The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1877-12-14
SECRETS OF CIGAR MAKING.
New York Experts Explain whit the
Things are that Smokers Pun.

New Hork Experts Explain what this
Things are that Smokers Pun.
! To the Smoking Pubic:
The smaller cigar manufacturers O,
this metropolis-whO for many wears
have been well known to the smoking
public as u class of industrious people
ousily engaged in their stores from
early in the morning till late at night,
either alone or aideo by one or more
hands-deem it necessary in their own
behalf, as we'll as in the interest OF
smokers, to state their position in the
existing troubles. The following state
ment Of facts will clearly demonstrate
whose interest they mainly attempt to
represent, feeling that they can rely
upon the public to judge ilnpartially in
this matter.
1t is probably we'll known that the
greater number of cigars manufactured
of late years have been made in So
called tenement-house factories. 1t is
asserted authoritatively that the ac-
commodation of the workmen is the
leading idea Of this system, but we shall
endeavOr to prove conclusively that
the manufacturer only is benefited by
this method, for the following reasons !:
First-The saving in wages OF strippers,
bookers and other help. Second-The
saving in the rental of the factory or
loft, as the tenement-house work man
Is charged for rent by his employer,
which rent is deducted from his weekly
earnings. Being compelled to prepare
(strip and book) his tobacco, to be
made into cigars, he calls to his aid his
wife and children, the latter beginning
to work when they are seven years Of
age. With all this assistance. the
workman is able to finish 5000 cigars
per week, Sundays included. Suppose
the wages to be $5 per 1000 (though
varying from 81 to 80 the workman
would clear (deducting from - to 50
for rent) from $12 to $l3 per week.
Now, q word concerning the unsus-
pecting smoker. First, it may be
stated that tobacco is substance OF
such tender nature that it will readily
absorb foul rs 1t does moist air; and
tobacco, exposed for short time only
to impure air, in cases of sickness in
the family, will, if made into cigars,
disseminate the disease to other places.
The workman, whose family in many
cases consists of from four to eight
besides himself and his wife,
occupies room and bedroom. All of
them have to sleep in this limited
space, so small, in fact, that it can
be spanned by the outstretched
arms. About 100 pounds of moist or
drying, in all cases strongly vaporing,
is constantly kept in these
rooms. During the working thereof
this tobacco is shaken up, and the
lungs of its occupants inhaie its dust
and vapor. Tobacco and its waste lie
scattered all over the floor of the apart
lnents, and the child which is not yet
able TO walk is compelled to roll about,
On and among these wastes, which are
not thrown away, but again worked
into cigars. Births and deaths occur
in the midst of this laboratory. All
housework, such as cooking, washing,
ironing, and cleaning of children, has
to be done in the room where cigars
are made. 1t cannot possibly be
avoided that filth finds its way into
the cigars made here, which are sub
putfed with the greatest rel
lsh by the smoking population. Should
not a smoker have a right to demand
the same cleanliness in a cigar factory
which every one expects to find in the
store of a butcher, baker or grocer,
in such places of business
where articles to be used as food are
bought? The poor weed which these
so-called factories offer to a smoker will
not only ruin his health, but he would
be willing to exchange his
good money for such an impure article
were he informed of the matter which
is worked into them-the strong flavor
Of the tobacco hiding all taint. We,
who know that these are positive facts,
would under no circumstances smoke
these cigars the attempt to do so
would turn our stomachs. Cigars made
in these factories are mainly sold in
groceries, apothecary stores, and also
in large and well-turnished cigar stores
whose owners do not manufacture for
themselves.
We now come to another branch of
the "modern" so-calIed "improved''
way of manufacturing cigars. Almost
every one who smokes has made a
t1ial Of the cigars advertised in con-
spicuous manner as "Warranted Ha-
vana filled &c. cigars.'' Suppose the
smoker is not accustomed to imported
tIaVanas, he will say of such cigar
that it can't be called an extra fine one;
but then, he says, it isn't very expen-
sive, and for u little money l have
;m ok ad penI,ino Havana fob.,,c> V,,c%