The times., 1898-08-19
TRADE IN COFFEE.
A Prevailing Industry in Americas
New Possessions.

The fact that coffee is readily grown in
all the islands now coming under con-
troll of the United States lends interest
TO some figures OF the Treasury Bureau
of Statistics which show that coffee. last
year, was the greatest item in our i'm
ports and that the years importations
OF that article were the greatest in this
country's history.
Porto Rico and Hawaii have for years
grown a fine grade of coffee. Cuba for
merely produced it in large quantities and
the Philippine Islands have for years had
a reputation of producing grade OF cof-
fee eQualing that of Java and even COM
pairing fayorably with Arabia's world
famed Mocha. The United States has
been for years the largest coffee using
country in the world. our purchases since
1890 having averaged ninety millions Of
dollars per annum in value, but 1t was re-
served for the fiscal year 1888 to show
the largest imports OF coffee in its his
tory. bringing the average per capita
consumption among the population up 10
the highest point ever known.
The coffee importations for the fiscal
year 1SsS just ended. were S0d4215
pounds. which is nearly 20 per cent
greater than in 1897; 80 per cent greater
than in 1893. practically double that of
1880, and more than three times that of
1874. Deducting the expectations which
amounted TO S.S22 S6s pounds, the con-
sumption OF the fiscal year 1898 would
stand at eleven and five-tenths in 1897.
eight and two-tenths in 1898, seven and
eight-tenths in 1890. six and nine-tenths
in 1877. five and one-hundredth in 1867, and
two and two-tenths in 1863
The war period of 1876 showed the low
est per capita consumption of coffee in
the country, despite the large use of this
article in the army while the brief war
period of 1898 caused no diminution in the
imports, the total for April, May, and
June being 2i5OOO.O 600 pounds against 19S.-
0O0.00O in the corresponding months of the
preceding year
The large importation of coffee during
the year just ended was probably due in
some degree to its phenomenally low
price, the average value of the years inn
ports being 4-10 cents per pound against.
an average of IL cents last year. Il 6-l0 in
1896 and i-10 in 1895.
Practically one half of the coffee grown
in the world now comes to the United
States. The latest estimates now put the
coffee production of the world at 1.600
90 600 pounds per aEnum. while the i'm
ports into the United States last year
were more than half that amount.
Porto Rico has for years produced
considerable coffee. this being the most
important export. and amounting TO from
25, ,0oO, 900 to 100000 pounds per annum-
F. B. Thurber. well-knOwn authority on
this subject in his book. coffee. from
Plantation to Cup" says: Porto Rico
furnishes a coffee that is IN great favor
in Spain and In Italy and also on the
Island of Cuba. The cultivation Is car
ried on largely In the provinces OF May
agriez Ponce. Guayanilla, Aguadlha.
Arecibo and st. Johns.
In the early part of the present century
q. COO 900 pounds of coffee were produced
in Cuba in a single year. representing
money value of s20,000.o00. II was esti-
mated that in 1898 there were six coffee
estates to one of sugar. One plantation is
mentioned as having million trees. and
the writer has found an authentic ac-
count of a plantation containing 900
trees and 450 slaves in part of the island
where at present there is neither ves-
tige of a coffee plantation nor a negro
population. 20
Coffee is now being produced in consid-
erable quantities in the Hawaiian Islands
Consul General Haywood expresses the
opinion that the amount may be greatly
increased with profit to those undertaking
it. The number of coffee plantations is
now between 210 and 800. The sum required
to successfully enter upon coffee produc-
ing is from 5000 TO $4,000, and the Ha-
waiian foreign office estimates that the
money so invested will be repaid to the
investor with more than 100 per cent in
terest at the end of seven years from the
establishment of the plantation.
The Philippines have for years produced
a fine grade of coffee. The Philippine
Islands are said to be peculiarly adapted
to the raising of coffee. producing with
proper rscultivation and preparation berry
which is equal. If not superior, in flavor
and aroma to the Java berry.
Since 1910 there has been imported into
the United States a volume of coffee
ranging from 4s9 15s. .l20 pounds to .215
pounds annually. asgregating in value
from $50. 900. coo to sl2SseQO,o00.