vicinity, and a new city was born. It was named in honor of Ybor, its
From the beginning, the cigar industry has been hampered by strikes,
and there have been times when Tampa was in danger of losing the entire
industry. Both workers and employers have blamed each other for troubles. In
later years, citizen's committees have joined with workers and manufacturers to
arbitrate and most of them have been terminated in this way.
In the better factories, those specializing in hand-made clear Havana
products, the finest grade of Cuban tobacco is used. This is called vuelto
abajo. Cigars made from this leaf are so popular that the royalty of Europe
looked to Tampa for their cigars. Two manufacturers were knighted for the
excellence of their products. Establishments turning out cheaper, or machine
made cigars, use various mixtures of Cuban and domestic tobacco. Each
leading manufacturer keeps a trusted representative in Cuba to select his
tobacco and arrange for exportation to this country. After purchase in Cuba
the leaf is shipped to Tampa in bond and stored in a Government warehouse.
The manufacturer is allowed to remove the leaf as needed, paying duty only
on that in immediate use. Visitors are welcomed in the factories and an
expert guide accompanies any party wishing to inspect the plant.
Many of the cheaper cigars are made in small household factories
known as "Buckeyes" or Chinchaleries (bed-bugs). In these a section of a