BoletiÌn mercantil de Puerto Rico. (San Juan, P.R.) 18??-1918, 1904-09-26
EDITORIAL


which arrived the day before yes
,erday en- board the Antonio lopez,
are stored on our wharves to be trans
shipped and carried 10 Cuba in the
Spanish steamer due to call at this
port about the 27th or 2Sth OF this
month.
There is nothing surprising or strange
that Venezuelan shippers should Sc
lect the line of steamers they did,
and which probably offers to them the
advantages of low rates, quick transi;
and facility of shipment which bust
ness interests the world over are ever
in search of to further their transac-
tions and ventures,
On other occasions we have stated
that it is not Our purpose to cast doubt
upon the integrity and honesty of the
importing houses of our city to whom
the transshipping of this Venezuelan
coffee has been entrusted and in this
instance we must add that the FIVE
thousand six hundred add sacks of
coffee spoken of are entered on the
manifest for storage in transit for
Cuba, or in other words, are not con-
signed to any importing house in San
Juan, and our business houses here
are in no way connected with this
large shipment of Venezuelan coffee
to the Cuban markets.
With all due respect TO the Vene-
zuelan shippers, and ia king for gran
ted that the shipment of the $500 sacks
of forcing coffee now lying on Our
wharveS, has been made in good
faith by reputable houses in their
own names, Ctr Investigations and
inquiries must pursue different
course.
Is it possible that country which
is at the height of prosperity and over
flowing with riches; which is nota-
bic consumer of, the best the world s
MARKERS afford. should reject the
standard berry of Puerto Rico even
though more expensive for the sake of
buying cheap coffee which is well
known to be vastly inferior to our
product?
What strange and abnormal change
can have occurred in the Cuban mar
ket that suddenly and without cause,
they should cease to be our best GUS
toners?
There is no financial depression,
either actual or threatened, in our Sis
ter Antillean isle; there is no general
poverty; there are no disturbances
which presage serious consequences
either to the people or to business int
erests. Cuba to-day is richer than
ever before the world is ringing with
accounts of her truly wonderful mat
erial progress; the Cuban consumer
belongs to that paticular and exactlng
class whose chief desire is to secure |
the best obtainable and the cost |
reckoned as minor consideration |
when the articles needed and desired |
can besecured. How then can there be
a leaning in the Cuban markets toward |
the cheap and inferior coffee, which
Brazil and Venezuela produce in such |
enormous quantities, but of such a
worthless quality that it must be un-
bearable to the pampered palate OF the
Cuban consumer. How can this var
lance be explained, bet Seen the we'll
known high standard of Cuban tastes, |
and the absurd offer of a coffee, which |
though cheap is, we repeat, Of such
poor quality.
We cannot understand it.
To a people just entering upon one |
of the brightest periods of their his
tory, it is ridiculous to offer a product |
which is only used by povercy-stricken
and ruined peoples, through absolute
necessity or when no other is obtain
able.
We are very we'll acquainted with |
the fastidious, if not extravagant hab-
its of the Cuban people, ano from this
point of view, we can posibititely as
Sert that the demand of the consumer
is not for Venezurlan or Brazilian
coffee. Cuba does not use nor has
used add inferior product from abroad,
because she has always been a rich
country and is to day richer than
ever. Hence it is impossible for us
to pass by uncommented the strenuous
and repeated efforts which Venezuela
is making to place her coffee in the
Cuban market, as though a demand
could be created there for her inSipid |
and inferior berry.
And it is borne in upon us, just as
it must impress itself upon the Puerto
Rican people, that there is room for
N.-f s,I