The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-10-22

and Africa. The fruit OF this tree, n
pear shaped pod from TO 10 inches in
length. contains numerous large seeds
; from which the chocolate OF commerce
/ is produced. while the shells are also
utlliEed for the decoction known as
cacao. or cocoa, or. used as a substitute
for tea or coffee II is the crude cacao
and leaves and shells which form the
large and rapidly growing Importation
referred 10. which has increased from
nine million pounds in 1883 TO sixty-three
millions in 1893. The vaviue of i'm
portations OF cacaO in this crude form
has grown from one million dollars in
1888 to four millions in 1896 and nearly
eight millions in 1893 Meantime the i'm
portation Of manufactured cacao and
chocolate has fallen from !. 4s7 81 pounds
in 1897. valued at s2S9Sls. 10 COCA
pounds in 1903. valued at sl44s23.
Both cacao and coffee have grown rap
idly in favor in the United States in re-
cent years. as against tea, which showed
no material increase. The coffee impor-
tations grew from SIS million pounds in
1888 to 1851. 600 600 pounds in 1902 and 9l5.-
0ss $50 pounds IN 1888; those Of tea
amounted to % million pounds in lSS3 and
only 10 millions In 1872. but in 1893 were
les millions Thus the growth IN the
importation of cacao has been more
rapid proportionateIy than that OF cof-
fee. and much more rapid than that OF
tea.
other evidence OF the growth and pop
ularity OF cacao and its product. choco-
late, in the United States is in the fact
that the number Of cacao and chocolate
manufacturing establishments reported
in the census of 1850 was :; in 1880. II;
and in 1900. a: while the capital en-
ployed increased from $3.50 500 in 1850 TO
s. 500, 80 in 1900 The value Of materials
used in manufacturing grew from Ssi2,-
40e in 1880 TO ses76.GS2 in 1900. and the
value Of the product from sl32.l53 in
1880 TO 80 ees. 1872 in 1900
The growing popularity OF this arti-
Gle in the United States is matter OF
especial interest because OF the fact that
cacao is produced in the West India ISL
ands. and while Porto Rico has not
up TO this time been large producer Of
cacao. the fact that the United States
imported about ten million pounds from
the West India Islands in lSS2 and about
twenty millions in 1872. suggests that
there may be possibilities in this line
under the American flag. OF the 81 mill
lion pounds Of cacao imported IN 1872.
j. million pounds were from Brazil. ~
millions from Dutch Guiana. 81 millions
from Ecuador. ~ millions from Cuba.
and a. millions from Santo Domingo.
In 1900. BOZ pounds were imported from
Porto Rico. but there Is no record OF
cacaO from that island since that date.
Cacao planting. according 10 the report
from Consul Donaldson Of Managua. Me
ara qua. recently received by the bureau
of statistics is one Of the most at
tractive and lucrative industries in the
tropics Nearly all the caCao pianta- I
tions in Nicaragua" he says are owned I
by foreigners. and although the tree /
grows very luxuriously along the Allan
TIC coast and along the river valleys.
it also grows IN al attitudes from the
sea level 10 209 feet The trees are
planted four yards apart In rows three F,
yards apart or about 80 trees % the I
acre Calculated az an output q four
pounds each at . cents gold per pound.
they would give an annual rcturn q 80
per acre. which nets the planter al least .
ss58 The picking and preparation for
market Is much more easily performed .
than coffee as cacao grows in large
pods containing Dfteea to twenty-five .
beans each. on trees from ten - twelve
feet high
Consul Kennedy also reports from
Brazil with reference u the cacao crop
"a that country. and remarks that while
Europe. especially France AID the Meth
srlands. still take good portion Ok this
,rop. the United States IS every year
Increasing its imports - this staple
The table which follows shoSs the
Of cacao. crude, aEd caves
md shells or into the United states 20
Iu!nqueuaisI years from $50 70 100. ard
annually from that date a 1sG.
Importation 4 cacap. crude. and ieaves
- sheIs u tor 80 - Tsle