Evening star., 1901-09-07
THE GUM-CHEWiNG HABIT
TENDS TO ALLAY THIRST DURING
THE HOT SEASON.
The Practice Particularly Common In
TrOpic Countries and Increasing
in the United States.

From the Baltimore American.
During these days when Old Soils torrid
rays are most intense and make life for
many a sort of burden, there are many for
whom this hot weather means decided
boom-many to whom the proverbial say
ing, MAKE hay while the sun Shines is
applicable Probably the most prominent
among this class is the chewing gum man
ufacturer This is the chewing gum sea-
son. and the sales of that article have been
greater this year than ever before Bicy-
clists, the summer girl, the clerk behind the
counter poring over columns or hSures
from morning until night. pedestrians, and,
in fact, vast number of the many thous-
ands who toll or while away the hot sum-
mer hours, find peculiar comfort and de-
light chewing away for hours at time IN
an unconcerned manner.
Very often the question has been raised
as to whether chewing gum is of any ben
eft to the chewer, and almost invariably
the answer comes from some authority in
the affirmative There seems to be no doubt
now that good chewing gum has many vir-
tues. In hot weather 1t excites the saliva,
moiStenS the throat and relieves thirst.
Probably those who appreciate the virtues
of a chewing gum most are the natives or
tropical countries, who often chew pure
chicle, which is the basis of all good chew
ing gum or even rubber. while working in
the heat Chewing gum is often recon-
mended for soldiers use on long marches.
and last summer officers in the Philippines
reported that the gum habit was of great
benefit to the men-it lesSened their drink
ing and enabled them to go without water
longer than possible under other crcum-
stances III
The Demand Increasing.
With the rapidly increasing use Of chew
ing gum, and a consequent demand for
good article, it can be easily seen that the
manufacture of chewing gum especially
in this country, is gradually becoming an
industry separated entirely from candy
making and of vast proportions. Within
! recent years a number of the most success
full chewing gum companies have CONSOLE
dated, and now many of the best brands Of
gum are manufactured and controlled by
one large company. This one company it
is said, sells on an average 133, 3,00O,0OO
packages of gum annually. Competition,
however, and a knowledge Of the profits
accrued from the manufacture of chewing
gum, which will interest much capital in
the industry, will greatly increase the pres
ent output of chewing gum in the next few
years. Besides the good gum which is
being sold at present, there is a tremen-
dOuS quantity of cheap and inferior gum
now on the market
Chicle is shipped to this country in large
quantities, About 100000 pounds were
imported last year Chicle is mixed in
manufacture with many times it's weight
in sugar, paste, essential oils. ETC., so that
1900 pounds is but small fraction of the
weight of the chewing gum manufactured
in this country annually.
Up to very few years ago the chewing
gum industry had not assumed much i'm
portance Once started 1T struck surpris-
ing pace, which is increasing at a rate be-
yond even the fondest expectations of some
of the first projectors. The business first
great impetus came with the discovery of
the possibilities of chcle as basis for the
Chewing p1p had hoe ma
tured before then, but the product was
poor and unsatisfactory in quality. Long
before chicle was used in the manufacture
of chewing gum experiments were made
to ascertain its value in the manufacture
of rubber. The experiments were unSuc-
cessful, but 1t was found that the very
qualities that spoiled chicle for rubber
fitted it for gum
Columbus Mentioned Chicle.
Chicle was used for various things long
before it's chewing gum apotheosis. Co
lumbus mentioned it in his new world re-
ports to Ferdinand and Isabella. So far 1t
has been found only in Yucatan. and the
supply Is shipped from the various posts
along the Yucatan coast.
The trees are found only in the interior
Of the country. and it is with much diff
Guilty that the gum is obtained and trans
ported to the nearest shipping point. Many
northerners are engaged In its shipment.
There are different qualities of chicle,
which vary according to the geological
formation Of the soil in the district from
which 1t comes. The cost Of chicle has
risen from to 8 cents to about 30 cents.
and there is a 10-cent duty upon it. Only
the best chicles is used in the manufacture
OF chewing gum. Before being used
chicle Is refined and freed from all i'm
purities. Good chewing gum can be
pulled into very fine threads; IL. on the
other hand. the gum has rubber-like re-
coil when the tension is lessened, the gum
Is of an inferior quality. The largest pro-
portion of chewing gum made is for home
consumption but the export trade is grow
ing as the habit continues to invade the
amount of chewing, gum is being used, both
the Boer and British soldiers having found
it good thing for nerves and thirst. The
British are taking the acquired habit home
with them. Other rapidly increasing gum
markets are Manila, Cuba, Honolulu. Aus
tralia and Saupaa