The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-04-30
BY WILLIAM r. sANeoRN

There is ample evidence that ma
chinery Is to play more important
part in the manufacture Of cigars in
the future. This Is no part Of the
growers problem, but Is OF some I'M
portance to all cigar leaf interests,
nevertheless. Machinery might cheap
en- and increase the output, for in
stance.
There is an old.time prejudice in IA
vor Of hand labor in the manufacture
OF cigars-hand labor all the way
through. Perhaps prejudice" isn't
exactly the word, sentiment" may be
better. There Is an aversion in the
higher branches Of the trade to mix
ing up machinery with their opera
lions, and a strictly handmade pro.
duct Is the pride Of many large and
successful concerns. 1t will doubtless
still continue to be.
The latest development in cigar ma
chinery Is complete cigar maker,
fashioned of wood and steel and other
metals. We visited plant where one
or more such machines were in opera
ton during our trip east. Only on
written permission OF high official OF
this important chain Of cigar factories
may one be permitted to see this ma
chine in action.
This machine is used in the making
of a>cigar now sold at seven cents, but
OF which hundreds of millions were
previously sold at nickel That any
machine whatever, will come into use
In the manufacture Of clear Havana
goods, or indeed Of the better grades
of domestic lines, seems. as ever, still
highly Improbable. But that machine
made nickel or lower class goods Is
appreciably close is almost certain
ty. Indeed It Is claimed that this ma.
chine has been so successfully demon
strated that the factory building 1t is
being flooded with orders. which may
be a very much overdrawn statement.
Stripper and Booker.
Stripping and booking machines are
coming into quite general use In large
cigar plants, so the manufacturers of
these machines claim. They state that
it Is a serious problem, this getting of
n type of labor that will stick to the
tedious preliminary processes OF pre-
pairing tobaccos for the manufacture
of cigars. If the machine actually
does do the work more economically,
and at saving of leaf. as well as turn
Ing out more uniform product; then
the machine will eventually win. But
the taking Of the raw leaf and turning
It into a first class cigar, one which
will meet the approval Of the seasoned
smoker, Is a very different matter, 1t
would seem. as the making of cigar
is one of many operations, from leaf
to cigar box In the plants where now
at work these machines are in charge
OF women The average employe of
the concern never sees the inside Of
the machine ROOM" to which there
is a special entrance, always locked
and inaccessible to those who have no
business inside.
Lancaster Leaf Prices.
A Lancaster daily newspaper report
er, who also writes tobacco news for
New York publication, displays some
bias and considerable feeling in his
report to New York under date Of
April 90. That the reporter is not at
all in sympathy with the leaf grower
is clearly apparent. The following is
given for what 1t is worth
After some comment on the remarks
of a local tobacco man, he continues:
Being both a packer and grower.
Mr.. Baker is fully able to understand
why the grower cannot get 1917 prices
for 1918 tobacco Being conversant
with market conditions, he under
stands the position of the buyer. And