Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-13

Wore made In Uncle Sam'e dOminions during
the twelvemonth, an increase Of 214, ~, 900
over the previous year. The tremendous rate
ct which the consumption Of tobacco in this
form 10 growing Il seen from the fact that in
1885 the number Of cigarettes produced did
not much exceed 1000, 000, 900, the exact
figures being loss ,65s, 2s0 In other words,
United States today where one was consumed
seven years ago. Comparatively few-perhaps
100, 600 packages-are imported from Turkey,
Russia and Cuba, SO that the recommendation
made by the Senate committee on epidemic
diseases, to the effect that the importation Of
foreign cigarettes should be prohibited, would
seem to be aimed at very small object.
The cigarette manufacturing industry Of the
United States was recently consolidated into q
gigantic trust, with headquarters in New York
city, under the title Of the American Tobacco
Company. Its officers will not permit any
newspaper man to 60 through the factories. In
response to q request for q few words Of in
formation respecting the processes used, &C.,
your correspondent was informed by one Of the
managers, Mr.. Wright, that It was ''none Of the
pubfc's id business how cigarettes were
made" This seemed somewhat discourteous,
but subsequent and very careful investigation
proved that there were many things concerned
in the making Of cigarettes which the manufac-
turers could not afford to explain. For ex-
ample. 1t was ascertained beyond the peradven-
ture Of a doubt that the charge that paper
cigars are commonly drugged is not unfounded.
ALL CIGARETTES ARE DRUeaEp.
On this subject great deal Of testimony was
obtained from manufacturers Of tobacco wares
and other persons in the business of which the
cigarette industry is merely part They wer
disposed to talk freely so long as they were
assured that they would not be quoted on
secrets of the trade. Said one expert tobacco
Hnn tafa xvsth sIor hat ~u
cigarettes made in this country are drugged,
with the exception Of the brands turned out
for spanish consumption and exported to
South America and elseVhere. The Spanish
people do not like drugged tobacco. 1t is diff
ferent with consumers in the United States.
They prefer cigarettes that have been to q
greater or less extent sophisticated. Accord
ingly the makers suit their product to the de-
mand. But any one who is judge Of tobacco
can distinguish by smoking the cigarettes that
they are impure. Some OF them, including
two or three particularly popular kinds, are
dosed 80 heavily that / consider them posi-
lively dangerous.
each manufacturer of cigarettes has his own
secret combination of tobaccos. None of the
brands on the market is composed of one kind
only. The recipe is not divulged outside of
the firm. But this is not all. The original mix
ture is merely a basis for artificial havoring.
To begin with, various essential oils are added.
The list Of these includes rose, rose ,geranium,
vanilla bean, Tonka bean and iquorice root.
These ingredients are added after the tobacco
leaves have been chopped into shreds in readi-
ness to be rolled into cigarettes. Finally the
particular drug chosen, in the shape of a liquid
solution, il sprayed on the material with an
atomizer while the tobacco is stirred and mixed
The quantity employed is very carefully judged,
so many drops being allowed for each cigarette.
cannot mention to you all the drugs that are
used in cigarettes for obvious reasons; but
there Is no doubt that opium, valerian and can
nabis indica are utilized to the largest extent.
Each manufacturer may be said to create q spe-
cial drug habit among those who smoke his
brand SO that they are not satisfied with any
other"
TEE PAPER 10 ALL RIaHr.
The charge that the paper with which cigar
cites are wrapped is drugged is as unjust as 1t
is untrue. 1t is in truth the purest kind OF
paper made, and the supposision that it can do
no object 10 poisoning 1t when the drug, can be
put into the tobacco so much more easily, and
to do 80 would discolor 1t. or course it ia not
"rice paper" There II no such thing as rice
paper. The so-called rice paper that comes
from China is simply the white pith of plant
cut into thin slices. When bent slightly it
breaks, being very brittle. Cigarette paper IL
manufactured from rags. The best Of it is pro-
duced In France, the processes EN- oloyed being
kept secret. and the material used is new linen
rags, the refuse from the making Of shirts and
o her linen garments, which Is q very great in
wrapped in paper that Ia made in Spain out Of
all sorts Of cotton rags and shipped TO Havana
In big rolls. Try to burn q piece Of it and it is
consumed as . scrap Of this newspaper would
be, with much char and a good deal Of smell.
On the other b md, you may discover by expert
ment that q piece Of the best French cigarette
paper lighted at one corner and held by the OPP
posite corner between the fingers burns with
out char to nothing but very small pinch OF
white ash that has neither smell nor taste.
The paper with which many Havana cigarettes
are wrapped II made to l0ok like tobacco by
soaking It in q solution Of tobacco stems.
Manufacturers Of cigarettes claim to use the
very finest qualities Of tobacco. 1t Is impossi-
BILE that this should be true. because they could
not do 1t without losing money. Nothing more
than paiI Of scales IL needed to demonstrate
the proposition. A package Of the best cigar
ADMINISTRATION; that Is, itincludes "a much
tobacco. But, a. everybody knows, frft-rate
cigars cannot be purchased at cents apiece
The best Virginis tobacco costs nearly - much
- the imported Haysnas. Furthermore the
processes employed in making cigarettes are
elaborate and the machinery is enormously e1-
pensivs. Happily II Il practicable TO do much
moro by artihce with chopped tobacco than can
be done with tobacco leaves for cigars. 30 the
ingenious cigarette maker buys . cheap mate.
RAJ, - No must In ORDER 70 gain pront, ana
gives 1t pleasant favor with essential oils put
ting in such quantity Of opium or valerian q
may be calculated to pleasantly soothe the
nerves Of the smoker and induce a pleasant
state Of feeling. Incidentally he Introduces
certain amount Of glycerine to keep the tobacco
moist, although it turns into acroloin when
burned and irritates the throat Of the consumer,
making him cough.
OPIUM TER FAvoRITR.
Opium 10 doubtless the favorite drug for
cigarettes. 1t 10 classed in the pharmscopeia ~
"stimulant narcotic" In moderate doses it
quickens the pulse, invieorates the muscular
system. enlivens the senses, ahimates the spirits
and gives energy to the Intellectual faculties
More Of II excites the brain to intoxicatiou and
dslirium, and the excitation snbsidine shqrtly
delightful plaeidity Of mind follows ada 1.-The
individual, insensible to painful impressions.
submits himself to current Of underlined and
disconnected but pleasing fanciss, being con-
scious Of no other feeling than one Of vague on
joyment" Finally all Consciousness Il lost in
sleep and on waking there is headache and
nausea. The fearful effects Of the practice Of
taking opium on the intellectual faculties and
physical powers need not be dwelt upon here.
yalerian 10 distilled from the root Of . large
herbaceous plant that grows Wild all over Eu-
rope. II acts powerfully upon the nervous sys-
tenn, being in small doses . gentle and most de-
hghtful stimulant Greater quantities induces
n droWuy feeling beaviuAaa and (. SoaS,l. ,,,,I..