Semi-weekly interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1881-1905, 1886-12-21
SORTING COCOANUTS.
A SHIP LOAD OF $4,000 BROUGHT
FROM BARAcoA.

Testing the Quality of Each Nut-Usins
the Spoiled Ones as n Substitute fol-
Coal-Growth OF the Cocoanut Trade
Steam Tramps.
A little lead colored steamer, drawing nc
more than nine feet OF water when loaded
lay at a pier near Coenties slip. People
familiar with shipping would have said at q
glance that she was in the fruit or some such
trade 10 the Spanish main on account OK hsi
size and looks. A gang of men were lifting
bushel baskets full of oocoanuts over The low
hatch osmbing aInidships and sliding them
along greasy planl1s toward another gang OF
men on the pier. These men lifted the bas-
kets up on to the low tables made Of planks
laid on top Of cheap barrels Three baskets
could be accommodated at one time on each
Of the two tables. A man before each basket
picked the nuts up, one in each hand, and
knocked them together lightly, and then
either tossed them into q big coarse bag
which a man held open before the table or
tossed them TO heap on the pier.
Those thrown 10 the pier were spoiled more
or less, some Of them being so far decayed as
to break open. Those thrown into the bags
were sound The light tap told the quality OF
the nut to the inspector. Each bag held 100,
and soon as filled IL was drawn TO one side and
had its mouth sewed up by n man who used
a needle nine inches long and soft jute Irvine
for thread. Other men gathered the spoiled
nuts into bags and loaded them into Gov
cred wagon that had nothing painted on IL "a
indicate its ownership. A reporter who
watched the men found that from Eve To
seven nuts were rejected for every bag that
was filed. One Of the workers, although
kept busy either passing along the full has
kets or the empty ones back, found time to
talk He said
"This vessel brought rs, 900 Of the nuts from
Baracoa. We began on them at o'clock
this morning, and viii have them all out by
O'Clock. We are paid by the hour at long
shoremens rates. The boss took the con-
tract to discharge this cargo at sixty cents
per 1000.
TUE SPOILED ONES
"what is done with the spoiled ones.'
"They are sold 10 that man Indicating a
man by the unmarked wagon. He is a
baker and confectioner. He says they make
a better and cheaper fire than coal Rather
curious, though, that only bakers and con-
fectioners should have learned what good
The nuts were slowed loose in the hold Of
the vessel, with nothing TO keep them from
shifting in case the steamer got "A heavy
lurch during a gale ON her way to port. A
merchant who was familiar with. the trade
said:
ave import from 1900, 900 to 10, 600, 900
cocoanuts a year. On an average ~ per
cent. OF them spoil on the way. About one
half of them come from Baracoa. San Bias
is the next port Of consequence. The little
steamers are driving the schooners out Of the
business, although the heat Of the engine
rooms is detrimental 10 the nuts Six years
ago there was not single steamer in the
Baracoa trade. In 1881 there were ISL
schooner cargoes brought here from Baracoa-
In 1882 there were five steamer cargoes
brought-all American. The schooner car
goes rose to Dol in 1888, besides II Yankee
steamer cargoes. The next year tho British
tramp entered the trade and in two years cut
the schooner cargoes TO IS, while the number
Of steam tramp cargoes rose 20 81. Tho yam
kee steamers barely held their own with 10
cargoes, IL is a case OF the survival OF the
fittest. The fact is, the steamers, although
flying the British flag, are in great part
owned by American capital Cocoanuts at
Baracoa cost two cents each, delivered on
board the steamer free. There is very little
freighting done, the steamers and cargoes be
longing usually TO the firms engaged in the
trade New York Sun.