The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1888-04-26
CIGAR-BOx MAKING.
Why Cedar Wood Is Used in All Parts OF
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 better
and quicker than hard wool. But the
principal reason is because of the flavor
which is contained in the essential oil
with which the wood is saturated. The
flavor of the oil eyaporates freely and
has the most beneficial effect upon any
kind of tobacco.
The best cedar-the largest and finest
in color and quantity-comes from the
southern Gulf coast of Mexico. Lately
the cedar market has been very much
depressed because manufacturers of
cheap cigar boxes have found it practi-
cable to use stained and grained wood,
in imitation of genuine cedar. for cheap
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 and the
Central American States cedar grows
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 company with
mahogany. The trees being so far
apart it is very troublesome to get
them out of the woods after they are
cut. In the majority of instances
special path has to be made through
the woods. through which the timber is
dragged to = neighboring creek. the
water of which bears it to market.
The trees are cut by Indians or half
breeds, for which they are paid in
Mexico and the Central American
States, twenty-five to fifty cents day.
The monteros who engage these people
generally manage it so that nothing is
left after purchasing the supplies. tools.
etc.; all this is deducted out of the In
dians' or half-breeds' pay, and if any
thing is left the montero 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 fioated down
to the larger streams, and from there it
is sent in RATS to the shippers near the
seacoast. Advances in the shape of
money, provisions, and tools are made
to the monteros by the shippers. Cedar
and mahogany are shipped to New
York, Havre. Liverpool and Hamburg
on consignment
The cedar is now in New York. Pos
siblY it has lain two or three seasons
where it has been cut on account of the
seasons not being rainy enough to float
it to tidewater. 1t is now in rough
logs, the only attempt at dressing done
being simply to remove the bark and to
fashion it into square shape. How it
is made into cigar-boxes is process
that can be readily imagined.
First, the log, if too long, is sawed off
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 the 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 q 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 solicitors
now 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 inn
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 have
described. When it is recollected that
cigar-box fultills its mission the moment
it receives its cigars. and must be de-
stroyed, by law. as soon as it becomes
empty, the number of boxes used in
this country. with the progress of the
cigar industry and the law prescribing
them as the only packing for cigars, it
almost equals the number of hair-pins
manuiactured-ME 7. Letter.