The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-05-25
SOME TEA FACTS
WHICH WE'RE BROUGHT OUT IN
THE TARIFF DEBATE.
South Carolina Raising More Tea
Than the Gteatest Tea Raising
Country Did Thirty Years Ago.

Country Did Thirty Years Ago.
"P. H. McG.," in one of his Wash
ington letters to The News and Cour-
| ier gives some interesting facts in
connection with the raising and con-
sumption Of tea in the United States.
He says whether or not it is true
! that American consumers are pay
| ing 60 cents a pound for 12-cent
tea, some interesting information rel
ative to the efforts Of the Govern.
ment to encourage the industry in
F, the United States has been brought
out in the Senate.
1t is not generally known that Sc
far the best results in this country
have been obtained at the Summer
vile tea farm of DR.. c. U. Sheppard,
near Charleston. Reports have just
been made to Chairman Aldrich. of
the Senate finance committee, show
ing what has already been accom-
| plished here, and what may be eS-
pected in the future if the industry
is encouraged.
George H. Macy, an expert on this
subject has just written Senator AL
drich as follows: THE tea industry
in South Carolina is now raising
$4,000 pounds annually, which is ten
times the amount Of tea which the
Island of Ceylon produced in 1875.
Today Ceylon ranks among the larg-
est tea producing countries of the
world, having exported last year
132, 100000 pounds.
Il understand that the eXporta-
tions of the department of agricul-
ture show that South Carolina is
producing 600 pounds Of tea per an
mum to the acre, whereas in China
and Japan the maximum reached is
$50 pounds to the acre.
"The tea trade of the United States
is fast becoming monopolized by the
foreigners, and in this connection
1 would call attention to the fact
that the Japanese Government is
now paying subsidy of $4,000
gold TO japanese vessels, carrying
Japanese tea, for each round trip
between Japan and the United
States. The Japaesne have, under
subsidies, established agents of tea
throughout the United States, and
it is a well recognized fact in the
trade that within few years they
will control, not only the growing,
exporting and shipping of tea to
the United States. but also its very
distribution in this country. 1t
was demonstrated. under the Spanish
war revenue tax, that duty on tea,
involving a cash transaction upon
withdrawal from bond OF such tea,
severely curtailed the operations of
these foreign firms.
Those who are asking for duty
on tea claim that such a duty of
ten cents pounds can be relied
upon, even in times of business de-
preston. as revenue producer of
about $10,O00,000 per annum, and
can be collected with but little eX-
pense. The Government is now un-
der a heavy charge in the administra-
ton of the tea law Of 1897, which
protects the consumer from adulter-
ated tea, and even if the consumer
paid the tax, per capita tax of four
to five cents per annum would be
a small price to pay for this protec-
ton.
w. A. Courtney, of New York,
another man who is well versed in
the tea industry, has written to Sem
ator Aldrich He says that during
the years of 1906, 1907 and 1908
he held the position of Ceylon tea
commissioner to the United States.
During those years he distributed
in this country $4,000 per annum
in aid of the Ceylon tea. He states
that at the outset he was met with
the fact that America was consum-
ing tea Of the poorest average quail
ty, but which retailed at prices from
Go to 100 per cent higher than
those charged in London, where a
revenue of five pence per pound is
first collected.
That there is tremendous profit
in selling foreign tea, in the United
States, is evident from the fact that
the total capitalization of 8 OF these
largest concerns is more than $685.
600, 900, and that three Of them have
a. chain of almost 1000 stores
scattered all over the country.
1t is highly improbable that any
change in the present tea rates will
be made in the tariff bill, but it is
interesting to note the progress that
is being made here, and so estimate
the extent Of the industry during
the next ten or fifteen years.