, 1876-04-01
MYSTERIES OF TOBACCO.
Of Reams o: Paper Pulled into


Thousands Of Reanis o: Paper Pulled int o
smoke.
One of the mysteries of New York, Of which
We have never seen III type an attempted eX-
PLANTATION Is: What under the sun becomes
of the enormous quantity OF this coarse
brown wrapping paper Nhich we every
where see piled up to the ceiling in ware
houses, or shying across the sidewalk from
truck to store, like Parthisn srrows darken-
ing sAe sun, or pefchance coming to the city
from mills in the surrounding country, load
ing whole trains of freight carsT" This,
surely, is a profound puzzle, which few even
among old residents can uDravel. But here
is the answer: ('Tell it not in Gath ; pablish
it not in the streets of Askelon.'' In brief,
we have at this port sn enormous export trade
in straw paper between New York and Ha-
vana where it enters into the manufacture of
tobacco. The trade can be reckoned by thou
sands Of tons Not a steamer leaves port
that does net take out from 2000 to 5000
reams, CT in occasional instances as high as
10000 reams. But very days have elapsed
since steamer sailed with the quantity last
named. II was long since evident that this
heavy export of paper, that too, all of sim
gle description, the coarsest and cheapest,
could not be for an ordinary consumption.
No market could possibly demand such guam
titles, unless people were inordinste shoppers,
and did nothing except rnn 10 the grocery
for small packages. The paper referred TO
sells at 20 cents per ream OF s or 8 pounds,
and when packed for export is usually pressed
into bales Of 100 reams each. 1t is said that
the exports are so large that our entire do
mestic consumption is scarcely equal to one
sixteenth of the total shipped to Cuba alone,
while additional quantities are in demand
for Brazil, Bermuda, &c.-very much of it,
doubtless, going to the manufacture of che
roots aud cigarettes. For this purpose, we
are told, it serves admirably, the paper, un-
SOhiOhoAlohS IO ANs-AAohA StAN1
than a pure white ash. There is but one
conclusion, as remarked by leading dealer
in the trade, that the great bulk of this paper
is converted into cigars Of the lower grade,
aud when returned under custom house
brands, neatly boxed and fragrant with illu-
sive odors, readily commands a sale. The
peculiar manipulation which st:aw paper
undergoes in process Of conversion is of
course known only to the initiated. But it
is well understood that when saturated III
the juice of tobacco stems, and perhaps, al-
most dissolved, the once de.pised yellow
reams make " filling almost equal, If not
superior, to the genuine leaf. In fact, it Is
sometimes i'm npossiJle 10 defect, az We are in
formed, the delicate finn of paper interlapPed
with leaves III the finished cigar, or neatly
folding the exterior. To such refinement
Of art has this business been carried, that by
the use of machines rolled over the sheet of
paper An almost perfect impress of the tobacco
leaf Il obtained, the peculiar spots being
printed as ON calico. The waste and refu-e
Of factories in like manner is carefully gath
cred, and. by intermin9hng with paper, on, e
more acquires body and consistency, so that
III subsequent Use the votary of tobacco in
hales it III his pipe, securing comfort and so
lace, or takes it puvrri1ed into snuff, through
the nostrils, imagining himself transported
in dreamy lassi'ude beyond the cares aud
wOrrimenfs Of this lower life--on Wisp OF
paper.-N. /. Com. 4are7fissy.