The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-12-16
SPOILED TOBACCO.
A New Method Of Turning it INTO Fair
Cigars,
From the Ne,c York World.


For some months past there have been
offered for sale 10 the retail tobacco stores.
al very low prices, cigars of all shapes and
sizes, which in appearance and, at the first
lighting, in taste, equaled those commonly
know as seed Havanas. The low prices at
which they we're retailed and their unex-
ceptionable color and form suggested the
idea that there was something peculiar
about their manufacture, and careful in
vestiRation by a representative of the
World shows that this opinion was well
grounded. Some months ago MIR. NJ. X.
Pearsall, of this city. formerly engaged in
the manufacture and sale OF cigars,
invented or discovered chemical treat
ment of worthless tobacco. by which its
lost color and flavor are restored, and to all
appearances it is made as good as the ord
mary article for sale in the market. He
determined to turn his discovery to account
and advertised for partner with capital
to aid him. Mr. Homer II. Stuart, Of the
Continental Bank Note Company, was in
troduced to Mr., Pearsall. and after having
satisfied himself of the merits of the dis
covery. formed q copartnership with Pear
sail, and the two with Mr.. Homer Ii.
Stuart, jr., became Incorporated into an
association under the name Of the New
York Tobacco Company, for the manufact
ure and sale of cigars made out of the new
kindof tobacco. An Office was rented at AS
Reade street, and there business was begun.
The writer yesterday visited this place
and learned something about this business.
1t appears that the company is in the habit
of buying up imperfect, yellow and color
less tobacco, rejected by all regular dealers.
at 10 cents to IL cents pound, and sub
iecting it to their process, restoring it to
its lost color and making itlook like perfect
tobacco. The discolored leaves are
dampened and put into huge receiver
connected by pipe with a boiler in which
the chemical ingredients are put. They
remain there four hours. being impregnated
during that time by the steam which is
generated 10 the boiler and run through
the pipe. At the end of the four hours the
tobacco is taken out and dried and is then
ready for use, Pearsall claims that all
domestic tobacco is imperfect, aud that a
great part of the tobacco he buys would be
considered perfectly good by the average
dealer. His process, he says, simply sup
plies certain conditions lacking in the nat
ural leaf and renders the tobacco more
perfect and better for smoking. He buys
large quantity of unripe tobacco, which,
if left to the care OF nature, would require
six or eight months to ripen and by means
of his process brings it to state OF pertec-
ton and renders it ready tor immediate
use After treatment the tobacco is made
into cigars of various sizes and shapes,
which are sold under a number of different
names to retail dealers at prices ranging
from $35 to $50 per 1000 and resold to
retail buyers at 5, 10 aud Is cents apiece.
Mr.. Pearsall claims that the chemicals
he uses are wholly innOcuoCs, and that, far
from injuring the tobacco. they actually
benefit it. The fact that the cigars thus
made have been chemically treated is, OF
course concealed from the retail buyer, who
suppOses that he is buying an ordinary
Havana or domestic cigar The New \ ork
Tobacco Company makes its cigars at Il
very small cost, about $40 THOUSAND,
and reaps enormous profits, while other
domestic cigars are driven out OF the mar
ket, as the makers cannot compete with a
company who pay next to nothing for their
raw material and utilize tobacco which
other manufacturers throw away. In a
few weeks the company expect to begin
the manufacture and sale Of leaf tobacco,
aud thus come into direct competition
with the regular trade.
A number of the cured cigars are SOLD
under the name of the Leo brand, witt
print of medal awarded to that brand
manufactured by Mr.. Pearsall, in 1859
Mr.. Pearsall admits that the cigars nov
sold under that name we're not made at al
in 1859; in fact the process was not ther
discovered, but he excuses this deception
on the ground that the cigars now sold un
der the name of that brand are much bet
ter than those for which lie received th
medal.
1t is the opinion of one of the largest to
bacco dealers in New York, with WHOM
the writer conversed yesterday, that an
attempt to make good tobacco out of ba
must be abortive, and that any chemlca
treatment of the leaf deprives it of its pc
culiar properties, and is to that extent a
least injurious to the consumer.