Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1911-08-03
SPLENDID PRODUCT OF ISLAND
SLOW TO FIND FAVOR IN
UNITED STATES.
BETTER APPRECIATED ABROAD
THAN IN HOME MARKETS
Product is Of Highest Type and Flavor
10 Rslishsd in Europe-Growers May
Change Type in ordsr to Cater to
American Taste - Proposed Tariff
Changes Would Bankrupt Brazil.
Especial Correspondence.

Washington. Aug. 3.-Out OF total
sale to the world of more than $1,000
900 worth Of coffees. Porto Rico sent
only about SOL 900 worth to the United
States in 1910 These figures might
seem 10 the uniformed TO indicate that
Americans have superior taste in
coffee and that the Porto Rican pro-
due, is inferior. This is not the case
according TO D. w May. Of the Porto
Rico agricultural station Mr.. May in
mis- report 10 the government accounts
for these surprising figures by explain
ing that naturally produc, goes TO Its
best market. and the sales in this in
stance indicate that Porto Rican coffee
is better appreciated in foreign than
in home markets. The cause is no: far
to seek he says Coffee. like other
bevera geS. is rated upon its flavor or
aroma. The preference Of a people in
this regard is largely matter Of 'rain-
ing or ha bit. The trade in an article
of uniform quality as sugar. VIII
change quickly with trade relations but
a variable product, like coffee. changes
lis lines of trade very slowly.
AS a matter OF fact. The Porto Rican
coffee is the highes, type of after
dinner black coffee. In most OF the
countries OF Europe and the former
colonies of Spain. like Cuba the pecul-
lar favor of Porto Rican coffee is rel
iShed In the United States highly
favored coffee, as certain classes OF
country Porto Rican coffee Is not prop
roasted black. in the States ii is
Drowned NJ. Hay remarks that the
method followed in Porto Rico is the
proper one for black afte--dinner
coffee: tina, ir the States is correct for
a highly Favored coffee where it is
desired 20 preserve the peculiar aroma
contained in the essential ioi.
Future Of the Trade.
TIE report discusses the future OF
the coffee trade and suggests that as
long as the present type OF coffee is
grown in Porto Rico IT mus. be mar
keted abroad: II the market in the
states promises better returns. then
the type of coffee tina. will meet the
demands there and command the high
est prices must be grown. Loca! ex-
perinlents indicate the possibility OF
growing Java and other cofees IN
Porto Rico and maintaining their pc
culiar flavor II will take more time.
however. TO determine how these cof-
fees viii be received in this country
Seeds OF introduced varieties Of coffee
have been distributed and number
Of planters are making practical COM
A
In the condition of many
plantations is reported and with the
higher prices now ruling proprietors
are siyirc better cultivation 20 their
trees in lU.h cleaning and pruning ana
in some distances in tertiiizat ton.
I, will be recalled that when the
Payne Aldrich bill was before congress
the Porto Rican planters sent repre-
senratives 20 Washington and made an
earnest effort TO secure a duty on COT
fee in an atte,np; 20 divert trade 10
the United States. They wanted cents
a pound and probably would have &C
copied cents The committee heard
the arguments. which met with some
favor. but ii was discovered that il
coffee should be made dutiable. Brazil
or some Of its richest provinces. prob
ably would be thrown into bankruptcy
and it was not deemed wise to enter
upon a departure that would bring
such unfortunate results. Efforts TO
intoduce Porto Rican coffee here have
net with comparatively little success.
Notwithstanding the important claim
put forward by the Porto Rican grow
ers that their coffee produces no such
nervous reaction as thai which Am
orleans are accustomed TO drink. The
price stands in the way also. In 1909
the average wholesale price Of coffee
imported into the United States was
only about seven and one-half cents a
pound and the Porto Ricans told the
ways and means committee that they
could not produce coffee at much less
than twelve and one-halt cents per
pound. It was said at that time Unit
ed States coffee drinkers had expert
mented almost solely with the cheap
and not the best grade OF the Porto
Rican ar.icle-the kind served to la
borers on the island, costing at whole
sale about cents pound. Verify, the
changing Of nations taste is a slow
process.