The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-29

SoIHpdTeu WITH Tea bringing bU cents,
60 cents or 81 a pound. There is always
demand for cheap tea and the differ
ence between the price of low and CT
high grade tea has been greatly re-
duced; instead of being 80 or 40 cents
apart wholesale they are now probably
not more than 10 cents apart. One can
readily see that the retail grocer has
to pay proportionately more for the
lower grades and less for the higher
grades than he did formerly. Instead
of increasing prices slightly and giving
the consumers the better grades, which
they demand, many retail grocers have
sought to satisfy the consumers with
the poorer class of tea which they do
not want, and the result has been not
at all advantageous to the tea markets
as whole.
the increasing popularity of Ceylon-
India teas in this country. AS an in
dication of the changed conditions Of
trade, and following closely the estab-
lishment of a direct line of steamers
between this port and Colombo, a
larger number of India and Ceylon
planters have thought that the time
was opportune to establish direct trade
here. Heretofore Ceylon and India teas
received in this country have been pur-
chased in London, and from lots in
tended for consumption in Great Brit
ain, where heavier teas are used than
those popular in America.
Teas imported directly from Ceylon
will be especially suited to local con-
sumption. This is a new departure,
and, coming at time when there Is
certainly marked depression in the
tea trade. it is very significant
Apropos of the depression it is after
all, more fanciful than real as far as
the importers and jobbers are con-
cerned While purchases are being
made in a handt o-hand manner, the
probabilities are that more tea is ac-
tually being consumed than heretofore
The change in the system of buying is
due in large measure to the imposi-
ton of duty. If the retailer buys a
large quantity of tea he not only has
to pay for the tea, but also pays the
duty of 10 cents pound, which locks
up considerable portion of his capital.
and the result is that he prefers to buy
smaller quantities and oftener than for
merly, making the jobber act for him
as warehouseman. The jobber in turn
compesst the importer to play the same
part for him, and for the same reason
the latter will sell I'm smaller quantities
at the same rates as for the former
large quantities. Still another reason
for short buying, Is that the apparent
depression in business holds out the
there is always a chance of the duty
being removed. although an officer of
the treasury says that this cannot pos
sibly occur before 1901.
On account of the strict inspection
laws consumers of tea are getting more
for their money than they ever did be-
fore, and they would be gamers still
further if the retailer were shrewd and
would appreciate the fact that teas he
can buy for an additional cents per
pound are worth, under normal condi-
tions. 20 cents a pound more than the
teas he is actually buying.
AS to prices, the facts are against a
decline. There is an increased con-
sumption all over the world and a ma
terial shortage is shown al London. the
great tea mart of the world. An inter
esting fact is that during this season a
very considerable quantity of teas has
been bought in New York for re-eXpor-
tation to London, at prices lower than
those in the London market.
AS an evidence of the increase In con-
sumption, the direct shipments of Cey-
lon tea to Russia, Germany. Australia
and America from Colombo were $780,
900 pounds more in 1898 than in 1897.
This means that England will have to
make up this shortage from teas grown
in countries other than Ceylon and In
dia and this fact in itself will increase
prices here. Again, It looks as though
the recent establishment of tea saloons
may still further increase consumption
here-New York Evening Post.