Semi-weekly herald., 1910-05-09
NAPLES GETS MILLIONS
FOR MACARoNI EXPORTS
GBy William f. Curtis. }


NAPLES.-The largest article of
export from Naples, excepting human
beings, is macaroni, which is The prin-
cipal product of this city and is sent
from here to all parts of the earth,
wherever there is an Italian TO con.
sumo 1t. and other races are using
more and more of it. London is the
largest consumer of macaroni of any
city in the world. 1t buys more than
Naples, Rome or Genoa, and New York
is the second customer. The United
States imports about So.000,000 worth
of macaroni every year-fourfifths of
which is shipped from Naples. The
rest goes from Genoa, Trieste and Mar
seilles. The Argentine Republic is
also very large consumer. on account
of the Italian population of that coun-
try, which is second in numbers TO
The natives.
More than half the macaroni manu-
ed wheat and during the last few
years more than sl000.000 worth has
been imported annually from the Unit.
ed States. This Is the durum variety,
which was introduced into our country
by Secretary Wilson about ten years
ago from Egypt and other dry coun-
tries, because he thought 1t was es.
pecially adapted to the climate and
the soil OF the dry plains of Dakota,
western Nebraska western Kansas
and Wyoming. And those states are
now raising about 100000 bushels a
year, of which 100000 is shipped to
Italy to make macaroni. 1t is very
hard wheat, with a fllnty husk, which
gives macaroni its merit The rest of
the macaroni wheat comes from 81.
cily, Egypt, Algiers and the Black sea,
and 1t is also Of the same sort as the
durum.
Perhaps the strangest export from
Naples is beans, and most of them
are sent 10 Boston-an average of
more than s250,0O0 worth a year. They
are the ordinary white bean. such as
the aristocracy of the Hub bake in
crooks and set out on the lodges of
their windows to cool in the breezes
from the Back bay and eat for break
fast on Sunday morning There are
many kind of beans raised in Italy
but the ordinary white bean reaches
degree of suceulence here and has
other points OF superiority that cause
Il to be coveted at the center of Amer
lea intellectual culture.
Immense quantities OF tomatoes are
shipped TO the United States annually
from truck farms in the neighborhood
OF Naples, where the climate allows
them to ripen the year around, and
most of them are shipped in the win
ter Housewives In Chicago and Wash.
ington, who go to market and buy to-
matoes in the winter season, general
| ly assume that they come from the
West Indies, or perhaps, from Florida,
but Naples Is the chief source of sup
ply and nearly 100000 worth were ex-
ported to the United States last year.
The frequent lines of steamers pass
ing through the Straits OF Gibraltar
from Mediterranean ports to New
York have worked up large trade In
winter fruits and vegetables. Most
of the peaches, cherries. grapes and
other fruits that will stand twelve.
day voyage. that are offered in Amer
lean markets In January. February
and March, are shipped from Sicily
and Algiers.
The lemon business, however. is be-
ing very badly disturbed by the Cali.
fornia growers, who are now protected
by high duties 80 that they can com.
pete in prices with the fruit men Of