Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1873-01-20
THE TEA TRADE.

lea mas become Ine naUlOnal uflnk OF |
the Americans. and any Legislation hav-
ing that for its subject is looked upon
with more universal anxiety than the |
admission of State or even the Presi-
Dental election. In the good old days.
when Souchong and Hyson were almost
the only known brands, and when a
pound of that delectable herb cost as
much as chest of Japan or English
breakfast tea does nowadays, the con-
sumption was in great measure limit
ed to old ladies and those whose nerves
required a gentle and regular "stringing
up" Now, it is difficult to find a per-
son who does not daily sip the ''cup
which cheers but not inebriates." So
deep-seated and widespread is that hab-
it that tea stores are getting to be as
common as groceries, and even milliners
and dressmakers are setting aside cor
ners of their establishments for the sale
of the article. This national demand
for tea has within the past twenty years
built up an immence trade with China
and Japan, which is constantly growing
greater.
The repeal of the duty on tea which
went into effect on the first day of July
1872, was an important event in the
trade. About 45,000,OOO pounds. or
sufficient for one years consumption had
then accumulated in the custom-houses,
but as the greater part of this was sold
in advance the market was not seriously
affected by so large a quantity being
ready for distribution free of duty. But
shipments continued nearly as usual
from Japan and China, 24,317,949 lbs.
having been exported from June l, to
August l6, against 26,692, 262 in the
previous year, so that the market became
we'll stocked, and prices fell, causing Sc
abroad in expectation of an advance on
the rates current at that time In con-
sequence Of this state of things, the
wholesale price Of tea is now about TWEEN
ty-two cents per pound less than it was
twelve months since, the duty making a
difference of fifteen cents gold (equiva-
lent to about seventeen cents currency
and the decrease in value being four or
five cents. 1t is doubtful, however, if
consumers receive the full benefit of this
reduction. It.has been shown that tea
can be brought from China to New York
and even to St. Louis, at less cost by
way of the Suez canal, than overland
from San Francisco
This fact should cause a still further
reduction in price, but the shippers, in
stead, turn it to their own profit. It has
caused, compared with 1871, a falling
off in the past year of about three mill
ion pounds in the quantity imported by
the latter route. San Francisco is, how
ever, still the distributing point Of a
very large quantity, while a reduction
In the cost of transportation seems only
needed to enable her to more than re-
gain the trade she has lost. About five
years ago one-ifth of the tea consumed
was imported from England, but this in
direct trade has nearly ceased. The tea
trade with Canada has been interrupted
by the duty of ten per cent, placed on
Asiatic products imported through the
United States, in retaliation for the like
duty imposed in the United States to
encourage domestic shipping.
) The Troy Posi- says: Eugene Brown
hid himself in the entrance of the Odd
Fellows lodge room at West Hebron
Washington county N. y last week
, Friday night. with the intention of spy
ing out the secrets of the order. Before
the exercises were opened he was dis.
covered, aud was Immediately initiated
into the mysteries of the descent Of
, man" down three flights of stairs. Brown
says the ceremony was very ':touching.
The poorest education that teaches
r self-control is better than the best thai
neglects it.