Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-05-06
THE CIGAR TRADE.
A Talk with an Old Dealer i'm New
York.


posed for sale a few seasons ago. There is no
perceptible decrease in price, either to dealer or
consumer, and one cannot readily understan
why the brands now on the market are 80 poor
OF course the tax is excessive on both home aud
imported products; but then in spite Of such
duties, better cigars should be supplied for the
price. Ten years ago, even, comfortable smoke
could be procured in New York for fifteen cents,
far better one than can now be had for almost
double the money. This was not owing to les
sened duties, but to the fact that there were not
80 many smokers. and that better wrappers and
filters were used in the manufacture, and that
cigar was seldom exposed for sale until it was
thoroughly cured. Now, however, all is changed
and One-half OF the domestic cigars are smoked
before they have had time to take on a sweat"
The speaker was an old cigar dealer, and the
above plain talk was addressed to the Star re-
porter, who had invested in a cigar with for
eign name that draws as hard as canal boat.
AS the weed had been purchased over the deal
ers counter, he felt in duty bound to say some
thing by way OF apology. By degrees the scribe
led him to speak about the tricks of the
trade.
The majority of cigars" said the dealer in
smokers articles ''are favored NOWADAYS
This expedient is resOrted to in order to conceal
the Inferior quality of tobacco used in the manu-
facture A decoction of opium and rum will
lmpart delicious scent to the tobacco and also
cause it to burn quickly. They are hurtful, how
ever, as every smoker knows. After smoking
half-dOzen such alleged Havanas in day. the
brain and lungs seem disOrdered; the tongue is
burned and swollen, and tiny blisters appear in
the mouth. No matter how poor the tobacco,
there would be no such injurious results were
it not for the drug used in it's manufacture
When man gets hold of an honest Havana in
the present generation, he experiences something
akin to foretaste of Paradise"
imported cigars We're never in greater de-
mand," said large wholesale dealer in import
ed goods to the reporter. "Henry Clays and
Reinas are still the favOrites, and command all
the prices from SIS to $3.50 a thousand. fair
cigar can be furnished for 3120 thousand, but
if person desires good article he must Of ne
cessity pay higher figure. The grades which
are most in demand are those that can be sold
over the counter at Is cents singly or two for Is
cents. Straight tens and three for quarter
grades are usually domestic cigars bearing Span
lsh names. Key West, fair article, range from
$50 to S125 a thousand. There is no DENYING
the fact that imported brands are inferior to the
importations OF ten years ago. There is so great
demand for them that the quality OF tobacco is
not nearly so fine; and then, again, there are
more machine-made goods put on the market.
Many of the manufacturers make their cigars at
home from Imported tobacco; but if devoid of
f1ayoring the average smoker can discern the
fraud, for no matter how ine the tobacco the
cigar will not cure so evenly as it does in the
tropics"
"WhiIe opium is probably used by some man
ufacturers in the manufacture of cigars we have
never used a grain of it," was the statement of
manager OF large factory, in conversation
with the reporter. 'If a customer orders say
lO,OOO cigars Of special brand, and wishes them
favored, we put little Santa Cruz rum in the
bottom of the boxes and the flavor is obtained.
Last season we manufactured 81 ,647, 400 cigars
and 5,15S, $50 cigarettes, and all without par
tlcle OF opium. l am opposed to the tenement
house cigar, and We sell none that are turned
out in such places. They are not clean and are
composed OF inferior tobacco"
I'VE are distributing about z, OO0. 900 cigars q
month, said another manager. ''Ths includes
both domestic and imported goods, but mainly
the former. We make two great specialties, q
1ve-cent and ten-cent cigar and can furnish
IS good domestic cigar for S85 Thousand as
can be imported for $40 a thousand. The half
dime grades, which are sold to the trade at $40
q Thousand, are most In demand. One of our
brands, mo. S." Is selling at the rate of 1OOO, 900
month We use no opium In any shape what
ever. The cheapest goods on the market are
quoted at 81 a thousand. They are from Penn
syiyania, made by farmers and in this city by
apprentices, from adulterated goods. We very
seldom get hold of good article that has been
smuggled. Dealers in such goods usually have
distributing agencies of their own and are afraid
to offer them to responsible dealers"
The manufacture OF cigars in tenement houses
has become great industry in New York. The
cost Of production is from 81 to So less per thou
sand, and the cigar, If made from fair grade Of
tobacco, will smoke almost as well as those
turned out in flrst-class factories. As rule,
however, the goods used are poor and no care
Is exercised IN the wrapping. Opium and poor
liquor is freely applied to the leaf before being
rolled, and the cigar Is thus made to burn freer
and is given q stimulating taste. Many Of the
tenement-house products are reeking with In
iectlous disease, and there can be no doubt but
what sickness is In many instances disseminated
In this manner. Inferior grades Of cigarettes
are also doctored with opium, and work much
harm to their consumers.
From the Cambridge News
One Of the most interesting sights we saw on