The morning times., 1897-01-06
COFFEE WAR NOW RAGING.
ArbuckIe Brothers Arrayed Against
the Sugar Trust.

Consumers OF the great American break
fast beverage viii gladly welcome the
coffee war which is just now being waeed
between the predatory sugar trust AMI Ar
buckle Brothers, the big New York cof-
fee roasting firm. Thus far the war be
tween the two great concerns has had but
little, if any, effect upon the local trade
The principal battle ground has been in
the Middle Western and some Of the Sonth-
ern States, where the goods Of the two
giant companies come into competition
more strongly than they do here.
From local dealers, who are watching the
progress Of the trouble with no little con-
cern, it is learned that the fight i 5 princi-
pally one which will affect coffee in pack
ages, in which form Arbuckle's brand is
chiefly sold, and is not likely to involve the
higher grades, which come in loose form.
to any marked extent.
The war began some time ago by the
ArbuckleS deciding to erect a sugar re-
finery, which they purpose TO run in con-
nection with their coffee business Their
decision in this regard was arrived at
after unsuccessful attempts to buy sugar
for their trade OF the trust at inside ground
floor prices
Work Is now in progress on one of the
proposed large plants in Brooklyn, n.
Y, and IL is expected il will be cOmpIet-
ed and in operation in about one year
This movement on foot, the sugar trust,
realizing that its gigantic monopoly would
be encroachcd upon, started in to make
Il run on the coffee trade Of the ArbuckIes
To do tins they purchased the mills of
the most formidable councillors of the
big New York house, the Wpolson Spice
CompaAys plant at Toledo, Ohio. which.
next to the Arbuckles, is the largest pro
ducer of package coffee. Reductions in
prices followed, and more recently it is
said that the trust, in order TO carry on
the strife more vigorously, has bought
cut the Mclaughlin coffee roasting house.
OF Chicago, and its output, which is large,
Will be used in the fight.
The first cut of one-half cent a pound
was made some time ago by the trust,
and when that failed TO affect the Ar
buckles another slash OF similar amount
was made IN the wholesale prices. This
was promptly met last week by a one
ceIt cut made by the New York house, so
that from now on the war may be ex
pected to be lively between the two big
concerns, and there is no telling to what
ngLres prices may eventually drop.
whether the people of Washington will
receive any benefit from the reduction will
largely depend upon circumstances and CON
ditions. Very little OF any other brand
OF package coffee, except Arbuckle's, is
sold here, and as the other grades are NOT
50 liable TO be effected by the war, it re
mains % be seen how much good consumers
OF the palatable beverage here will receive.
Should the trust attempt to make a hid
for Washington trade by largely introducing
their product upon the local market, then
q lively time might be expected.
ArbucEle Brothers have for some time
been the controlling factors in the coffee
market, and .their trade reaches all sec
tions. When they name prices the quota
tion is generally followed by the coffee mar
kets throughout the country. John Ar
buckle, the head of the New York firm,
is said to be the largest coffee operator
in the world. It is estimated that the
firm handles one million bags of coffee each
year. -
Speaking of the coffee war, Mr.. johnson,
Of the large firm of Seventh street grocers,
Baid yesterday morning: 1--WE sell large
quantities Of Arbuckle's coffee, unques-
tionably more than any other house in
Washington, but it is not our speciality.
We make that on the leading brand OF the
world Java and dMocha, the best that grows.
For some time past the price of Arbuckle's .