The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-09-03
A BRIEF GLANCE AT CIGARETTE
PRODUCTION.

In 1881, the cigarette was only Soiu
in a few cities. There was a tax Of
s1.75 per thousand then imposed. In
1883. the tax vas reduced to 80 cents.
Then, closing with ear ending the Goth
of June, COZ, 237, 80 were manufactured
The increase of production was most
rapid, and continued until 1893, when 1t
received a setback. Since 1888 most OF
the cigarettes have been machine made.
The organ called Tobacco" says in
its issue of the 18th Of August:
"From 1885 to 1890 over 235, 000, 900 sig
arettes were annually added to the
number mad and consumed, and every
form of advertising as we'll as every
method of introduction was resorted 10
in order to cultivate a taste Tor TINS
class of goods. 1t is no more than fair
TO assume that much of the anti-cigar-
cite legislation in the several states is
a result of some of the methods adopt
ed to increase the sale of this class Oh
goods during five years of violent COM
petition, when not only cigarettes ana
tobacco were given away to both deal
er and consumer, but premiums con-
sisting of all sorts of articles, from a
iackknife to a piano, or a pound Of nut
megs to a barrel Of sugar, went along
with a. certain number of cigarette
coupons. Special appeals were also
made to the youth of the country IN
order to induce them to become cigar
cite smokers
This is the statement of a friendly
paper. The youths were appealed to
among other things with pictures high
" colored and of the most libidinous
kind. h public conscience became
aroused and the war against the vile,
deadly cigarettes was urged with ac-
tivity and success. Many a boy has
been saved from early death or a brok-
en- constitution by the enemies of this
ruiner and oppressor. 1t has ruined
youth and bobbed the tobacco planters
The Tobacco" says:
"The campaign of retaliation which
went on between 1894 and 1897 produced
marked results. 1t cut big holes in the
profits of the manufacturers and sent
the statistics of production up to the
4,153, 252, 470 mark in the year last men
toned. The public conscience was so
aroused that the sessions of every
state legislature found willing advo-
Gates of anti-cigarette laws.
within the next year competition
was somewhat lessened, but h in
crease of the tax from so cents to 81
"a thousand had much more to do with
checking further growth than all other
factors combined"
The output has greatly lessened.
The statement of the paper already
quoted from is that within the last
three years 1,476, 629, O9S cigarettes have
been clipped from the record, nj the
repressive laws and ordinances are
scarcely more stringent than they We're
in 1898. That with the de-
creased tax under the new law more
effort will be made to extend the sale
and use of cigarettes, and that compe-
tition will soon become exceedingly ag-
gressive. although it may not be quite
so fierce and effective as it was between
1885 and 1890. or so bitter in it's profit
eating effect as between 1898 and 1898"
Note. the tax has been reduced, this
gives hope to the greedy, remorseless
manufacturers, and an increase in bus
mess is to be looked for. The enemies
of the health, morals and usefulness of
the youth of the land are to become
more aggressive, and this should
arouse the states and lawmakers and
courts and ali laws infringed should
be indicated and all offenders punish
ed. Enforce everywhere in North Car.
DINA the law as it applies to minors
The law forbidding is ignored, disre.
garded, and is not enforced. Why
not?