The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-10-27
wOMINs SWIFT rINoEhs EMPLOYED
Some Interesting Facts About the Making
aud Settling Of Cigarettes.

There Is an establishment in this city
whore three hundred md eighty girls and wo-
mon MI 1T work for ten hours Il dav N dccp
silence. From ioor tu nour neither TIA" slight
"st buzz nor the iuiu,c~i laugh I. heard All are
ciuscN Wntrhcd. They are cigarette mHkers.
and belong io the rr:r,t of the I'VE establish
menis IN this city. Grcni has been the increase
Of cigarette cons umption. anl great has become
the export since 1874. when the liner qualities
began To bc made in strings ~ tobacco extend
ing the length Of the paper instead of being
grGnulatcd III fine particles. aud falling loose
uuou the tongue. In 1873 there were ahou;
5u.uUoUO cigarettes consumed in this city
either manufactured here or imported. The
average yearly increase since has been
250O0.0C0. This year the snles will br about
l75.000.0oO. The Government report for tho
fiscal year TO June 80. 1878 gives 1876 600 coo.
In the process oi manufacture. the loaf is first
moistcned with cold steam. und then placed in
prcss whore pressure " siNtrra tons power
reduces y 70 block two frt long. siN Inches
drrn anu four wide, The block is placed In
another machine. which cuts II into THU slices.
and, after being cut the requisite length for n
cigarette. II Is ready lor thc %ir,s tn wnOn it Is
weighed ont. They are expected to return the
same weight IN cigarettes. allowing tor the
slight weight ut tie paper and paste. They ait
NJ i9ns tables. nnd are zach provided with u
small stone sab. on whirli h paste Ot u very
white and pure quality. II any dirt il found in
lhis paste or ON the stone. or On the fingers OF
/ the -irl. She IL lined. She IL not expected To
/ touch III" tobacco in rolling IT, and t. prevent
TINS II furnished with II iit~t unprr. which she
| manipulnirs IN peculiar way before using the
s"rpnd. THIS latter II mad" from rice tur the
/ lin" grades. Tho good points IN II cigarette are
/ IN IT, being round. neat. md sufficiently hard Ia
/ RS list u moderate pressure ot the fingers. tn
/ na"iing j. done with little Nat stick. II Is said
! that the dclcary ~ touch and manipulation in
cigarette manufacture is greater than III that OF
1 ordinary cigars.
There ARE about twenty-five men and So, enty-
! I've boys also IN the establishment. The week Is
! aging about ZIG. All are paid boy piece work.
! Women nnd boys earn from 81 g. Sl2 the
| women making the most money. The work "
! IN" lest women Is quite H. good us that ut the
! best men, except that II IL not So rapid. A
| learner requires three weeks instruction to do
mir wuik. An experienced hand acts ~ teacher.
| amt no wages are paid until competency be-
| comes attained. \ kind ul cigarette H. now also
| produced In small quantities which have no
! paper connected With them. The inner tobacco
] j. rolled IN Il square OF tODucco leaf They are
/ higher priced tnan NIL others.
! only about five thoroughly good girls In u
cigarette sense. are found In nifty. They talk.
vr corne late. or IN some way infringe rules.
/ \ good girl is expected TO make nbout 10000
cigarettes n week. II. through idleurss. she
| drops 10 half that amount. notice Is quickly
! gwen her that other hands are waiting for her
place.
H. the last great strike 81 ricarmakers the
/ cigarette makers did not participate. Three
( year, Hgo men Were generally employed. and 4
strike TOOK place. Women were substituted.
I and no trouble has since occurred. An cNuur;
/ of long strip cigarettes H. beginning tp Eng
/ land. Russia. and Germany. In France. Stain.
aNiN N.rnnl'ht Wuu"p"l}. ami no cigars ur' nj
| Wittrd. Japan IL also receiving them. Und also
! China. but very apuT~ Is. Makers ut ordinary
I cigars have. ia some cl-t-. hr'n also max lie.
"-ure't"s, tu' ~ yet chiefly with grinulaird To-
I ta.r'i. and with Iapcts loluud AZ the ends and
unlW-trd. Much FASTING is. however. done.