The Chronicle 76th Year, No. 25 Duke University, Durham, North Carolina Thursday, October 2, 1980 IRAN || Iran vows to maintain open Strait of Hormuz the vital Strait of Hormuz el-Arab waterway, said that By Henry Tanner linking the Persian Gulf with both sides appeared to be ' 1980 NYT News Service the Indian Ocean. regrouping their forces in the BEIRUT, Lebanon - Iran Abadan-Khoramshahr area in formally told the world The Strait is the only sea route by which oil from the anticipation of heavy new Wednesday that it would do fighting. everything in its power to exporting countries of the Gulf assure the freedom of can reach world markets. The Iraqis were reported to be international shipping through A statement issued Wednesday pouring reinforcements into the by the office of the Iranian area, including units ofthe elite The Strait of Hormuz...the weak link in the shipping route Special Forces. But specialists from the Persian Gulf. prime minister, Mohammad Ali, said: pointed out that the Iranians, "The government of the too, have units that they have Islamic republic of Iran in full kept in reserve and that they Tobacco from the ground up view of is international can throw into the balance. obligations wishes to assure the Iraqi planes Wednesday Editor's note: This is part of a to grow. But the claim that The land is fertilized and international community that bombed the Bandar Hhomeini continuing series on Duke, tobacco is a "13 month crop" can treated for diseases and worms Iran shall not hestiate in any petrochemicals plant, one of Durham and tobacco. prior to planting. Chapman effort to keep this waterway in Iran's biggest and most be understood when the process expensive industrial projects, By Elizabeth Hudson is followed step by step. • said 1.500 to 2,000 pounds of full operation." It looks innocent enough. A fertilizer are used per acre of The pledge that Tehran would and forced the evacuation of 750 Japanese technicians and member ofthe potato family, its Although tobacco plants may tobacco — a fairly large respect its international relatives produce some of man's amount. However, Kramer said, obligations came as Iranian workers, according to Japanese reach a height of four to six feet, reports. The plant, which is 80 most useful food and drugs. Yet the seeds are so tiny that "For the type of tobacco most forces appeared to have fought the Surgeon General described commonly grown in North the Iraqis to a standstill in three percent complete and will cost the use of this plant as "the Carolina, the soil should not be key battle areas — the oil more than $3 billion, is being most preventable cause of Duke. Durham too fertile." If the soil has too refining center of Abadan, the built by the Japanese. illness, disability and much nitrogen, the leaves of port city of Khoramshahr, and The Iraqi air strike was premature death in the bright-leaf tobacco wil! not turn Ahwaz, the provincial capital of thought to be in retaliation to country." the yellow color which Khuzestan. Tuesday's Iranian air attack on Since the 1612 beginning of distinguishes a leaf ready for Correspondents in the three the Tammuz nuclear research its commercial production at harvesting. areas reported that Iraqi center and a power plant near the Jamestown settlement, and Tobacco During the growing season, armored columns in the suburbs Baghdad. tobacco has played a prominent tobacco is "cultivated two or of the three cities appeared to The first of four American role in the development of the 100,000 would barely fill the three times, or until the plants have made little or no progress. AWAC — Airborne Warning United States — especially the palm of a child's hand. "They're are too big for plowing," said The center of Ahwaz was and Control —planes arrived at South. "Tobacco has been the about as big as mustard seeds," Chapman. The plants are also bombed by Iraqi planes. Riyadh Airport in Saudi Arabia most important cash crop in said Mildred Harris, who grew sprayed to prevent the From Tehran, Western Wednesday. The planes, which North Carolina since early up on a tobacco farm 10 miles onslaught of diseases and correspondents reported that will be manned by American times," said Paul Kramer, a north of Durham. A mature insects. Iranian officials were buoyed crews throughout their stay in James B. Duke professor plant can produce approximately by the turn ofthe fighting and Saudi Arabia, are crammed full The leaf is the valuable part of with electronic equipment and emeritus in botany. a million seeds yearly, enough tobacco. "The average plant predicted a long guerrilla-type to plant almost 100 acres of war in the wake of Ayatollah are intended to give the Saudis But according to James has 18 to 20 leaves," said and the United States improved Chapman of the Tobacco tobacco. Chapman. They may be light or Rulloh Khomeini's declaration Tuesday that Iran would not surveillance on all military Research Station in Oxford, Between April 10 and the dark green in color and, moves in the area. it takes a special recipe to middle of May, the 10- to 12- according to Harris' description, make peace as long as the Iraqis get the finished product. From inch-high plants are mechanically are "thicker than an oak leaf were on Iranian soil. Arab diplomats here pointed planting to harvesting, the transplanted to the field — but easy to tear and bruise." Reports from Basra, the Iraqi out that the arrival of the four plants take six to eight months approximately 6,000 per acre. See Tobacco on page 2 port city on the disputed Shatt See Strait on page 5 Sallam Cultural Center facing financial woes By Maria Auzenne been generous, collections have The Sallam Cultural Center, a not approached the needed restaurant and jazz club operat­ $1,200. According to Salim and ing on Chapel Hill Street for the Tygard, it is evident that the past three years, is facing serious community would like to see financial difficulties. Sallam back on its feet. The center owes the govern­ ment approximately $1,200 in Sallam is probably best taxes, said Roger Tygard, one of known for its restaurant, which the firm's managers. specializes in Indian food, and musical entertainment provided Sallam's co-managers, nightly. But Sallam is also a Brother Yusef Salim, Roger cultural gathering place, which Tygard, Bill Stevens and according to Salim, attempts to Suman Kshetratal, have made provide a "peaceful atmosphere" numerous appeals to the where members of the community Durham community for support, can share their various cultures. Tygard said. While people have See Sallam on page 2 Sallam Cultural Center...asking for community support. Page Two The Chronicle Tobacco-growing pains Continued from page 1 The smoke irom a burning cigarette is a highly Although the stalks and stems ofthe tobacco plant complex product made up of more than 3,000 chemical are used in some types of fertilizer, the flowers are substances including large amounts of nitrogen, "topped" or cut off to allow the leaves to grow heavier oxygen and carbon dioxide, and small quantities of and thicker. Chapman said the plants are topped carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide and hydrocyanic around the first week of July. acid, which are highly toxic. The relative quantities of Individual growers judge when it is time to harvest these depend on the chemical composition of the their crops. "The leaves are primed [picked] as they tobacco, the form of manufacture and the conditions mature, usually three or four at a time over a period of under which the cigarette is smoked. six to eight weeks," explained Chapman. Although The nicotine contained in tobacco is thought to be priming is still done by hand, there are machines that the substance that causes psychological dependence pick all the leaves at a certain level. on cigarettes. This colorless, oily, chemical compound Once the tobacco is harvested, it is ready to be cured. is a stimulant that acts on the heart and nervous Curing involves drying the sap from the leaves, a system. It is valuable as an insecticide and may cause process that produces chemical changes and provides death in its pure state. the finished product with its distinctive aroma and A 1942 report by Dr. Lennox Johnston suggests that flavor. Most North CArolina-grown tobacco is flue-cured following the stimulation of the brain by nicotine, an nr dried with heat from flues connected to PHOTO BY JON ROSENBLUM furnaces. The process takes five to six days and See Tobacco on page 5 Several Cigarettes...just dry it out, roll it up and involves three important phases. smoke it. Yellowing involves heating the leaves at a low temperature for 24 to 48 hours. "After this, most of the green is out ofthe leaf, " said Chapman. During the "setting up" phase, the temperature is raised high Abuse of fire equipment down enough for the leaf but not the stem to dry. The final phase completes the drying of both the leaf and the By Jill Ahstrom Although fire equipment is usually misused in the stem. The tobacco is then cured. Abuse of dormitory fire equipment reached spirit of fun, equipment that has been tampered with is The leaves are then stored and graded. "Finally, the significant proportions last year — 21 false alarms potentially dangerous, according to Richard Cox, tobacco is put in a cotton sheet to be carried to market," sounded, 80 fire extinguishers discharged, 43 dean of residential life, and punishment for fire said Chapman.