The Red Cloud chief., 1888-05-11
MAKING.
Why Cedar Wood Il Used In All ParfA 81
the Globe.

the Globe.
Cedar is used for cigar boxes because
it is the most porous wood. Is easily
dried. and can be cut and nailed Letter
and quicker than hard wool. Eut Aie
principal reason is because Of the flavor
which is contained in the essential ri.
with which the wood is saturated. Tie
flavor of the oil evaporates freely anu
has the most beneficial effect upon Any
kind of tobacco.
The best cedar-the largest and finest
in color and quantity-cOmes from III"
southern Gulf coast of Mexico. Lately
the cedar market has been very much
depressed because manufacturers ~!
cheap cigar boxes have found it pratt.
cable to use stained and grained wonl.
in imitation of genuine cellar. for c!,rai,
boxes. The grain is pressed on the
wood while it is running through roll
ers. and the imitation is nearly perfect.
! except the peculiar aroma.
In Cuba. Mexico. Guatemala ami TIE
Central American States cedar .roN>
in forests. singly or in clumps Of three
or four trees, and these trees are very
often fifty to one hundred yards apart.
They grow frequently in compan: with
mahogany. The trees being So Ear
apart it is very troublesome t, -:
them out of the woods after they are
cut. In the majority of instances /:
special path has to be made throagi
the woods. through which the timber i,
dragged to \ neighboring creek. t:a
water Of which bears it to market.
The trees are cut by Indians or half
breeds. for which they are pail in
Mexico and the Central American
States. twenty-five to fifty cents - day.
The monteros who engage these people
generally manage it SD that nothing is
left after purchasing the supplies. tools.
ETC.; all this is deducted out Of the al.
dians' or half-breeds' pay. AMI if any
thing is left the mOnter0 usually gam
bles it away.
The chopping of the trees is generally
done during the dry season. When the
rainy season sets in. which is in the fall
mONths. the creeks and rivers commence
TO swell. and the timber is tlOate,l down
to the larger streams. and from there il
is sent in RATS to the shippers near the
seacOast. Advances in the shape of
money. provisions. and tools are male
to the monteros by the shippers. Cedar
and mahogany are shipped to New
York. Havre. Liverpool AMI Hambur.
On consignment.
The cedar is now in New York. Pos
siblv it has lain two Or three seasons
whereit has been cut on account IF the
seasons not being rainy enough to float
it to tidewater. 1t is now in rOagh
logs. the only attempt ut dressing done
being simplyto remOve the bark and TO
fashion it into a square shape. How it
is made into c~igar-bOxes is \ process
that Il be readily imagined.
FIRST. the log. if too long. is sawed of
to a required length. Then it is hauled
up an inclined plane to the mill. Here.
by means of An endless band and
veneer saws it Is sawed into one-quar-
ter and three-sixteenths inch lumber.
The cut timber is taken to the drying.
room where it is placed in racks where
the circulation Of the air is free and
subjected to hot steam until tho moist
ure of the wood is all dried out. The
lumber is then taken out Of the drying.
room and planned. The seasoning and
planning constitute the most important
elements in a good cigar-bOx.
The timber is now finished. trimmed.
and the edges smOOthed. and it is sawed
crOsswise into the sides. bottoms and
tops Of the cigar boxes. The selectors
nov take hold of the cedar. and pick
out the best pieces for the front and the
worst for the back Of the boxes. The
pieces are now ready to be put to-
gether. but they must first receive what
ever printing and enclosing the cigar
manufacturer may require. A cigar
box ordinarily needs four or five i'm.
pressiOns. Besides the brand. which
is stamped and printed on the top.
there are legends. such as ''COnchas
Specials" '.FavOritas" and similar dis
tinguishing words printed on the sides.
The district internal revenue number
of the cigar factory using the box and
the quantity is impressed. according to
law. on the bottom Of the box.
The pieces are nailed into hooks first
that is. an end and side piece are put
together. The hooks are joined and
the box is ready for the top and bottom.
The latter is nailed on and a muslin
hinge is pasted on the former. which
secures it to the bOx.
From the nailing-rOom the boxes are
taken to the pasting-rOOm. Here girls
paste the edges. labels. etc. and the
box is stood aside to dry. The box is
now ready to receive cigars. Some
times fancy touches in the way of
vanishing and putting on fancy paper
are desired. but the ordinary cedar
cigar-box receives the treatment I have
described. When it is rccOllected that \
ciSar-box fulfills its mission the moment
it receives its cigars. and must be de-
strOyed. by law. As soon as it becomes
omntv tho nuNhor Of hOvoS usel in