The Washington herald., 1909-10-10
TAMPA THE CENTER
OF CIGARMAKING
Continued from Page One.

Cuba Tampa cigar manufacturers. how
ever, do not buy any but Cuban tobacco.
Each province OF the island raises a DIFF
ferent blend and color Of the plant. and
from these a filler Is blended ~ the
Tampa factory, experts testing the blend
ing until they get a cigar OF exquisite
flavor and aroma. When a perfect blend
is acquired its proportions are followed
year after year. In 1908 tobacco impOr-
tations from Cuba TO Tampa were ASS. 062
pounds, valued at So 80. For the pres
ent year there viii be an increase over
1908 in tobacco imported OF about 6 per
cent. The Federal government places on
tobacco heavy taxes, both customs and
internal. and last year the customs col
lection OF the port OF Tampa was nearly
s.. 000. 900, while the Internal revenue tax
passed the $1,000 900 mark.
The cigar factories at Tampa are two
and three story modern structures. many
OF them surrounded by tropical parks.
Tobacco bales imported from Cuba are
brought from the bonded warehouse and
delivered by chutes into the factory base
ment IN the newest buildings the bales
are conveyed by electric elevators from
here TO the third floor, where the to-
bacco is stripped from the stem and sent
down chutes 10 the second floor TO the
solicitors, who pass Il out 70 the cigar
makers.
In each factory the workmen employ a
reader" who receives as high as $50
week for his services. This man, from
raised platform in the center OF the
cigar-roliing department. reads aloud the
latest newspapers and magazines from
Cuba and Spain. and because Of the to-
bacco dust which rises, only the strong
est throat can withstand more than two
weeks Of continuous reading.
The services or the reader greatly IN
creases the output OF the cigarmakers.
who are paid by the thousand cigars
rolled. If they talked. instead Of listen
ing while working they would use their
hands IN gesticulating. and thus would
roll fewer cigars and earn less money.
Tampa Grows Rapidly.
Commensurate with the growth OF the
cigar industry is Tampa's progressiveness
along other lines. It is the market place
Of 81 per cent Of the phosphate used in
the world; of millions Of feet Of lumber,
Of naval stores, citrus fruits, live stock
and agricultural products. The commerce
OF fifteen counties centers there, the
population Of which numbers $4,000 PEG.
pie. and the city stands fifth in impor-
lance as a gulf port As g revenue pro-
ducing port. It is eighth in Importance
in America The delightful climate which
makes that section OF the State a con-
tinuous tropical garden Of fruits and
flowers Is also healthful, for the death
rate in Tampa is but SO per thousand,
the lowest of any city IN the country.
Mecca for Tourists.
Naturally the town Is a mecca for
tourists. These delight IN the fine drive
ways leading out through pine forests and
orange groves, and In the quaintness OF
Ybor City, a suburb which. with its for
eign architecture, It's coffee houses, pic
turesque streets, and strange customs,
might have been plucked from the heart
Of Spain. The visitor enjoys also the
fishing. bathing, and yachting which the
place affords; the rare beauty Of trees
and shrubbery which blossom perennially.
And by no means least in the attractions
OF the city must be counted the Tampa
Bay Hotel a S300O.O0o structure, surround
ed by a tropical park Of sixty-seven
acres. The hosiery was erected By the
late H B. Plant, and purchased from
his estate by the city.
Before every other factor in Tampa's
expansion. however, must be counted the
enthusiastic and indomitable spirit OF its
people. This, more than any evolutionary
force. has traced upon barren stretch
OF sand one OF the greatest chapters in
the South's Industrial history.
Mrs. SQuires Buys Residence.