The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-07
HOW TOBACCO Is
MANUFACTURED.
From the Natural Leaf to the Vest
Pocket Plug.
HOW THE DRESSING is MADE.
Nothing Dirty About the Concoction
Made Into Smoking aud Chew
ing Mt the Same Timc-vcry
Interesting Process
HOW THE DRESSING is MADE.

Among the many industries OF the city
and State, the manufacture OF tobacco
occupies prominent place and in this
line the manufacture of plug tobacco is
by no means the least Large quantities
j In the city, but the bulk of the pro-
d.ct of the many chewing tobacco fac
tories Of this city is shipped TO other parts
OF the Union and into every part OF Inc
civilized world. Many of The large plug
tobacco establishments Of this city keep
men IN the foreign countries the year
round. introducing their goods, which
meet with favor everywhere.
The process of the manufacture of chew
ing tobacco and cut-plug smoking tobac-
co. which is the same was thought and is
thought TO be dirty and many persons are
under tie very erroneous impression that
no care as to cleanliness is taken il the
preparation OF This much-used commodity
and that ali manner OF dirt and Nth Is
made up in the goods.
This is entirely wrong, as could be easily
seen If any one who does not know how
the plugs are made would visit one of the
many factories, OF which the officials are
Very courteous and ever ready 10 show
visitors over the establishment.
THROUGH MANY HANDS.
Before the natural tobacco is turned
into the different grades Of chewing to-
bacco ii goes through many processes and
through many hands.
When it is first brought into the factory
The tobacco is in the hugshead and in such
q dry state that it has 10 be handled
very carefully TO prevent its SCATTERING.
To get it in condition 10 handle the to-
hacco is put in u large machine called
IN ''orderer' and after passing through
the steam which is PUMPED into the
machine it issues forth in a SufciehtiS
moist condition 10 prevent its breaking
and Is piled up so that il may all be-
come of uniform moisture. After this 1t
is turned over to the women and strip
pers, who take out the stems and the
leaf is piled III, TO get into condition
again.
AGAIN "CRDEEED.'
When the tobacco Is again taken UP it
is run through another '.orderer' before
1t is given TO the hands, who put on The
dressing, which is composed Of lcorice,
snolasseS and n large quaptity of maple
sugar. This mixture IS boiled in kettles
until of a proper consistency. when it is
handle il. 1t is then put into Il tank and
the hands stand by and dip the tobacco
in it until the leaves are thoroughly Gov
cred with the sweet substance.
The tobacco is then fed into roller,
which is regulated 10 leave the required
amount of dressing. As it comes through
The roller, il Is again assorted and If any
leaves are found without enough dress
ing on them, they are run through the
tank again. The tobacco then goes into
the dryer on a wide Gsluze let. which
carries it through the different chambers
into which are steam-hot dry air and cool
air and In the end il is thoroughly dried
The tobacco is then gathered up and
nut into the machines which shape it
roughly into plugs. Should the tobacco
be made into cut-plug smoking the plugs
have no wrapper put on and are made
into plugs about two feet long by eight
inches wide and one inch thick These
are then put into the cutter and at n
stroke of a large heavy knife the tobacco
ls shaved off 10 the required thickness. to
which the machine can be set
PACKING PROCESS.
After this the tobacco is put into 4
machine on which run series of buckets
on a band. which take up the required
amount OF material and as The rnecllne is
fed with the paper wrappers, it folds the
tobacco. ready for the pipe, into the pack
u-es for sale. These are then given to
girls. who by shand-worll stamp and
label the packages.
Should chewing tobacco be made, the
leaf as it issues from the dryer is made
Into plugs about four inches long by one
inch square. or the size of plug desired,
and this is wrapped in the wrapper. The
selecting and asserting of the wrapper IS
given great attention, as each brand OF
tobacco is desired to be always Of uni
form color.
The plugs arc wrapped n this by hand
and to the visitor il seems simple enough,
but great skill is required TO get the pro-
re- stretch out of the wrapper
HYDRAULIC PRESSURE.
The pigs are then dried in a dr.ins-
room, in which the thermometer stands
at $50 degrees When it is taken from
this room. tie plugs are mashed into
flat shape by hydraulic pressure and #
desired the name is embossed on its
surface. The goods are then pressed into
the boxes and the tobacco is ready Tor
shipment.
One OF the sciences of manufacturing TO-
baceo IS the keeping the tobacco always
In proper order The process is most in
terasting. especially when the factory Is
In full blast and the negroes singing III
the stripping-room. The managers OF the
factories are exceedingly kind and couF-
.cous to visitors and ever ready 10 snow
them over the building.