The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1876-04-27
rhe pry.,er,e. or .,gaa,- Waking.

A correspondent says One of the
mysteries of New York, of which we have
never seen in type an attempted explanation,
is: NV hat under the sun becomes of the
enormous quantity of this coarse brown
wrapping paper which we everywhere see
piled up to the ceiling in warehouses, or
shying across the sidewalk from truck to
store, like Parthian arrows Gardening the
sun, or perchance coming to the city from
mills in the surrounding country, loading
whole trains of freight cars" This surely
Is u profound puzzle, which few even among
old residents eau unravel. But here 10 the
answer: ('sTell it not in Gath; publish it
not in the street of Askelon.'0 In brief,
we have at this port an enormous export
trade in straw paper between New York
and HavanaAwhere it enters into the manu-
facture of tobacco. The trade can be
reckoned by thousand of tons. Not steam
er leaves port that does not take out from
1000 to 5000 reams, or in occasional instances
as high as so, 200 reams. But very few
days have elapsed since steamer sailed
with the quantity last named. 1t was long
since evident that the heavy export OF
paper, that, too, of a single description,
the coarsest and cheapest, could not be for
ordinary consumption. No market could
possibly demand such quantities, unless
people swere inordinate shoppers, and did
nothing except run to the grocery for small
packages. The paper referred to sells at
twenty-six cents per ream of eight or nine
pounds, and when packed for export is
usually pressed into bales of 100 resms each.
1t is said that the exports are SO large that
our entire domestic consumption is scarcely
equal to one-sixth of the total shipped to
Cuba alone, while additional quantities are
in demand for Brazll, Bermuda, ETC., very
much of it, doubtless, going into the manu-
facture of cheroots and cigarettes. For
this purpose, we are told, 1t serves admira-
bly,, the paper, under combustion, leaving NO
residuum other than a pure white ash.
There is but one conclusion as remarked by
a leading dealer in the trade, that the bulk
of this paper is converted into cigars of the
lower grade, and when returned under GUS
tom house brands, neatly boxed and fra
grant with Elusive odors, readily commands
a sale. The peculiar manipulation which
straw paper undergoes in process of con-
version is of course known only to tie in
itiated. But it is well understood that
when saturated in the juice OF tobacco
stems, and perhaps almost dissolved, the
once despised yellow reams make '.tilling"
almost equal, If not superior, to the genuine
leaf. In tact, it is sometimes possible to de-
lect, as we are informed, the delicate film
of paper interlapped with leaves in the
finished cigar, or neatly folding the exterior.
To such refinement of art has this business
been carried, that by the use Of msehines
rolled over the sheet of paper, an almos,
perfect impress of tobacco leaf is obtained,
the peculiar ''spots" being printed as on
calico. The waste and refuse of factories
in like manner is carefully gathered, and BY
intermingling with paper, once more nc
takes it pnlyerized INTO snuff, through the
nostrils, imagining himself transported IN
| dreamy assirude beyond the cares and
worriments of this lower life -on wisp oi
! paper. I"