first year exceeded $2.5 million. The new company con- 

 trolled 90 percent of the nation's cigarette industry. 



By the turn of the century, cigarette volume had 

 tripled and cigarette smoking gained a wide acceptance 

 geographically— no longer limited to urbanites. There 

 were now 2,100 brands of cigarettes, cigarros and che- 

 roots, along with 9,000 plugs and twists, 3,600 fine cuts, 

 both used mostly for chewing, and 7,000 smoking to- 

 baccos and 3,600 snuff brands. 



T 



rust busting 



But the depressions of 1893 and 1907 caused many to 

 blame economic misfortunes on big business— and the 



A street full of commerce in New York City, about 1906. 



22 



