The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-03-05
AUTOGRAPH
LETTERS
SNUFF USERS GROW IN NUMBER.
More Than 10000. 900 Pounds Consumed
In America Each Year.

In America Each Year
1t costs the great American public some
thing like $1,000. 600 annually TO square
it's snuf bill. More than 10 ooo, 900 pounds
Of this article are used each year in this
country. And we ara not prominent as
race of snuff users, either.
The figures are taken from the internal
revenue reports, says the Chicago Tribune,
so they cannot we'll lie. Taxes are paid
annually on 5000. 900 pounds Of snuff in this
country. At the average price of Is cents
pound, which ia a low estimate, the ma
tion's snuff bill will foot UP to more than
ST. 900, 600. And the custom of snuff using
is steadily growing snuffing IL beco ming
popular.
Contrary to general opinion, snuff using
ia not confined to. or even exceptionally pre-
valent among the foreign element Ac-
cording to one man who has made snuff
in Chicago for half lifetime, it is the native
born American of the Southern States
who buys most of the snuff sold In this
country. The foreign born snuf user Ia
not 80 numerous, nor does his weakness
for the stimuant cost him SO much as ii
does the Southerner Of the larger cities
The great bulk Of snuff manufacturing,
es we'll as consuming IA done in the South.
As the snuff is made almost exclusively from
the leaf grown in that section, 1t ia a matter
OF economy TO have the factories there.
The snuff made in this country lie manu-
featured principally from Virginia. Tennes-
see or Kentucky leaf tobacco. The best is
made from the product OF the Tennessee
or Kentucky tobacco fields. The quality
of the tobacco used compares favorably
with that put into the best plug tobaccos
The leaf used is particularly ripe as unripe
leaf will spoil after making.
Aside from the actual tobacco. the
other ingredients used in the composition
OF snuff are Of a much higher grade than
those ed in help making plug tobacco. The
prices Of the two are nearly the same.
Rose oil, oil Of rose geranium. claret and
honey are used to give flavor and aroma
to the product generally, with tamarinds
and st, Johns bread ground in IL 1T is 10 have
a fruit favor.
The first process in snuff manufacture
is the grinding or pulverizing. Occasionally
a manufacturer ferments his leaf before
grinding but the accepted method is to
first grind. then ferment The grinding
is done mostly in what are termed snuff
mulls' These mulls are apothecary NOR
tars on large scale, with power run mill,
stones for pestles. The capacity Of a null
is about 80 pounds OF leaf tobacco. The
tobacco IL ground into three grades
fine. medium and coarse. The finest is
used for the manufacture OF the higher
grades of SNUFF. the Scotch and Maccaboy
brands.
From the grinding room the leaf goes
to the fermenting rooms, where IT Is
subjected to fermentation at from 30
TO 40 degrees OF temperature, according
to the degree OF fermentation desired
The fermentation takes from twenty days
To three months. In this process the COM
mon ground tobacco Is transformed, through
the process Of fermentation, TO com
pact cohesive mass more AKIN TO lamp
black than tobacco in any form. When
IL ia ready for the mixer the stun IL taken
from the fermentng room, and the other
ingredients the havors and perfumery
properties are meaded in.
Occasionally a little salt ia added TO give
the snuff more Xest and taste. Then It ~
packed in jars, tins or packages and 10
ready for shipment SNUFF is still packed,
for the most part. in stone jars. as II has
been from time mmemorial. No modern
method has been found for packing 1t mat
will allow il 10 retain its coolness and moist
IRE as well as does the old fashioned stone
jar
The work Of making the snuff is nearly
wholly in the hands OF men. Girls ara en-
ployed TO do the packing The men who
stick at the work for any length Of time in
variablv become addicted TO the use OF the
article they manufacture. II il seldom
that q girl is found who does not abhor IL
although among the people who are addicted
to snuff as "A national habit the women
are not far behind the men as users
Seventy-nye per cent. Of the snuff manu-
featured in this country is made for what
is termed dipping or snuf chewing The
snuff dippers carries his snuh in a recep-
taole with a small brush or stick, with the
end smashed so as TO hold tiny particles OF
the stimulant The brush or stick is
touched lightly to the nostrils the user
snlffing Ia the meanwhile. The snuh
chpwer uses snuff much az plug tobacco ~
used A small wad is rolled and placed
between the gum and the upper lip. 1t ia
allowed 10 liz there much "a piece OF
tobacco is tucked into the cheek This is
the principal manner Of snuil consumption
in this country.