The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1932-10-14


factory labor.
Special reference was made to a
machine that is now being used in
the manufacture of a completely
headed, long filler cigar. Four OPP
orators, usually girls, are required
for the operation of each of these
machines. They replace about
eight cigar makers working by the
hand method.
These machines are adjusted for
the making of only one size or
shape of cigar. With any change
in the size or shape of the cigar
to be manufactured, it is necessary
to change the dies. 1t is also neces-
sary to have at least two of these
machines, one right-hand and one
left-hand, to apply the right or
left-hand portion of the wrapper.
With four experienced operators
working an average full-time week
of AZ hours, one machine will pro-
duce approximately 10000 cigars
per week, and, with an average
of the so full weeks per year, APP
proximately 100000 cigars per
year. There has been an enormous
increase in cigars manufactured
by this process.
In 1881, when nearly 3,000,-
900, 900 cigars were manufactured
on the machine, it is estimated that
the services of 17,474 employees
were required. This, however, was
less than half the number that
would have been necessary had the
same number of cigars been made
by hand.
The cigar-banding, and cello
phane-wrappmg machines have al
SO been greatly improved and have
had an effect on labor by reason
of the increased output per en-
ploye. The introduction of ma
chinery in the cigar industry has
in general resulted in the elimina-
ton of many small plants and has
concentrated more production in
large plants using machinery.
1t is claimed that the mass pro-
duction under the machine method
has made possible the production
of more and better cigars retail
ing at not over 5 cents. Because
of the space required for the ma
chimes, it has resulted in some
change of factory locations from
the larger cities to smaller COM
munities.
The average index of employ
ment in the chewing and smoking
tobacco and snuff industry for the
year 1927 was 97.7, or 2.3 percent
below the level of the index 100
for the year 1926. Employment
continued to decline during 1928
and 1929, the index dropping to
95.2 in 1928, and to 1913 in
1929.
The trend in earrings in this in
dustry from 1926 to 1929 was
very similar to the changes shown
in employment. The 1880 pay
roll index. however, failed to re-
fleet the slight gain shown in em-
ployment from 1929 to 1880. but
instead showed a decline of 81
percent in this interval.
The decrease in earnings from
1880 to 1881 was much more pro-
nounced than the decline in en-
ployment. The average yearly
index dropped from s7.7 in 1880
to 1913 in 1881, or 90 percent.
A comparison of the monthly
indexes of employment beginning
with October, 1929, shows that
employment in this industry in
creased from October TO Decem-
her, 1929. The December, 1929.
index of employment was 94.6.
The January, 1880. employment
index, a6.l, was the high point of
employment in the year 1880.
Employment decreased each
month from January to Nay, 1880,
advanced slightly in dune, and fell
again in July, in which month the
lowest index of the year. $50, was
reported. The fluctuations in the
remaining months of the year.
while at a slightly higher level,
were not significant.
The January, 1881, employ
ment index showed a substantial
increase over December. 1880, and
further slight gain in February
brought the index of employment
for that month, s3.S. to the high
point OF 1881. The March. 1891,
index showed a slight decrease
from the peak OF February. and in
April sharp decline in this in-
duStry caused the index To drop
TO the low point Of the year, 79.s.
From May, 1891, 10 September,
1891. the indexes fiactaated ir-
regularly, after which time q
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