Year ended December 31—To all countriesTo the United States
QuantityValueAverage value per 1,000 kilosPercentage of total exportQuantityValuePercentage of total sugar export
KilosPesosPesos KilosPesos
1913 157,333,707 14,065,778 89.40 14.72 30,716,886 3,128,072 22.24
1914 236,498,001 22,119,186 93.53 22.71 168,530,115 16,483,706 74.62
1915 211,012,817 22,620,430 107.20 21.02 82,841,168 10,283,159 45.46
1916 337,490,000 37,175,185 110.12 26.58 131,885,246 17,267,401 46.45
1917 205,908,492 24,555,357 119.25 12.84 62,377,758 10,811,518 44.08
1918 273,258,396 31,608,780 115.67 11.69 106,080,676 16,559,780 52.39
1919 136,060,322 30,415,701 223.55 13.44 32,159,363 7,717,934 25.37
1920 180,340,670 99,238,520 550.28 32.83 123,947,209 78,697,869 79.30
1921 289,876,164 51,037,454 176.07 28.96 150,478,581 33,752,357 66.13
1922 362,071,661 51,165,110 141.31 26.77 244,851,617 40,020,490 78.22

A Cigar Factory in Manila

Tobacco—The Manila cigar.—The Manila cigar is just as well known to the world as the Manila hemp. It is among the few manufacturing enterprises that have developed factory conditions in the Islands.

History For generations the Spaniards conducted the tobacco business in the Philippines on the basis of Government monopoly. The monopoly came to an end in 1882 when the Filipino workers defied both the Spanish government and those directing the work in the factories because of the harsh and cruel treatment they were getting.

Thereafter, for many years, the tobacco business suffered extreme depression, and it was not until American occupation that the industry received anything of a stimulus. The Manila cigar, however, was then at a disadvantage in comparison with cigars from other countries, because the latter were allowed a discount from the tariff, while the Manilas were required to pay the full customs duty.

With the establishment of free trade, however, between the islands and the United States the Manila cigar has been able to compete with other cigars in the United States, by far the greatest market therefor. This fact accounts for the unprecedented steady increase of the amount of cigars exported from the islands. In 1904 the exports amounted to 104,753,000 cigars, valued at ₱2,011,790. In 1919 the exports had risen to 392,339,000 worth ₱18,157,707.

The Tobacco Region Although tobacco is grown in many parts of the islands, all that which is exported comes from the Provinces of Cagayan, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya, in northern Luzon. All grown elsewhere is consumed locally, also exported to European and other countries. The tobacco growing districts in these three provinces lie in the valley of the Cagayan River, a stream which is about 160 miles long. The valley is from 2 to 14 miles wide. During the rainy season, which is between the time that one crop is harvested and the next one planted, the Cagayan River rises to a height of 40 feet inundating all of the lowlands. This overflow never fails, and it always leaves on the valley a deposit of rich soil, renewing the fertility of the entire valley and making the use of fertilizers unnecessary. On one field in Cagayan Valley, crops have been produced without interruption and without fertilizer for one hundred and thirty-five years.

Makers of Manila Cigars