MINIMUM WAGES IN PUERTO RICO

TABLE 53. The tobacco industry in Puerto Rico: General statistics, 19

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Census of Manufactures, 1948, Par

Rico.

Five hundred and seventy-seven out of the six hundred and twerte six establishments manufactured cigars. They employed about 1 workers or about 2 workers per establishment. These small fr confine their sales to the Puerto Rico market. Only three larg firms produce cigars for shipment to the mainland.

Forty-two establishments are stemming and redrying plants almost 6,000 workers.

Scattered information available for 1955 indicates that there are 40 establishments manufacturing cigars and 46 establishments engagi in tobacco stemming and redrying.

The forty-six tobacco stemming and redrying establishments mainly in the eastern central part of the island around Caguas, Cape Albonito, and Comeria. The industry is little mechanized.

The cigar and cigarette industry, on the other hand, is on the whee well mechanized. Cigarette production is quite unimportant. According to the Wage and Hour Division 2 out of the 3 majɔ” producers are tax-exempt.

The tobacco industry is not only one of the major manufactur industries in Puerto Rico. In 1953-54 more than 16,000 growes cultivated tobacco and depended upon the prosperity of the industr Most of them were small producers, cultivating about 40,000 ses an area equal to about 3% percent f These 16,000 growers cultivate

or an average of 21⁄2 acres per person.

crops in Puerto Rico.

Tobacco is a price-supported crop which is subject to the quota system. As table 54 shows, the quota increased from 25 me

pounds in 1946-47 to 28.5 million pounds in 1953-54.

co growers, quotas, and acreage in Puerto Rico, 1946-47 to 1953-54

Tobacco Production Adjustment Office, and U. S. Department of Agriculture, an=tatistics.

tobacco is mainly used as cigar filler. Production and lency to increase during the past 9 years (see table 55). owers ordinarily deliver their tobacco to receiving warehouses months of the calendar year, final liquidation for a crop does until some time during the summer, after the dealer has obnitment from his purchaser for all or part of his superior-grade

Rican filler tobacco, type 46: Production, disappearance, stocks, and price, 1946–47 to 1954–55

nt of Agriculture, annual reports on tobacco statistics, and Puerto Rico Tobacco ffice.

on dropped strongly from its peak in the middle r 320 million cigars were manufactured. In 1947-48 to a little over 61 million cigars. As table 56 shows sed after 1948 and reached the 100 million mark in

bor, Wage and Hour and Public Contract Division, The Tobacco Industry in

factures."
For years before 1951, this category was included in "Other tobacco and manu-

Since 1951, includes cigarettes, chewing tobacco and snuff, and smoking tobacco in
packages or in bulk. Before 1951, also included "Leaf tobacco, unstemmed.'

Shipping weight rather than net quantity.

"

4 Less than 500 cigars and cheroots.

Source: U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, United States Trade
in Merchandise and Gold and Silver with United States Territories and Possessions
(except Alaska and Hawaii), Rept. No. FT 800.