The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-11-26
THE PRICE OF TEA.
War in China is Expected to Raise the
Cost of the supper Tables Comfort

Few Americans probably have suspected
that the war ba+ween China and Japan
would affect their pocketbooKs' oo' ~ IN
doubleday will. Importers anu oroAers
saw the nr;ca of TOO will advaLce unless the
war ends very soon, ard even theh II oni-
ma has to pay Japan indemh1'y' as seeuis
certain. China will have to RAISE at least
S2oo,Ooo,000 to pay her war expenses anu Oh
what could she raise it easier than on her
teas?
The New York World has 1t on authority
that tea importers have received wora from
China that the price of the new crop may
be more than doubled, ana tnat a heaVy
export tax will no doubt be LEVIED.
The teas from Formsoa have pafd tax
of two and half cents pound export onty'
TO the Chinese Government lot years, ana
these teas cannot be raised In any other
country. Neither can the green teas OF Chi
ma be produced elsewhere.
The Chinaman. always crafty and clever
diplomat, has egged Russia on until that
country is now outbidding America for Chi
mas choicest teas. Now that China is like
ly to inrease the export duty on such teas
as no other country can duplicate, Russia
will be more anxious than ever to control
the finer grades, and bar out Americans,
in the hope of securing the tea trade for
herself.
The present outlook for the drinker OF
China teas is that either poorer grades Will
be shipped here than are now consumed or
ne will have to pay much higher prices.
The best China teas now bring close to vi
a pound at retail, and the tea drinker Will
have to pay at least 50 per cent. more for
the same grade of teas.
Fortunately the Japanes soldiers have
not destroyed the new tea crop. but there
is danger from another source. In case the
revolution in China increase. as at the time
of the TAPPING rebellion. when the tea
plants were destroyed by the unruly ele-
ments in Chinese communities, the inexor-
able law of supply and dema nd will add
still greater increase to the price.
John B. Brown. one of the largest tea
importers on Front street, said to World
reporter
.'China knows we'll enoug hthat Americans
must have her choicest teas, as they can
be duplicated nowhere else. In order to
raise money to meet the war expenses she
will dou btless as quickly as possible put
tax on the best teas up to the limit. We
do not believe the war will cease for some
time, and if it does and is settled by arbi-
tration. China will have an enormous IN
demnit. to pay,'so the result is the same
in either case. The supply of Formosa teas
is already 10000, 600 pounds short on account
of the war; III
That both China and Japan, the latter
especially, ATE exciting every effort to ship
cargoes of war ammunition from this coun-
try is evidenced by the pressing demands
for rates ON lead, suns, &C.. received by
the Canadian Pacific and Southern Pacific
Companies.
E.v. skinner, General Eastern Agent
of the Canadian Pacific Railway, stated
yesterday that an agent of r firm, repre-
scented as being In Kansas City. approached
him as to the cost of sending large amount
(said to be lOG tons of pig lead to an Aeiat-
ic port. As this mateial is contraband of
war, and, if found upon steamship, would
involve the company owning it In serious
difficulties. Mr.. Skinner refused to enter in
to negotiations.
The steamship companies decline to ship
guns. pistols, cartridges. ammunition. lead
and other contraband articles. no matter
for what purposes the may be intended.
Japanese and such Chinese cruisers as are
left from the naval episodes of late make
carrying contraband goods very danger
Gus occupation.