The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-02-21
ST. LOUIS RANK
AS COFFEE CENTER,
TrainlOads of Staple Received
Each Month From South
American Ports.
RIVALS NEW YORK AS MARKET.
Advantages of Low Water Rates
and Through Rail Routes
Make Business Profit
able-Receipts Are
Increasing.

t-N AA-t hNS sAi- ~ A<oeAS LaoS
become one Of the largest coffee distrib-
uting markets in the United States.
Where formerly coffee was shipped 10 the
retailers only. the large houses in S I.
LOU have secured a hold on the jobbinS
trade and ship large consignments to
point, North. East, South and West.
The cause for the rapid growth Of the
coffee interests In st. Louis is better wa
ter communication with the coffee plan
tations in Mexico. Central America and
Brazil. the bulk Of the staple coming from
Brazil. Trainloads of green coffee are
shipped to st. Louis by way Of New Or
leans. the low water and rail rates making
this possible n profitable. While New
York n as the chief speculative mar
ket in coffee. St Louis has grown to be
one of the most important receiving and
distributing centers in the country. Where
ST. Louis formerly got most of its coffee
from New York 1t now imports It direct
from the plantations. and has thus be-
come what Is called in trade parlance a
primary market.
Among other reasons assigned by whole
coffee trade is the fact that the people of
Lie oOLt All west u SicdltE SUI
ers OF coffee than the people Of the North
and East.
All tile coffee received is raw or green,
and is roasted here before being distrib-
uted to the jobbing or retail trade. st.
Louis has some Of the largest coffee
roasting plants in the United States.
st. Louis merchants import direct $4,000
bags Of Rio and Santos coffees and 5000
bags of fancy and washed %coffees. u as
Mexicans. Javas, Mochas, etc. In addi-
ton an amount equal to the above is pur-
chsed from importers located in seaport
cities-New York. New Orleans. San Fran
cisco and Baltimore-thus making the to-
tai number Of bags handled between 800,
900 and 100000. St. Louis is the third
largest coffee market in the United
States. All Of the South. Southwest and
West and portions OF the Northwest are
supplied by the twenty-one coree-roasting
establishments located In 81. Louis, which
operate with capitals ranging from 5000
to $500. 900. and carry in stock from 1900 TO
50, 90 bags at all times.
A majority of the firms also carry large
stocks of tea and spices. and about half
of them manufacture baking powder,
fiavoring extracts, etc.
Each firm is represented by from half a
dozen to fifty travelling statesmen.
The latest improved machinery for
roasting, automatic attachments for
weighing and filling and every device for
economizing in time and expense and i'm
proving the quality of the output is used.
AL of the aforementioned features en-
able our merchants to compete success
FUZZY with any market in securing trade
by contracts or with dealers throughout
the country.
The heads of these various firms are
men noted for their liberal policy in deal,
ing with matters OF public interest, and
help to make up the personnel of the lead
ing social clubs. give dignity and direction
to organizations for the betterment of 10
cal civic life. and are substantial support
ers of the cause of Christianity.
As a tea market St. Louis does not rank
as high as II does as a coffee center. al
though great quantities are imported di-
rect from Japan by way of San Francisco.
Edward Weston Tea and Spice Co.
h Edward Weston Tea and Spice Com
pany Is said to be the largest house OF its
kin west of the Mississippi River and
puts up more kinds of goods under one
roof than any other In the United states:
coffees and teas being their specialtiss. II
this seems like an exaggerated statement
It Is because some of the industries here
have been growing 50 fast and solidly that
their transformations entrance into the rank
of mammoth st. Louis enterprises has been
accomplished without noise or heraldry.
They not only sell their products In all
number of states usually considered out
of reach of this market. territory not cov-
cred as a rule by manufactures OF this
kind on account Of competition from closer
competing market The using of immense
quantities of goods enables them to ex-
tend effectively their facilities into any
jobbinG market
The shipping department. always a most
important factor in a large house. Is in
charge Of capable experts thoroughly
versed in all freight matters: it is consid-
cred extensive enough to attract freight
solicitors from all roads running in and
out OF St. Louis. Their machinery is new
and u~p-to-date: everything Is weighed and
handled automatically, thus avoiding err
rors and reducing cost to the lowest mini
num-
Two batteries of coffee roasting cylin-
ders; unsxcelled machinery for cleaning,
storing and separating cofees; latest pull
verizefa. grinders and sifters in spice
grinding: automatic filing and weighing
machines for baking powder, with a Ca
pacity of 5000 cans per day, are part OF
their varied. modern equipments. With
modesty they state that unless their bak-
ing powder gave the highest satisfaction
this branch of their business would not
be In such enormous demand by both
wholesalers ard retailers.
In favoring extracts and sund-ies their
laboratories handl all ingredients nee
easary, in a most Clearly manner and by
competent chemists Essential oils and
essences have been made a special study
for yeay1. and equipments fog thar manu-