The morning call., 1892-01-31
CIGhR-BOXES.
An Interesting Account Of the Manner in Which
They Are Made.

1t was few days ago that the purchaser
of a cigar in a downtown tobacco-store put
the question: why is cedar always selected
as the best wood for cigar-bOXes p You
might put the same query to 100 cigar man
ufacturers or dealers and the thousands OF
smokers, ana beyond the reply that it is
the most suitable and that cedar is ''al-
ways used" not one can tell you the true
reason.
Cedar is used because it is the most por-
Gus wood, is easily dried and can be cut and
nailed better and quicker than hard wood
into boxes; but the principal reason Is De-
cause of the flavor which is contained In the
essential oil with which cedar is saturated
The flavor of the oil evaporates freely and
has the most beneficial effect upon any
brand of tobacco.
For the manufacture OF cigar-boxes wood
Is being shipped from distant chimes, and
large portion of it comes from countries
south of the United States. From an Old
box-maker it is learned that the best WOOL
the largest and finest in color and quality,
comes rom the south coast of Mexico. The
Cuban cedar which is old enough TO be Oh
GOOD size is ever In demand at high prices,
Int the wood from only young trees comes
to this country, and IS used 10 some extent,
on account of its chearness. Inc large
trees of the Cuban and Mexican interior are
brought To the coast with too much diff
Guilty, and cost much more getting them 10
market .,-u,-o.t 10.
been much depressed because manufacturers
of cheap cigar-bOXes have found II praclca-
HE to use stained and grained wood, In lml-
tation of genuine cedar, for cheap boxes.
The grain IS pressed in the wood while 1t IS
running through rollers and the imitation
is nearly perfect, except the peculiar aroma.
An old navigator who has sailed among
the West Indies and Central American
States. has observed that cedar grows In
forests, singly or in clumDS OF three or Tour
trees, ana these trees are very often % 10
100 wards apart. aud they frequently grow
in COMPANY with mahogany. some OF
these trees are of little use and IN,
fit for furniture, ana by reason Oh
their coarse grain and hardness are I'M
suited for cigar-boXes Being so far apart,
il is troublesome to get them out Oh the
woods after they are cut. In the majority
of instances q special roadway mas 10 De
made through the forest, through WhICh
the logs are dragged to neIghDOTIng creek;
Once here the logs are launched and tOated
m market. Some of the trees have to be
hauled from three to fifteen miles, and the
launches are not always successful.
1t is a strange people that Is employed by
the owners Of the forests 10 DO the cutIlng
of trees and general work, On some Plan
tations Indians are hired as choppers. 1hey
are Maid from % to 80 cents per day IN Mex
leo and Central America, and the men VINO
engage them generally manage 1t so thRt
nothing is left after purchasing the supplies
and tools; all Of this IS deducted from
the pay, and if anything IS left the bosses
usually gamble il away. 1t Is IN
the dry season that the Indians labor
hardest. When the wet or rainy
season setsin, which is in the fall months or
about this season of the year, the creeks
aud rivers begin to swell, and the timber IS
foated down TO the larger streams, and
from there it is sent III RATS TO the shippers
on the sea coast. Possibly it has lain two
or three seasons where 1t has been cut on
account Of the slight rainfall being INSULT
Gent 10 float it to the coast. IL is IN Its
rough state, the only attempt at dressing
done being simply to remove the DARK ana
fashion il into a square shape
In this manner 1t IS shipped TO this and
other countries. How it is made into cigar
boxes is process That can be readily imag-
ined. First Of all, If the log Is too long it Is
sawed oil 10 a desired length and taken to
the mill. Here by means OF an endless band
and veneer saws it IS sawed into Il and $40
inch lumber. The cut timber IS then taken
| TO the drying-rOUm, where II IS placed IN
racks, where the circulation OF air IS free, and
| subjected TO hot steam until the moisture OF
/ the wood is all dried out. Ine lumber is then
| planed. The seasoning and planning cOnsu-
! tutp the most important elements III good
! cigar-bOx Tie timber IS now finished,
| trimmed and the edges smOOthed, and il is
| sawed cTOSswise into the sides, bottoms and
! covers The solicitors pick out the more
perfect pieces for the front. and the worst
! are left for the bottoms and backs OF the
boxes After this the pieces are ready TO
| he put together, but they must first re-
! ceiye whatever printing and embosSlng
| the cigar manufacturer may require. a
| box ordinarily needs four or five impress
| siuns Besides the brand, which IS STAN red
and printed on the top there are legends,
such as Bouquet" Henry Clay" Favor
| ties" and similar distinguishing words,
| printed on the sides. The district internal
| revenue number Of the cigar factory using
the box and the quantity are impressed in
/ some instances on the bottom OF the box,
| while others use printed Labels that are
pasted on the box after ii IS put together.
| The pieces are nailed into hooks frst-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 muslin or brass hinge is pasted or
screwed on The former, which secures the
box.
Then the boxes 60 Into the pasting-rOom,
and here the edges, labels. pictures, etc,
are put on, after which it is put one side to
dry. Sometimes fancy touches in way of
vanishing and putting on fancy paper are
desired. but the ordinary box goes without
these additional 1lOuriSheS. After this the
boxes are ready to receive cigars.
When it is Tecollected that a cigar box
fuflls its mission the moment it receives
its cigars. and must be destroyed as soon as
it becomes empty, according TO the laws OF
the United States, the number Of boxes
used with the progress of the cigar indus
try. and the law prescribing them rs the
only box for the packing of cigars, almost
equals the number of hairpins manufact-
ured.
A PRACTICAL SUGGESTION.