Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-02
PORTO RICAN COFFEE.
Growers Discussing How to Establish
Market Here. ait
Special Correspondenee of The Evening Star.

Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
SAN JUAN, P. R.. September %, 1903.
For two days this week about 200 of the
representative coffee growers of Porto Rico
consulted in San Juan as to how to best
promote their mutual interests as coffee
planters, provide for a permanent organiza-
uon and establish in the United States a
market for Porto Rican coffee. All the
banks or Porto Rico were represented and
the discussions were serious and digni1ed
The following telegram was sent to Presi-
dent Roosevelt:
president Roosevelt. Washington Coffee
planters and merchants in mass meeting
assembled, respectfully greet your excel
lency and request sincere and effective
assistance from the administration and
American people in order to have markets
opened which will protect this staple prod
uct and prevent the misery now prevailing
in our coffee districts"
Acting Governor Hartzell sent his cordial
greetings to the convention and encourag ed
the coffee men in the following words:
Il take great pleasure in advising YOU
that the authorities in Washington are con-
slderlng a proposition looking to a CONNER
clal agreement, whereby the Spanish tariff
on Porto Rico coffee shall be reduced in
consideration of a corresponding reduction
of the tariff now paid for the importatio
OF some Spanish product into Porto Rico.
vocated before the State Department by
Governor Hunt. and 1 am advised that it
meets with much approval in Spain"
one OF the principal American speakers
was Frederick c: Timpson. resident mana
ger and president of the Porto Rico Export
Company of New York and San Juan His
address was mainly devoted to ideas as to
how market for Porto Rican coffee can
be established in the United States Among
other things he said:
Many people wonder why Porto Rlcan
coree Is not more sought after in the
states. My conclusion after a four-years'
STUDY OF the question Is that 1t is merely
necessary to satisfy the American taste and
the victory will be won. Porto Rican coffee
is EXCEPTIONAL rich in tannin, probably more
so than any other. and the flavor Of this
tannin. to which Americans can never be-
come accustomed. must be removed by
proper roasting. The so-called light roast
Ing now done In the states does not remove
this tannin. while our native dark or
French roast does. Coffee so roasted.
without burning, will please American pal
ates. For many years Americans have de-
clared against all dark roast coffee lust
as Porto Rico and continental Europe re-
fuse to use light roast To secure the mar
kets of the United States this prejudice
against color must be overcome.
Our coffee has the strength, aroma and
flavor which will satisfy the American TASTE
and ! believe that If it is properly intro
duced every pound of Porto Rico coffee will
be eagerly sought and will bring good
prices. The United States can consume in
two months all the coffee Porto Rico can
produce. Any good article can be sold If
properly advertised, but retail dealers will
not handle 1t unless you have created a
consumers demand. The coffee of this ISL
and should be put UP in sealed packages
thus preventing the substitution of cheaper
grades of foreign coffee through COMPETE
ton with which Porto Rico now suffers
1.-The coffee should be roasted In the best
native style, put up in and sold in attractive
original packages. sealed under several
named brands and copyrighted. From the
beginning the association should be prepar-
ed to sell exclusively to consumers and
through agents and subagents. agencies be-
ing from time to time esta blished in the
different states. A fair price. with reason
able margin of profit. should be exacted on
each brand. No coffee should be sold green
in the beam at prices in competition with
cheap foreign grades as is now the custom
Cheaper the price of good article and you
limit its sale. l am convinced that If these
suggestions are followed Porto Rico coffee
will soon attain in the markets of the
United States the prestige it has always
held in continental Europe"
The st. Louis worlds fair commission of
Porto Rico has decided to send to the ex-
position 100000 or more quarter-pound
packages of coffee for free distribution
These packages will be lastly prepared and
will be imprinted with the arms of Porto
Rico and with copy of a letter from Presi-
dent Roosevelt to Governor Hunt in which
the President warmly praises some coffee
sent to him by the governor