New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-18
A MODEL FRENCH FACTORY
at Combines Every Provision for
Hygiene and Convenience.
Paris. December F;


After Christmas the huge building near to
the Inva.ides which has since the days of the
First Empire been the principal seat OF the
JFrench tobacco manufacture will be seen there
70 more A.~eaax the greater part of the plant
and staff have been transported to the new
buildings prepared for them outside the forth
locations to the southwest of the CITY, and the
work of demolition IS about 10 begin For years
|rast the enormous building has been open TO
the public on Thursdays, and the two thousand
working people employed there III the prepara-
ton OF the fragrant weed" have cause 10 con-
graduate themselves on their change of quar-
tiers.
Tobacco is one of the principal monopolies OF
Ithe state in France and it brings in something
Ike 100000 francs net revenue yearly to the
lEovernment There are about twenty manu-
factories. Of which this of Paris is the most
important In view. therefore. of the f1ourishing
condition Of the industry, it is not surprising
that the state has, in its new establishment in
| 1ae pretty little suburb of Issy-les- Mouneaux.
neglected nothing that could tend to promote
the health or comfort of its employees.
If any visitors have strayed so far to the
west of the capital Issy it has probably
been 10 visit that charming little seventeenth
century chateau. now in ruins, which was built
Tor shooting box for the Cont family Stand
/ Ing high on woody knoll, commanding a wide
view Of the valley OF the Seine-here fiat and
somewhat Uuinterestins-the chateau, surround
cd by its small but well laid out park, shell
tered the famous brother of the great Condo
during the troublous days of the Fronde, when
the CITY was an unsafe place OF residence for
the prince who had married the niece of the
Intriguing Cardinal Mazarin. Only small
rart Of one wing Of somewhat later date than
the rest has been kept in anything like repair,
l. nd in it may still be seen quaint anteroom
entirely lined with beautiful Delft china tiles, of
simple designs i'm Characteristic delicate blue.
ITcnceforth the chateau VIII have a rival in the
rev factory. a monument of twentieth cen
fury architecture. in which hygiene and con-
xenience have been the first considerations.
Going into the new building from the cold of
these short vintry days the first thing that
strikes one IS the uniform steam heat and cleo
1-ic light. which render the workrooms ideally
comfortable. There is 10 crowding anywhere,
the tables being far enough apart to leave the
vorl1ers full freedom OF movement. All the ma
ohinery is OF the latest description and is capa-
lie OF turning out 1000 kilograms of cigar
CITES and 800 kilos OF cigars every day. Then.
there are luxuriousy installed bathrooms
here operatives can take SCI eral kinds of
baths on the Saturday half holiday. One thou
sand Of the employees are women, and. TO IA
provided. with an experienced attendant where
mothers may leave their young children TO be
well taken care of during working hours.
Another excellent feature in the new estab-
.shnlent IS the large refectory. where the women