Alabama state intelligencer., 1831-02-02


 The Boston Courier states that many of the facts, particularly those relating to Cuba, are within the personal knowledge of the writer of the following article, and all others are from sources entitled to perfect credit M
 Co6cc.-Ths article has been a subject of considerable interest to our mercantile com munity for some weeks past, arising partly from the near approach of the period when q great deduction is to take place in the duty in this country, and partly, probably, from a pretty general impression that Coffee is be- low its relative value throughout the world; and that it has been so for many years, where by it's consumption has greatly increased, while at the same time, particularly within the last two years, it's production Gin the West Indies and Brazs at least) has been growing less and less. It has, been ascertained by pretty accurate returns, that the consumption in Europe, during the last four years previous to December 31, 1899, had increased fifty per cent; the sales in the eight great depots in 1926 being one hundred and forty millions lbs. and in 1899 having reduced to two hundred and ten millions, eses ss. In the Uuited States the consumption of Coffee in period of about ten years, has gene up from eleven millions to upwards of fnrty millions and it is fair to calculate, that as three-fifths cf the duty cn Coffee will be ta- ken off in January, 1881, while the full duty S to be continued on Tea till January, 1882, that the consumption of Coffee in this country in 1881 will go up to sixty millions pounds. n As before observed, while the great increase ef consumption has been going on, the cnlti- vation of the article in the West Indies has yearly decreased. In the island of St. Do- mIngo the quantity of Coffee raised is net enc fifth of what it was ten years ago. In Brazil three years since the export was eighty mil liens, now it is less than fifty millions, and the present crop is short ono. In Jamaica the production has greatly fallen eff, and in De marara most of the Ccffee Estates arc con- verted into Sugar Plantations. In Cuba the annual export of Coffee has fallen from eighty millions toless than forty millions. This has arisen partly because lcng succession of low prices has led to careless cultivation, partly because old trees do not yield as much as young trees, partly from cutting down coffee trees and planting sugar cane, and partly from the entire abandonment of all small coffee es- tates, the owners taking off their negroes to new lands, raising cattle or cultivatng tobac- co, which article has increased fourfold in Cuba during the last few years. Coffee has risen in Cuba since May last about two cents a pound. The last Price Current from Ha- vana, of 4th Dec. quotes--1st quality, none; 2d and Sd qualities S6a % 73v 100 pounds scarce, in great demand, and price advancing; and letters fromthence say that the present crop is below an average one.
 In this country Coffee has advanced within four months about one cent a pound. In Ham burg and Bremen, from whence cofEee-drnk- ing Germany is principally supplied, it rose during the last summer from two to four cents a pound. Whether the present disturbances in Europe will advance or retard the rise in price, is for wiser heads than the writer of this article to foresee; some will think that it is best to retire from the trade when trouble some times approach, but more will perhaps argue that if war is to take place, it will be no bad thing to be caught with good store of Coffee on hand, bought at low price. C. A delegation of Greek Indians, consistir 2 of six chiefs and head men, passed through this place on Tuesday evening, on their way to Washington City, accompanied by the ce- lebrated John H. Brodnax.
 It is understood that the object of the visit of this delegation is to endeavor to prevail up- on the Congress of the United States to inter- pose its authority to relieve the Greek nation from the operation of the laws of Alabama.
 T. T. H..