tobacco. This simple fact shows
how very remunerative the business
can be mado. Wherever civilization
has penetrated, the cigar has made its
appearance, and has rapidly como in,
10 favor, however much has been said
against smoking. The annual amount
spent by the English on tobacco alone
and principally on cigars--has been
estimated at not far from fourteen
million pounds sterling. But in point
Of consumption, as well as traffic aud
manufacture, the United States ranks
foremost, as far as cigars are concern.
ed.