New-York tribune., 1909-11-07
GORGEOUS CEYLON
ISLE FROM WHICH
COMES THE FINE TEA.
Home Conditions EnJ1able,
Foreign Trade Highly
Gratifying.


While The poor are noted for their nu-
merous offspring. adversely tends TO check
the increase OF population as a whole. even
II il does not reduce il. and. therefore.
the fact that a census OF Ceylou would
show more than four million inhabitants
to-day-as against the one million who
languished under Dutcn dominion at its
clOse-Speaks volumes for the beneficence
Of British rule as applied to that colony.
TFat the people OF Ceylon recognize their
good fortune in the exchange OF masters
is evidenced by the fact that nothing has
occurred-with the exception of a trivial
TiCt in lS34-to disturb the Islands tran
quillity since the British standard has
1Oated over it. and the birth rate of 40I per
thousand is added evidence that comfort.
cOntentment and prosperity reign supreme
in the Eastern Paradise so long the prey
OF cruel desDOts. and the theatre OF inter
necine strife and foreign exploitation that
exhausted the island : resources and ground
its people IN the dust of sOrdid and pow
erty stricken misery. No better testimony
to the islands prosperity perhaps can be
found than in the statistics OF CeylOn's
trade and revenue: In 1905 the former
reached the magnificent total of sS3. 10000.
while the latter summed up N77.JOO.e90
Ceylon's OdOrOus product. tea-and the
worlds Acknowledgements OF It's super-ex-
cellence. and its eager demand for all the
island can raise-is TO be accredited with
being the most important factor in the
happy conditions that prevail there. for IT
gives employment to over two thousand
British, four hundred thousand Tamils and
hosts of Eurasian supervisors and clerks.
Slnghalese carpenters, shOPkeePers, car
What this Industry means to Cevlon is
further shown in its export figures. In
1880 il sent TO the United States and Can
ada only 10000 pounds: In 1898 the exports
10 North America reached grand total of
=, 3,t5l.6Z5 pounds. or a trlne over - per
cent of that sent TO all other countries
of the globe. save the United Kingdom.
SS615.551 pounds. while in the same year II
supplied TO the latter l0s. $50 le4 pounds.
That the industry is increasingly prosper
Gus and that IL Is gaining in favor in
North America can be dedUced from the
fact that from The first OF January 10
America We're l5,eil.2H pounds. as against
for the same period IN 1895 10. s50.2S2 pounds.
IL is true that this tremendous gain is.
IN part, 10 be accounted for by the desire
on the part of the trade to fOreStall what
was thought TO be the impending impOsi-
ton OF tea duty by the United States;
but there is no doubt that much OF the
increase represents ar actual and healthy
growth. for II is known that II Is rapidly
displaetng here, as in England. where a
remarkable decrease in the consumption of
China tea is noted, all other teas.
The direct impulse to the industry, and TO
the expansion of its foreign trade. is found
upon inquiry 10 be given by the Planters
Association before mentioned. When. in
the period from 1880 to so, the planters of
India and CeylOn, pursuing the course that
nearly wrecked the rice industry Of this
country, devoted all their attention 10 pro-
ductiOn, and increasingly extended their
acreage, utterly regardless of the law of
supply and demand. prices so decline d as
TO leave no profit upon the capital invested.
The planters of CeylOn soon awakened TO
the danger. and. whilst they stopped
further extensions. inaugurated a move
ment 10 develop direct trade with foreign
countries As stupendOus as was the task
Tor so small colony, the work was under
taken and financed through a voluntary
fund Later, at the solicitation OF the
planters, small export duty was levied and
collected by the Colonial Government and
the administration of this Tea Cess as
tee of Thirty" twenty-four OF whom were
nominated by the Planters Association Of
Ceylon, organized in 1900. and six BY the
CeylOn Chamter of Commerce
This Thirty Committee" as IL is called
early recognized Canada and the JTnfted
States as promising folds in which to at
tempt the increase of the consumption Of
Ceylon tea Through Commissioners IL has
so impressed upon these countries the vfr-
tues claimed for CeylOn tea-its absolute
purity and cleanliness, and the fact that
OF the indian teas. il combines the fra
GRANGE and delicacv of flavor Cf these Of
China-that the total shipments Of CeyIon
tea from Colombo and London TO America
In 1870 o. S.4G.2sS pounds have risen i'm nine
years, 10 the figures given above