The daily gazette., 1878-05-21
OUR TRADE I~ COFFEE,

During the twenty years ended June
30, 1876, the United States imported over
2,200,OOO tons of coffee. Of this amount
less than 100000 tons was re-exported
and more than 2, 100000 tons was consum
ed by the people Of the United Statcs.-
The average consumption of coffee in the
United States during the above period
amounted to 200,000,00O pounds per an
mum. For the last ten years of that period
the average consumption increased to over,
270,OOO,0OO pounds per annum; and for
tile last five years the average still further
increased to more than 10000. 900
pounds per annllm. The fiscal year ended
June 30, 1877, the consumption was over
320,0OO,OO0 pounds.
Three fouIths of all the coffee imported
into the United States during the past
twenty-one years has come from Brazil
During the last six years there has been
a slight falling of in the relative guam
tity coming from that country, and an
increased proportion of about five per
cent. has been received from other sources
Of supply.
Our imports of coffee from Brazil during
the five years ended June 30, 1876, aver
aged in value S}3, ,55S, ,2G0 per anntlm, and
for the last fiscal year the value was $780,
O22,52G,
AT the same time the total exports from
the United States to Brazil averaged for
| the five years above stated but S7.19G, ,SS1
per annum, and for the last fiscal year but
S7,5S1, ,Sl3
We have thus been paying to Brazil over
S26,0O0,OOO per annlm in gold during the
five years referred to, and the last fiscal
year over S2S,000,00O for the one item of
coffee.
Upon all products exported from Brazil
| there is imposed by the government of that
country an imperial export duty ofnine per
| cent and provincial export tax of four
per cent. making together an export duty
| OF thirteen per cent. upon all products
leaving the Empire.
There has therefore been paid upon the
coffee taken from that country by the
| United States an export duty which
has amounted during the last six years
to an average of over 81, 100000 per an
mum.
| The United States, prior to the act OF
August 3, 1861, admitted coffee free OF
duty. By that act duty of four cents
per pound was imposed, which was in
creased to five cents by the act of Decem.
ber "a, 1861. The duty remained at fiv,
cents until January l, 1871, when it wa.
reduced to three cents, and by the act o
May l, 1872, coffee was again admitte,
free of duty from July /, 1872.
During the eleven years in which
duty was imposed on coffee the averag
annual revenue realized therefrom wa
$7,63G, sol. A duty of three cents pc
pound upon the average annual import
of coffee during the last six years, whicl
after deducting the quantity re-exported
has amountedto over three hundred mil
lions pounds per annum, would hav
yielded a revenue of over $1,000, per an
mum. In England the duty levied upol
coffee is three and half cents per pound
l. That the removal of the duty on cofie
which was imposed by the tariff act
above quoted has been of no benefit t,
consumers in the United States, but ha
accrued solely to the advantage of foreig
governments, factors and producers, vii
appear from examination of the averag
price of Brazil coffee in New York durin
each of the last twenty years as given i
the table we publish to-day.
The government of the United State
has thus deprived itselfof over $500, 90
per annum of revenue, and the advantag
has accrued solely to foreign producer
and factors and to a foreign government
The revenue that would be realized
the reimposition of this duty would NOR
than supply and deficiency that might b
caused by placing upon the free list
very large number of minor articles, yielC
ing separately buta trihing amount G
revenue, which now cumber the tariff an
vex commerce.-N. Y. Herald.