Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1903-06-17
LEADS WORLD IN COFFEE.
Business Done An the Porto
Rican Product.


Not that the United States is small
consumer of coffee-it uses millions
and millions of dollars worth an
nually. but does not use as goodquality
as that grown in Porto Rico. While we
have been purchasing of the islands
sugar, tobacco and fruit-things which
we might have gotten elsewhere in
equal or nearly equal quality-we have
neglected to take from her the one
product that she leads the world in.
And this when we boast about using
the best of everything on our table.
1t is conceded that the best is none too
good for the stomach-that it is not
economy to use cheap fuel in the en-
CINE which keeps US going-but we go
right on using cheap coffee from South
America, says a Porto Rican CORE
spondence in the Chicago Chron-
icle. which is stranger to us
in every sense, but neglect to patron
lie and encourage this little member
of our own family What is the rea-
son? Because good coffee is worth
more than the common grade, and the
Porto Rican berry sells for few cents
more per pound.
The jobbers recognize the difference
in the quality, but will not-pay it.
claiming that the public will not stand
for the advance. If this is so, it is
contrary to the general action of the
public in such matters. We are GER
tainly well enough off to pay for the
best things to eat and drink, and usu-
ally do so without complaint. The fact
is that our people are not judges of
coffee. They have been accustomed to
the common grades, and are not con-
scious of the really cheap quality of
that which they are using. The Latins
are the greatest coffee drinkers, and
they use only the best. France and
Spain and Italy have patronized Porto
Rico for hundreds of years, and have
paid her well. New Orleans is the
first place in the United States where
Porto Rican coffee is beginning to gain
popular favor. The French people of
that city know a good thing. Here is
an extract from a letter written by
member of the board of trade of the
southern metropolis:
Gas a lover of coffee can say have
never tasted it's equal. 1 have given
samples to many of my friends, and
they all agree that it is a drink fit
for the gods. Coffee-making is a fine
art. It should not be made in tin, for
that destroys its aroma. Ifpeople only
knew the superiority of Porto Rican
coffee it would not be long until the
supply would be inadequate to the de-
mand."
In it's best year the island has pro-
duced $11,Ooo,OoO worth of coffee, and
if all the land suitable to it's culture
were put under cultivation it could
produce four or five times this amount.
If we took all the island could DOS.
sibly raise, we should still have to de.
pend upon South Amreica for many
million dollars worth annually. AS
time goes on and the excellent quality
of the berry from here is known there
will be a great demand for it, The
people will not stand upon the slight in
crease in its cost when they become
familiar with its worth. The last year
before our government took charge of
Porto Rico, we bought only $847 worth
of coffee firm the island; the follow
ing year we did little better, taking
$4,91S worth; this total has been in
creasing, until last year it amounted to
$223,S91. This, you will say, is a trend
in the right direction. So it is, but
the planters are too badly crippled to
wait for the business to grow to suf-
ficient volume to again be profitab BILE to
them. Spend some of the money with
them you are now sending to South
America! Get your dealer to order
some for you, and don't be stingy over
the few cents difference in price. Rest
assured that you are getting value re-
ceived. Every good American woman
ought to be interested in our island
possession, and that interest cannot be
shown more substantially than in ia
voring its products when she makes her
household purchases-especia when
this preference will secure for her Ia
bic something better than she has been
accustomed to having. The American
woman has been active in raising funds
for the Porto Rican hospital and other
institutions here, which was mighty
good of her, and she can do another
great and grand service if she will see
to it that Porto Rican products, are
used in her family.
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