The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-10-10
By 9. A, ARMSTRONG.


may have played in the love AFFAIRS oe
Kipling's bachelor. certain IL IS that the
great god Nicotine has smiled upon
the city OF Tampa, Fla In a compare
lively few years the establishment and
growth OF the city industry at Tampa
have transformed a stretch OF sandy
beach Into thriving city OF 5000 people,
known as the leading clear Havana cigar
manufacturing center or the world. IN
1907 Tampa factories turned out as many
cigars as did all Cuban cities togetheri
and stil new factories are being estab-i
iished, so that manufacturers predicts
soon an output OF 100000 cigars a week.
Thousands OF Cuban workmen employed
in the industry have made OF Tampa a
little Havana. gay with its theaters,
coffee shops, and clubs, and have even
built their own extensively eQuippedi
sanatorium- They live in neat cottages
or modern fats, and whole families en-
gage in work in the factories.
Grew on u Guaya Bush.
The Tampa cigar industry grew OF OF
guava bush. Some years ago there
lived in New York a Spanish delicatessea
merchant Don Gavino Gutierrez. -ho
could never purchase as many guavas
ca tropical fruit as his customers de-
jmanded. He heard that among the
prodigal yields Of Florida son were whole
acres OF guava bushes, the rich product
OF which fell 10 earth and decayed be-
cause OF a lack OF appreciation in South
ern markets
Accepting this tale with the nalevete OF
a child. Gutierrez came 70 Florida, de-
fields extensive enough 10 satisfy every
capricious palate IN New York City. But
he started on the return trip 20 New
York a sadder and wiser man, because
guavas did not after al. grow as
promiscuOusly in Florida as ne had had
a right 20 expect
At Key West. Senior Gutierrez met two
Of his countrymen-V- Alartinez-YbOr and
IgnaciO Haya-bOth OF whom had estab-
lished cigar factories there. The two
men were dissatisfied with their location
and contemplated moving factories and
workmen back 10 Havana After dis
cussing the matter. Gutierrez told them
he had been impressed with the attrac-
tons OF a little village named Tampa,
and offered to go with them 20 the town
il they cared TO investigate with view
10 locating there.
tampa PrONcN AUnLneI1C.
The men readily assented. and. accom-
panied by their new-found friend, they
went to Tampa and put before the prom
inent citizens OF the towns plans for the
establishment OF two cigar factories,
Their proposition aroused little sympathy
and interest, and they had decided TO try
Mobile or Pensacola, when on the way
to the train they met Col. ". B. Hender-
son, TO whom they explained the purpose
OF their visit to Tampa. So impressed
was he al the realization OF what such
an industry would mean to the Industrial
and commercial development OF the town
that he exclaimed:
Remain here. and VIII guarantee you
satisfaction. II I have TO furnish every
dollar and every acre OF land you want"
The first two cigar factories established
in the town were those Of Ybor and
Haya and a citizen who has been hon.
Ored these many years for his broad and
substantial citizenship is Don GavinO.
Gutierrez whose household gods were.
transferred from Spain to New York and
thence to Tampa.
Made in Tampa embraces every brand
Of cigar which has become Indispensable
to mankind. Twenty years ago there,
were but two cigar factories IN the town;
to-day IneSe factories number ~, while
the bounds OF the industry are practi-
cally illimitable. Z. Rosenberg & Sons.
OF New York, are now erecting in Tampa
the largest cigar factory IN the world.
and it is significant that this firm, which
has for years operated in New York City,
has removed TO Tampa because OF the de-
mand for Cuban-made cigars. An idea OF
the immensely OF their business may Se
had from a single order, shown the wri-
ter. for 10000 cigars for a New York
house.
Output Is Enormous.
Within the past ten years no less than
!. 40, 7O3SOO cigars have been manufao-
tured in Tampa. Last year the OUTPUT
OF the factories was 236,650ooO cigars.
which averaged IN price SIS per thousand.
aud some OF which sold as high as $3.50 A
thousand. the whole number reaching q
grand total OF over Sl7.000.000 The num-
Der OF Cuban and Spanish WOrknen en-
ployed in the Tampa industry is 1900.
some OF whom earn as much as so a
week. The average weekly pay roll OF
these employees reaches the sum OF
10000, which. circulating in every chan.
mel OF trade, creates new industries and
gives a remarkable impetus to the com
mercial growth Of the city.
Experiments in tObacco-grOwing IN the
State OF Florida would in themselves
make an inter esting story, and Il Is true
that tobacco In limited quantities has
been raised there which compares favor
ably with that grown in Sumatra and
Continued nm para g. roYur,-