The Washington herald., 1913-09-01
USERS OF snuff
MORE NUMEROUS
Practice Is Increasing Instead
Of Dropping Off, as Is
Common Idea.
REPORT GIVES FIGURES
In Past Fiscal Year People of u. S.
Used 33,209, ,46S Pounds, Netting
Government S2,656,757.44.


born recently made public the fact that
during the fiscal year ended June 30 the
people of the United States used 33.209 4GS
pounds of snuff. His statement was
made in the most matter OF fact manner,
without remark or observation OF anv
kind. The fact was Incorporated in
report of the operations OF the Internal
Revenue Bureau.
Unless a person read all the list care
fully. the fact probably would have es-
capped attention. But when Commits
sioner OsbOrns report was sent to Secre-
tary of the Treasury McAdoo the figures
were made public, and those disclosing
the widespread use of SNUFF in this cOun-
try at once attracted attention. At first
glance the figures seemed incredible.
Comparative figures found in the rec
Ords in the office OF Commissioner Os-
born showed that the use of snuff, COM
monty believed to have almost expired
IN this country, is increasing at aston
ishing speed. The figures reveal that
the habit is so common that enough
snuff was used in the fiscal year just
ended to supply every man, woman, and
child in the nation with One-third of
pound.
Other figures made public by Commits
siOner Osborn show that during the fiscal
year OIL 1910 lIlt pCOplc vi AHlS SOuHlIS
Used 3l29.9O6 pounds of snuff more than
was used in the previous fiscal year.
rms increase OF more than G,UOO0JU
pounds OF SNUFF used within a year is
evidence that the habit is growing.
Doubled in Eleven Years.
But other figures reveal that in the
last eleven years the snuff habit has al
most doubled in this country. In 1902 the
aE I.N-f 10
nation was 1S6S2.3i2 pounds, and in the
year just ended more than Gj,OOC0.00
pounds were used. Osborn does not un-
dertake TO explain the remarkable growth
of the habit. He merely reveals the facts
liz q list OF figures.
Snuff is manufactured in various sec
tions OF the country. In 1912 in the Teve-
nue. collection district OF Tennessee 2,2l5,-
7S9 pounds of snuff were manufactured.
The Fifth District of New Jersey pro-
duced S,416.6O3 pounds. The Fifth District
of Illinois produced the third greatest
amount with a total of 5.O76776 pounds.
The district of Maryland produced l.O59.-
36l pounds. The aggregate production of
the districts named was 2.dS,6O9 pounds,
and the balance of the production of the
fiscal year of 1913 was scattered through
various other sections.
The South is probably the chief con-
sumer of snufT. Negroes, perhaps.I use
more snu1 than the white population OF
this country, and the South has a greater
negro population than any other section.
But the use of snuff is not confined to the
negroes by any means. Thousands OF
white persons. especially those who were
adults at the time of the civil war, when
the use of snuff was in a way counte-
nanced by the better classes, cling to the
habit.
But few Of the aged whites who still
use snuff desire the fact of their habit
to be known beyond the circle of their
own family. In ante-bellum days, the
story is told. it was as common to see
a Southern planter use snuff as it is to
see a business man of today light a
cigar. Women, too, of the better class
indulged in the habit. but it was not as
extensive as is the cigarette habit among
the women of today.
The two most common ways of using
SNUFF are known as dipping and
"snufing" snuff user who dips" has
a bit of wood, a little larger than a
match, chewed TO shreds at one end.
which is kept in the small tin box in
which the snuff is purchased. The
shire edded end of the wood is placed in
the mouth and moistened and then dip
ped into the box of snuff. A quantity
of snuff clings to the moistened shreds. |
The frayed end of the stick is then
chewed. so that the user procures the
flavor for some time by keeping the
end of the wood in the mouth.
'Snuffing' probably is the most in !
furious method of using snuff. The user |
takes a pinch of snuff from the box I
between the tips of his thumb and index |
finger. This bit of the powder is placed |
to a nostril and drawn into the nose |
when the user "snuffs." Another bit |
is placed to the other nostril and this |
is continued until the user has satisfied |
his desire. The craving for snufr is de- |
scribed as similar TO the desire to smoke |
a cigar or cigarette after the habit |
is once contracted.
Uncle Sam, through the Internal Rev |
enue Bureau, derives a fair sum of |
money from the snuff tax each year. |
Snuff is taxed s cents a pound. Dur |
ing the fiscal year, which ended June 30. |
internal revenue collectors gathered a |
total of s2,65s, 75TH in snuff taxes. Be |
cause of the big increase in the amount |
of snuff used. the total collections of |
taxes for the fiscal year just ended ex-
ceeded the collections for the previous |
fiscal year by $50, ,39S.Si