Like many another "necessary luxury", tobacco has found many bitter enemies as well as hosts of enthusiastic partisans; philosophers have thundered its praises and poets have sung its charms. What would Sir Isaac Newton be without his pipe; his meditations would probably have come to nought, and the law of gravitation remained obscure for many generations.
Society owes much to tobacco; when a man is smoking he says what is best to be said with a deliberation that holds his hearers. The late Charles Stuart Calverley (unlike his namesake, the martyred monarch, who strongly objected to tobacco) has written an ode in the praise of tobacco; he says that it is -
Sweet when the morn is grey,
Sweet when they've cleared away
Lunch and at close of day
Possibly sweetest.
Judging by its now almost universal use, there are many amongst us who agree with this poet. Tobacco is considered by those competent to form an opinion, to have a consumption quite on a level with that of salt .All countries and all peoples are solaced and soothed by the fragrant plant, while the revenue derived by European Governments forms no small item in the States' resources. In the United Kingdom, for example, the quantity of unmanufactured or leaf tobacco that passed into the hands of manufacturers during the year 1886 was 50,972,001 pounds which realised to the State £8,931,250. 6s sterling.
The date of the introduction of tobacco into this country is somewhat involved in obscurity ; probably it was first brought into England through the medium of the London merchants trading to Cadiz. On its introduction, tobacco was first used as a medicine, and was prescribed for almost every disease to which flesh is heir, and even up to and long after the Plague of London as an antiseptic and preventative.
Virginian tobacco, which has long held sway as the best in this country, was first introduced during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, in the year 1586. Prior to that in 1584, the Queen had granted a patent to Sir Walter Raleigh for "making discoveries in heathen and barbarous lands and territories not governed by Christian princes". In pursuance of this, an expedition was fitted out in 1585, under the command of Sir Richard Grenville, who, after settling a colony, returned to England, leaving Sir Ralph Lane as deputy governor. The colony was unsuccessful, and Lane returned home, landing at Plymouth and bringing tobacco with him.
The habit of smoking during the reign of James I. had become so general among all classes, and even among the fair sex, that the Defender of the Faith's horror at this practice induced him to write and publish his famous "Counterblaste." However, as this had no deterring effect, he imposed a very heavy tax of six-and-eightpence per pound in addition to the usual custom of twopence. He further prohibited the cultivation in England, Wales, and Ireland, at the instance and in the interests of the Treasurer and Company of Adventurers and Planters of theCity of London for the Colony of Virginia; but all was without effect. His son Charles prohibited its growth from time to time and the Commonwealth did likewise. But it was not until the time of Charles II. (1671) that the growth was finally stamped out in England and Wales, Guernsey, Jersey, Ireland, and Berwick-upon-Tweed, under heavy pains and penalties. With regard to Ireland, the Act was repealed in 1779.
At that time, and for many years after, tobacco was grown in our sister isle, but in the year 1832 it ceased to be cultivated there, and the industry has not yet been revived.With regard to England this Act had been in full force till recently, when permission was granted for cultivation under certain conditions. To Scotland the Act of Charles II did not apply, and it was only in 1782 that the restriction was extended.
The cultivation in England during the seventeenth centurymwas evidently extensive, as authors of that period make mention of over six thousand plantations devoted to its growth in those counties which were suitable, such as Gloucester, &c.
Judging by the somewhat doubtful results of our latter day attempt at tobacco growing, it would really seem that our varying climate has undergone some radical change, unless , indeed, it is the cultivators who have lost their cunning in the production of this Indian weed.
The manufacture of tobacco is an extremely interesting business, and one which has increased in the UnitedKingdom considerably within the last fifty years, keeping pace with the growth of population. The number of manufacturers according to the last return was 435 for England, 79 for Scotland, and 47 for Ireland, making a total of 561 for the United Kingdom. In England, the manufacture is chiefly confined to London , Liverpool, Bristol, Stockport, Manchester, and Newcastle; in Scotland, to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Dundee, and Kilmarnock; and in Ireland, to Belfast, Dublin, Limerick, and Cork. The largest of these centres are London, Glasgow, and Dublin.
The products of unmanufactured or leaf tobacco are roll, cut, and plug tobaccos, cigars, cigarettes, and snuff. A few manufacturers only produce all these varieties. The staple productions in England are cut tobaccos and cigars; in Scotland and Ireland, roll tobaccos.
The Firm of Messrs J. & F. Bell do not boast of any very great antiquity, although the business which they conduct was established at the close of the last century.
All the goods mentioned above are manufactured here with the exception of cigars; this latter branch of the business is about to receive the attention of this house.
Messrs. J. & F. Bell's factories and warehouses are situated in Brunswick Street and Trongate, Glasgow, and are divided into extensive floors.
As it may be interesting to our readers to know a few of the mysteries in connexion with the manufacture of tobacco, instead of ascending the stairs we will make use of the hoist, which raises ub smoothly and speedily to the sixth floor. What strikes us first is the number of hogsheads of leaf and stemmed tobaccos of the various growths of the United States. These we find upon examination to be the best qualities that can be got for spinning, and from which they manufacture their well known "Imperial Roll". There are also many hogsheads filled with tobacco of a rich golden colour and delicate aroma, which are used in the manufacture of the Firm's specialty, "Royal Navy Cut", a tobacco which is smoked and appreciated all over the United Kingdom.
As leaf tobacco is imported in a dry state, it is necessary that the utmost care be taken in separating the leaves. This is done by moistening the tobacco with water and allowing it to remain until in a suitable condition for handling. The leaf, when in a suitable condition for spinning and cutting, is removed to the floorunderneath, where girls are seated before benches engaged in opening up the leaves withdrawing the mid rib and classifying according to the colour and size required for the varieties of roll, plug, and cut tobaccos. The stems being removed, are now placed in a loft, where they remain until required for the manufacture of snuff. Here also the stocks of what are technically known as wrappers and fillers are stored.
On the third floor of the adjoining building, which we now enter, the operation of plug making is in full swing. The machines used are of American make, by Brinkop, Quincy, Illinois. The plugs are manufactured at the rate of about 1,200 per diem by each machine. They are then covered and removed to the pressing section, where they are placed in frames and subjected to very great hydraulic pressure. Here the Firm produce their well known "Golden Bar" and "Plug", of which they are the original manufacturers.
The fourth floor consists of the spinning and rolling sections. There are twenty-nine spinning machines at work, made by the well known Andrew, of Stockport. Each machine requires four hands, all girls, and produces from 800 to 3,000 pounds per week, according to size of twist. The chief production here is what is known as "Thick Roll". The rolls are then removed to the cording section on the third floor, where they are completed preparatory to pressing. This (third) floor consists of, besides the cording section, the engineer's room, and the counting-house in connexion with the manufacturing department. The engineer's room is fitted up with every appliance for effecting repairs of the machinery, two engineers being employed. In the counting-house we were surprised to find that the work was being conducted entirely by girl clerks. We understand that Messrs. J. & F. Bell are an exception to the trad,e book-keeping being an important feature, and all their operations being carried on by double entry, the manufacturing department requiring twelve clerks.
The manufacture of snuff requires great personal attention, both in the selection of the tobacco and the process of fermentation. It is commonly thought that the use of snuff is on the decline; but from information supplied by this Firm, one is forced to change his opinion. The snuff principally manufactured by the Firm is "Bell's Scotch". It is of a rich brown colour, moist, and possesses all the qualifications to please those who desire an article of quality and pungency, and, as a natural consequence, the demand is large. They also produce a large assortment of flavoured snuffs to suit all tastes, which are packed in tins on this floor.
On the first floor the pressing and cutting operations are conducted, and as roll tobacco is the staple for Scotland, the space devoted to pressing is most extensive, there being forty-five presses in operation, which are hydraulic, worked by steam power, and containing from 300 to 4,000 rolls. These rolls, we understand, remain under pressure from four to eight weeks, in order that the tobacco may be thoroughly matured and acquire that flavour which at once stamps it as that manufactured by J. & F. Bell. The machines in use for the cutting operation are those of Legg & Clarkson, and, cut tobacco to any size. The cut tobaccos in which this Firm excel are known as "Bell's Special", which is a mixture of choice growths, and "Royal Navy Cut". This article can stand on a par with any of the high-priced goods that come from the United States and Canada, and is worthy of the consideration of those smokers who encourage the foreign manufacturers. There are numerous other choice brands, as the "Three Bells Smoking Mixture" and "Columbia Mixture". The tobacco for cigarettes is also cut here, and a few words might be said on the delicate little rolls of tobacco wrapped in the finest "Paper de Riz".
Prior to the Crimean War, the now popular cigarette was almost unknown in England. Occasionally a traveller brought a bundle back from Spain, or an Oriental gentleman was seen to walk down Piccadilly with one between his lips; their more general use is owing, we believe, to the fact that the Prince of Wales found them an agreeable form of tobacco for use immediately after dinner; and thus the fashion, which has since grown to be a custom, received its first impetus.
Later on, when the cigarette had come into pretty general use in the United Kingdom, it was supplied almost exclusively by Continental manufacturers, or sent to us from the United States. This branch of the business carried on at the Brunswick Street Factory has met with the most encouraging success, and is likely to become a very important part of their trade.Among their well known brands are the special ones, "Los Angeles", "Carolina", "Brunswick", and "Three Bells".
The finished tobaccos all converge into the warehouse on the second floor, where they are arranged, weighed, packed and dispatched. The offices are also here, the counting-house work being carried on by girl clerks, as before mentioned. The total number of hands which this Firm employ is now little short of three hundred; when one considers the abundant use of machinery in such a factory as this, the employment of so large a number of workpeople will convey a fair idea of the extent of the business being carried forward.
It would surprise many a leisurely pipe-smoker, if he could realise the number of persons who must be called in to his aid before he can enjoy one single cloud from his brier root, cherry, or meerschaum pipe.
As will be seen by the foregoing the preparation of tobacco is a complicated process, requiring much care and forethought; it passes through many stages, indeed, before it can be said to give any such pleasurable sensations as led Burton to write of it as: "divine, rare, super-excellent tobacco, which goes far beyond all the panaceas, potable gold, and philosopher's stone, a sovereign remedy to all diseases...". It has, as we have said, its enemies, but they do not increase, whereas the trade of which we have been writing does so exceedingly.
Messrs. J. & F. Bell have developed and extended their business with remarkable ability and rapidity so far, and no doubt the same valuable qualities which have enabled them to build up their flourishing trade, will assist them in further extending their commercial influence.
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