Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-14
NEW YORK's COFFEE TRADE.

Mne-Tcnths of the Country's Importa-
lions Enter That Port.
From the New York Sun.
The increased American demand for tropi-
cal and subtropical products forms mark
ed striking feature Of American import
trade as indicated in the most recent
monthly summary issued by the Treasury
Department. Such imports of tropical and
subtropical products now amount to $780,
100000 per annum. including sugar, tea,
coffee, cocoa, spices, fruits. rubber, cork,
rice, nuts, indigo, olive oil and ivory. The
largest item of such commerce is sugar,
and tea and coffee follow. New York city's
commercial supremacy as the chief coffee
port of the western hemisphere was unsuc
cessfully challenged some years ago by
Baltimore, a port nearer the sources of
coffee supply, and 1t has again, but less
seriously, been challenged by New Orleans
The importations of coffee into the United
States are to the amount of S0O.OOO,OOO
pounds year. Of which GU, 600 900 are ship
ments from Brazil, two-thirds Of the whole
amount. From other South American coun-
tries 9OO0Q,OOO pounds are shipped to the
United States, from Central America 49,
100000, from Mexico 100000 from the
East Indies direct 100000, and from the
East Indies via European ports as much
more
The United States are one of the great
coffee-consuming countries OF the world,
and the Importance OF coffee as an article
the fact that in addition to the large
amounts Of 1t imported into the United
States for domestic consumption, there is
a trade of 100000 a year reshipped from
this country to European ports, chiefly
France, Germany and Holland. Until
year ago ninety per cent OF the imports OF
foreign coffee were to the city OF New
York. which received 5000. 900 bags, the an
nual average of New Orleans being 100000.
of Baltimore 100000 and of San Francisco
600 No other American cities import
coffee In any appreciabie amount, and the
disparity between New York and its three
competitors is so large as to preclude the
notion that New YoTk's lead can at any
time be seriously challenged. In behalf of
New Orleans, the claim Is made that freight
rates from Brazil to New Orleans are about
one-half the rates to New York.
The extension of American influence over
Cuba and Porto Rico has had the effect of
stimulating closer commercial relations
with those two islands, both OF which are
livery of coffee in New Orleans are greater
than In New York, besides which sundry
western trunk lines have made New Or
leans their harbor terminus for the ship
ment Of American grain and merchandise
to foreign countries and return. and the de-
livery there Of coffee for shipment to the
cities of the far and middle west would
thus be facilitated New York has it's cof-
fee exchange, and this city shares with
Hayre and Hamburg only its Importance
as q shipping port for coffee. New Orleans,
though nearer than New York Ia to Brazil,
is not in such good connection with Eu-
ropean ports and, moreover, the largest
coffee consuming states are on the Atlantic
seaboard, and of all these states (since
Raltimore ceased to be a factor in the
market New York is the great distributing
point.