PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION.
Fifty years ago a supply of 150,000 tons of all kinds of coffee was
considered sufficient to meet the entire demand of Europe and America
combined. In 1848, however, these two continents alone consumed upwards
of 250,000 tons, which had increased in 1868 to 375,000 tons, and in
1888 to over 700,000 tons, or more than double that of fifty years
before.
TABLE I.
WORLD’S PRODUCTION (ESTIMATED).
Weight
Countries. in Tons.
Liberia and all other Countries on the West Coast of Africa, 19,500
Abyssinia and all other Countries on the East Coast of Africa, 20,000
Natal and Cape of Good Hope, 300
Arabia, Bourbon and Mauritius, 15,000
British India and Ceylon, 30,500
Java, Sumatra and Celebes, 60,000
Bali, Timour and other Islands in the Malayan Archipelago, 10,000
Philippine, Fiji and Samoa Islands, 11,000
Sandwich and all other Islands in the South Pacific Ocean, 1,200
Cuba and Porto Rico, 25,000
Hayti and San Domingo, 15,000
Jamaica and other Islands in the West Indies, 18,000
Mexico and Central America, 80,000
Venezuela and Colombia, 50,000
Equador and Bolivia, 15,000
Brazil and other Countries in South America, 500,000
-------
Grand total, 875,500
Or about 1,800,000,000 pounds per annum, the value of which averages
over $275,000,000 wholesale, according to its market price at time of
sale.
TABLE II.
WORLD’S CONSUMPTION (ESTIMATED).
Weight
Countries. in Tons.
Asia, 40,000
Africa, 25,000
Australia, 5,000
Continent of Europe, 430,000
Great Britain and Ireland, 15,000
United States and Canada, 275,000
Mexico and Central America, 20,000
West India Islands, 15,000
Brazil and South American Countries, 40,000
-------
Total, 865,000
Which shows that, in recent years, the world’s supply has not kept pace
with the growing demand throughout the civilized world.
TABLE III.
Showing the average annual consumption in the United States, imported
principally as follows:--
Country. Tons. Per Cent.
Brazil, 150,000 75.00
Venezuela, 20,000 5.00
Mexico, 10,000 4.00
Central America, 5,000 2.00
West India Islands, 10,000 4.00
India and Ceylon, 1,000 1.00
Arabia and Africa, 10,000 5.00
Java and Sumatra, 10,000 4.00
------- ------
Total, 216,000 100.00
[Illustration: BAGGING COFFEE FOR SHIPMENT.]
TABLE IV.
Showing where United States receives supplies of coffee from in general
and the various kinds consumed:--
Country. Pounds.
Africa, 25,000,000
Arabia, 10,000,000
England, 5,000,000
Holland, 5,000,000
Germany, 250,000
Belgium, 80,000
Portugal and Spain, 150,000
Brazil, 400,000,000
Canada, 500
Mexico, 10,000,000
Venezuela, 35,000,000
Colombia, 15,000,000
Equador and Bolivia, 1,000,000
West India Islands, 5,000,000
British and Dutch Guiana, 1,500,000
Malayan Archipelago, 25,000,000
British India and Ceylon, 5,000,000
Philippine and Pacific Islands, 10,000
Sandwich and other Islands, 75,000
Azores and Cape Verde Islands, 1,500
French Possessions in Africa, Madagascar and Bourbon, 1,500
----------
Total importation, 600,000,000
Total value, $80,000,000
Which, according to the Bureau of Statistics, is about 9 pounds _per
capita_, valued at $1.15 per head, for every man, woman and child in
the United States, while it has been ascertained that the consumption
of coffee has declined in England in the past ten years to less than
one pound _per capita_ of the population as against an increase in the
consumption of tea from 6 to 8 pounds.
TABLE V.
Showing _per capita_ consumption of the principal countries of the
world in round numbers:--
Countries. Consumption Per Capita
(Pounds). (Pounds).
Asia, 80,000,000 ----
Africa, 50,000,000 1
Australia, 10,000,000 2
Austria, 10,000,000 2¹⁄₂
Belgium, 50,000,000 10
Denmark, 25,000,000 6
France, 100,000,000 2¹⁄₂
Germany, 180,000,000 5
Greece, 2,000,000 0¹⁄₂
Holland, 70,000,000 14
Italy, 30,000,000 1
Switzerland, 20,000,000 5
Russia and Siberia, 15,000,000 ----
Sweden and Norway, 35,000,000 10
Great Britain and Ireland, 35,000,000 1
United States and Canada, 600,000,000 6
Mexico and Central America, 35,000,000 3
West India Islands, 30,000,000 5
South American States, 100,000,000 3
What tea is to the United Kingdom coffee is to the United States, the
consumption of the latter in this country increasing from 80,000,000
pounds in 1861 to 116,000,000 in 1871, and to over 400,000,000 pounds
in 1881, the consumption of coffee, at the present time in this
country, falling just short of the enormous figures of 600,000,000
pounds.
The use of coffee has been extending at an enormous rate for the past
150 years, until at the present day it is found in every civilized
country and almost every uncivilized country on the habitable globe. It
has become one of the corner-stones of civilization. As has been well
said by one writer, it smoothes the troubled soul, heals all family
feuds, fits one for the annoyances of business, and organizes a truce
between the man who drinks it and all the troubles and cares of life.
The United States is without doubt a nation of coffee-drinkers, the
average annual consumption reaching upwards of 600,000,000 pounds, or
nearly ten pounds _per capita_ of the entire population.
Up to 1860 there was a wide disparity between the production and
consumption of coffee throughout the civilized world, the former
remaining stationary while the latter continued to increase rapidly
until the civil war, which caused a reduction in this country of
nearly 200,000 tons per annum, thus re-establishing the relative
difference between the laws of supply and demand. With the close of the
rebellion, the United States, however, and a reduction of the duty,
the consumption again steadily increased, exceeding in a short time
the increase in the production, causing a steady advance in prices
from 1869 to 1880, the extreme advance in prices in the latter year
naturally stimulated and increased production until stocks accumulated
largely and prices again declined accordingly. During the period
from 1880-87, planters and dealers suffered greatly, many disastrous
failures among both classes following as a consequence. The consumption
meanwhile continued to increase steadily, as did also the production,
owing to the yield of new plantations previously opened under the
stimulus of the high prices prevailing in 1880, fair relations between
the production and consumption being to the present maintained.
The history of tariff legislation on coffee in the United States may
be summed up in the following sequence: The first duty on coffee was
levied in 1789, which was 2¹⁄₂ cents per pound. In 1790 this was
increased to 4 cents, and again to 5 cents in 1794, being retained at
the latter figure until 1812, when it was increased to 10 cents, owing
to the increased expenditures of the government, due to the war with
England. At the close of this war, in 1814, the duty was reduced to 5
cents per pound, remaining at the latter figure until 1828, when it was
still further reduced to 2 cents; in 1830, to 1 cent, being removed
altogether in 1832, and placed for the first time on the free list. No
tax was again placed on coffee until the beginning of the civil war
in 1861, when a duty of 4 cents per pound was levied on it, which was
shortly after increased to 5 cents, at which figure it remained until
1871, when it was reduced to 3 cents, the duty being entirely removed
from coffee in 1872, since which year it has remained uninterruptedly
on the free list.
During the years from 1832 to 1861, when coffee was entered free of
duty, it ruled lower in price and increased more in consumption than
it had at any previous period, the _per capita_ consumption increasing
from three pounds in 1830, to nearly six pounds in 1860, the quantity
imported into the United States in the latter year reaching nearly
236,000,000 pounds, being valued at $21,500,000, the three following
years showing an average annual importation of about 220,600,000
pounds, valued at $21,000,000. In 1855 fair Rio averaged 11 cents per
pound; Maracaibo, 12 cents, and Java, 14¹⁄₂ cents; these being the
three principal then in demand in the American market, while in 1860
the range was considerably higher and the consumption correspondingly
less, Rios averaging 13³⁄₄ cents; Maracaibos, 14¹⁄₂ cents; and Javas,
16¹⁄₂ cents. These prices continuing to advance until 1863-4, when the
prices of coffee ruled exceptionally high, owing to the war duty of
5 cents per pound; the figures averaging in 1863 31 cents for Rio, 32
cents for Maracaibo, and 37 cents for Java, increasing in 1864 to 42¹⁄₂
cents for Rio, 43 cents for Maracaibo, and 49 cents for Java. From 1864
to 1880, however, there was a steady decline in the prices of coffee,
there being at the same time a correspondingly steady increase in its
consumption. The prices ruling for the three leading kinds of coffee in
the American market, from 1880 to 1890, is as follows, per pound:--
Rio. Maracaibo. Java.
Year. Cents. Cents. Cents.
1880 16 16¹⁄₂ 23¹⁄₂
1881 12¹⁄₂ 13 18
1882 9³⁄₄ 10¹⁄₂ 16
1883 10¹⁄₂ 11 17¹⁄₂
1884 11 11¹⁄₄ 16¹⁄₂
1885 9 10¹⁄₄ 15¹⁄₂
1886 10³⁄₄ 10¹⁄₂ 16³⁄₄
1887 8¹⁄₂ 10 16
1888 16¹⁄₂ 16¹⁄₂ 20
1889 19 20 22
1890 18 20 22
In many of the years from 1870 to 1880, Java, which is regarded as
the standard coffee, sold less than Maracaibo; the latter frequently
selling for less than Rio, which is considered the lowest in the
scale during the same period. In 1875, however, the imports again
increased to 300,000,000 pounds, valued at $51,000,000. Taking the
population in 1856 at 27,000,000 and in 1875 at 42,000,000, it will
be noticed that the increase in quantity of imports was only 34 per
cent., 21 per cent. less than the increase of population for the
same period, while the increase in value was 146 per cent. meantime.
Figures which serve conclusively to prove that while low prices tend
to increase consumption, high prices only serve to retard it. About
1883 new factors in the buying and selling of coffee appeared, coffee
exchanges been opened in Havre, Hamburg and New York, which created
large transactions in “options,” some of them becoming enormous in
their magnitude, and against which considerable quantities of coffee
must be held, the operations for future deliveries reaching as high as
22,000,000 bags in 1887. This enormous increase in the transactions of
that year was due entirely to a short crop report and to the active
speculation based thereon. The continued increase in consumption and
the increased demand for stocks held against the trading in options not
being met by a corresponding increase in the production of the article,
added to the serious injury to the crops in Java by leaf disease and in
Brazil by blight, having still further disturbed the relations between
the established laws of supply and demand.
APPENDIX.
APPENDIX.
TABLE I.
Showing tares, style of package and average weight of the principal
coffees imported into the United States.
Style Average
of Weight
Kind. Package. Pounds. Tare.
Mocha, Bales, 160 Actual.
Javas, Mats, 66 1 per cent.
India, Bags, 140 2 per cent.
Ceylon, Bags, 140 2 per cent.
Ceylon, Casks, 1,000 Actual.
Jamaica, Bags, 200 2 per cent.
Jamaica, Barrels, 200 Actual.
San Domingo, Bags, 150 2 per cent.
Hayti, Bags, 150 2 per cent.
Mexican, Bales, 150 2 per cent.
Guatemala, Bags, 140 1 per cent.
Nicaragua, Bags, 140 1 per cent.
Honduras, Bags, 140 1 per cent.
Costa Rica, Bags, 140 1 per cent.
Caracas, Bags, 130 2 per cent.
Maracaibo, Bags, 130 1 per cent.
Laguayra, Bags, 130 1 per cent.
Angostura, Bags, 130 Actual.
Colombo, Bags, 230 1 per cent.
Equador, Bags, 130 1 per cent.
Bolivian, Bags, 130 1 per cent.
Brazilian, Bags, 130 1 per cent.
All other coffees in bags one per cent. and all others in bales and
barrels actual tare.
TABLE II.
Showing relative difference between cost of raw and roasted coffees,
including cost of roasting (¹⁄₂ cent per pound), and loss by shrinkage
(15 per cent).
Raw. Roasted.
10 12 35
10¹⁄₄ 12 65
10¹⁄₂ 12 94
10³⁄₄ 13 24
11 13 53
11¹⁄₄ 13 82
11¹⁄₂ 14 12
11³⁄₄ 14 41
12 14 71
12¹⁄₄ 15 00
12¹⁄₂ 15 29
12³⁄₄ 15 59
13 15 88
13¹⁄₄ 16 18
13¹⁄₂ 16 48
13³⁄₄ 16 67
14 17 06
14¹⁄₄ 17 35
14¹⁄₂ 17 67
14³⁄₄ 17 94
15 18 24
15¹⁄₄ 18 53
15¹⁄₂ 18 82
15³⁄₄ 19 13
16 19 41
16¹⁄₄ 19 71
16¹⁄₂ 20 00
16³⁄₄ 20 30
17 20 59
17¹⁄₄ 20 89
17³⁄₄ 21 47
18 21 76
18¹⁄₄ 22 06
18¹⁄₂ 22 35
18³⁄₄ 22 64
19 22 93
19¹⁄₄ 23 22
19¹⁄₂ 23 52
19³⁄₄ 23 82
20 24 41
20¹⁄₄ 24 41
20¹⁄₂ 24 71
20³⁄₄ 25 00
21 25 30
21¹⁄₄ 25 59
21¹⁄₂ 25 88
21³⁄₄ 26 19
22 26 47
22¹⁄₄ 26 76
22¹⁄₂ 27 06
22³⁄₄ 27 35
23 27 64
23¹⁄₄ 27 94
23¹⁄₂ 28 24
23³⁄₄ 28 53
24 28 82
24¹⁄₄ 29 12
24¹⁄₂ 29 42
24³⁄₄ 29 71
25 30 00
For each one-eighth of a cent Raw add one-fifteenth Roasted.
TABLE III.
Showing comparative loss in roasting coffee between Winter and Summer
months of the principal coffees:--
Months. Rio. Java. Mocha. Maracaibo.
Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
January, 14 16 15 16
February, 14 16 15 16
March, 14 16 15 16
June, 13 15 14 15
July, 13 15 14 15
August, 13 15 14 15
From which it may be noted that Rio and Mocha lose on an average one
per cent. less than Java and Maracaibo in both seasons, which is
accounted for by the greater hardness and solidity of the bean of the
former over the latter, which are lighter and softer in texture, the
average loss being 15 per cent. on all coffees.
TABLE IV.
Showing comparative weights of Raw and Roasted coffees, after
sustaining a loss of from 12 to 16 per cent.:--
Weight raw. Weight roasted.
Net. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
12 13 14 15 16
----------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
50 lbs. 44 43¹⁄₂ 43 42¹⁄₂ 42
55 „ 48¹⁄₂ 48 47¹⁄₄ 46³⁄₄ 46
60 „ 52¹⁄₄ 52 51¹⁄₂ 51 50¹⁄₂
65 „ 57 56¹⁄₂ 56 55¹⁄₄ 54¹⁄₂
70 „ 61¹⁄₂ 61 60 59¹⁄₂ 58³⁄₄
75 „ 66 65¹⁄₄ 64¹⁄₂ 63³⁄₄ 63
80 „ 70¹⁄₂ 69¹⁄₂ 68¹⁄₄ 68 67
85 „ 74³⁄₄ 74 73 72¹⁄₄ 71¹⁄₂
90 „ 79 78³⁄₄ 77¹⁄₂ 76¹⁄₂ 75¹⁄₂
95 „ 83¹⁄₂ 82¹⁄₂ 81¹⁄₂ 80³⁄₄ 79³⁄₄
100 „ 89 87 86 85 84
105 „ 92¹⁄₂ 91¹⁄₂ 90¹⁄₂ 89¹⁄₄ 88
110 „ 96³⁄₄ 95¹⁄₂ 94¹⁄₂ 93¹⁄₂ 91¹⁄₄
115 „ 102 100 99 98 96¹⁄₂
120 „ 105¹⁄₂ 104¹⁄₂ 103 102 101
125 „ 110 108³⁄₄ 107¹⁄₂ 106¹⁄₄ 105
130 „ 114¹⁄₂ 113 112 111 110¹⁄₄
135 „ 118³⁄₄ 117¹⁄₂ 116 114³⁄₄ 113¹⁄₂
140 „ 124 121³⁄₄ 120¹⁄₂ 119 117¹⁄₂
145 „ 127¹⁄₂ 126 124¹⁄₂ 123¹⁄₄ 121³⁄₄
150 „ 131¹⁄₄ 129³⁄₄ 128¹⁄₄ 126³⁄₄ 125¹⁄₄
TABLE V.
Showing cost of Roasted coffee after sustaining a loss of:--
Cost Raw. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
12 13 14 15 16
-------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
10 11³⁄₈ 11¹⁄₂ 11⁵⁄₈ 11³⁄₄ 11⁷⁄₈
10¹⁄₂ 12 12¹⁄₈ 12¹⁄₄ 12³⁄₈ 12¹⁄₂
11 12¹⁄₂ 12⁵⁄₈ 12³⁄₄ 12⁷⁄₈ 13
11¹⁄₂ 13 13¹⁄₄ 13³⁄₈ 13⁵⁄₈ 13³⁄₄
12 13⁵⁄₈ 13³⁄₄ 14 14¹⁄₈ 14¹⁄₄
12¹⁄₂ 14¹⁄₄ 14³⁄₈ 14¹⁄₂ 14³⁄₄ 14⁷⁄₈
13 14³⁄₄ 15 15¹⁄₈ 15³⁄₈ 15¹⁄₂
13¹⁄₂ 15³⁄₈ 15¹⁄₂ 15⁵⁄₈ 15³⁄₄ 15⁷⁄₈
14 15⁷⁄₈ 16¹⁄₈ 16¹⁄₄ 16¹⁄₂ 16⁵⁄₈
14¹⁄₂ 16¹⁄₂ 16⁵⁄₈ 16⁷⁄₈ 17 17¹⁄₄
15 17 17¹⁄₈ 17³⁄₈ 17⁵⁄₈ 17⁷⁄₈
15¹⁄₂ 17⁵⁄₈ 17⁷⁄₈ 18 18¹⁄₄ 18¹⁄₂
16 18⁷⁄₈ 18³⁄₈ 18⁵⁄₈ 18⁷⁄₈ 19
16¹⁄₂ 18³⁄₄ 19 19¹⁄₈ 19³⁄₈ 19⁵⁄₈
17 19¹⁄₄ 19¹⁄₂ 19³⁄₄ 20 20¹⁄₄
17¹⁄₂ 19⁷⁄₈ 20¹⁄₂ 20³⁄₈ 20⁵⁄₈ 20⁷⁄₈
18 20³⁄₈ 20⁵⁄₈ 20⁷⁄₈ 21¹⁄₈ 21³⁄₈
18¹⁄₂ 21 21¹⁄₄ 21¹⁄₂ 21³⁄₄ 22
19 21⁵⁄₈ 21⁷⁄₈ 22¹⁄₈ 22³⁄₈ 22⁵⁄₈
19¹⁄₂ 22¹⁄₈ 22³⁄₈ 22⁵⁄₈ 23 23¹⁄₄
20 22³⁄₄ 23 23¹⁄₄ 23¹⁄₂ 23³⁄₄
20¹⁄₂ 23¹⁄₄ 23¹⁄₂ 23⁷⁄₈ 24¹⁄₈ 24³⁄₈
21 23³⁄₄ 24 24³⁄₈ 24³⁄₄ 25
21¹⁄₂ 24¹⁄₂ 24³⁄₄ 25 25¹⁄₄ 25⁵⁄₈
22 25 25¹⁄₄ 25⁵⁄₈ 25⁷⁄₈ 26¹⁄₈
22¹⁄₂ 25¹⁄₂ 25⁷⁄₈ 26¹⁄₈ 26¹⁄₂ 26³⁄₄
23 26¹⁄₈ 26³⁄₈ 26³⁄₄ 27 27³⁄₈
23¹⁄₂ 26³⁄₄ 27 27³⁄₈ 27⁵⁄₈ 28
24 27¹⁄₄ 27⁵⁄₈ 27⁷⁄₈ 28¹⁄₂ 28⁷⁄₈
24¹⁄₂ 27⁷⁄₈ 28¹⁄₈ 28¹⁄₂ 28³⁄₄ 29¹⁄₈
25 28³⁄₈ 28³⁄₄ 29¹⁄₈ 29³⁄₈ 29³⁄₄
To which must be added cost of roasting, ¹⁄₂ cent per pound.
TABLE VI.
Showing New York Coffee Exchange point card, and giving decimal value
of 5 points to one cent per pound on 250 bags coffee (32,500 pounds),
which is the smallest transaction:--
Points. Difference.
05, $16 25
10, 32 50
15, 48 75
20, 65 00
25, 81 25
30, 97 50
35, 113 75
40, 130 00
45, 146 25
50, 162 50
55, 178 75
60, 195 00
65, 211 25
70, 227 50
75, 243 75
80, 260 00
85, 276 25
90, 292 50
95, 308 75
100 (one cent), 325 00
105, 341 25
110, 357 50
115, 373 75
120, 390 10
125, 406 25
130, 432 50
135, 438 75
140, 455 50
145, 471 25
150, 487 50
155, 503 75
160, 520 00
165, 536 25
170, 552 50
175, 568 75
180, 585 00
185, 601 25
190, 617 50
195, 635 75
200 (two cents), 650 50
No. 7 (low ordinary) is adopted as the “standard grade,” and is taken
as a basis for all operations, but a grade comparing with any of
the ten numbers may be substituted at their approximate values when
delivered is insisted on and No. 7 cannot be had. The brokerage for
buying and selling is 4 cents per bag, and the original margin $1.00
per bag, the smallest transaction allowed being 250 bags and the market
fluctuation ⁵⁄₁₀₀ cents per pound.
TABLE VII.
Showing method for converting Rio and Santos quotations into United
States currency, including freight charges at 40 cents and 5 per cent.
per bag marine insurance. One month’s charges in New York, at 2 per
cent. discount, $4.80, equaling the pound sterling at 60 days sight.
Market Price Rio Rates of Exchange on London
in Rio per (equivalent in cents per pound).
10 Kilos. 21_d_ 21¹⁄₂_d_ 22_d_
.000 12¹¹⁄₁₀₀ 12³⁹⁄₁₀₀ 12⁶⁷⁄₁₀₀
.200 12⁵⁶⁄₁₀₀ 12⁸⁵⁄₁₀₀ 12¹⁴⁄₁₀₀
.400 13⁰¹⁄₁₀₀ 13³¹⁄₁₀₀ 13⁶¹⁄₁₀₀
.600 13⁴⁷⁄₁₀₀ 13⁷⁷⁄₁₀₀ 14⁸⁹⁄₁₀₀
.800 13⁹²⁄₁₀₀ 14⁴⁰⁄₁₀₀ 14⁵⁶⁄₁₀₀
.000 14³⁷⁄₁₀₀ 14⁷⁰⁄₁₀₀ 15⁰³⁄₁₀₀
.200 14⁸²⁄₁₀₀ 15¹⁶⁄₁₀₀ 15⁵¹⁄₁₀₀
.400 15²⁷⁄₁₀₀ 16⁶²⁄₁₀₀ 15⁹⁸⁄₁₀₀
.600 15⁷²⁄₁₀₀ 16⁰⁹⁄₁₀₀ 16⁴⁵⁄₁₀₀
.800 16¹⁸⁄₁₀₀ 16⁵⁵⁄₁₀₀ 16⁹²⁄₁₀₀
.000 16⁶³⁄₁₀₀ 17⁰¹⁄₁₀₀ 17⁴⁰⁄₁₀₀
Fractional equivalents to be added if necessary, each ¹⁄₄ _d._ in
exchange being equivalent to about 1 per cent. Bases for freight
differences to be added or deducted at rate of 5 cents and 5 per cent.
per bag--.04 cents per pound, to which must be also added commission
for buying in Rio or Santos, but if the coffee should be wanted for
sale on the Exchange no addition need be made.
TABLE VIII.
For converting London quotations into U. S. currency, including cost,
insurance, freight, one month’s charges in New York and 2 per cent.
discount.
Market Price in London London Rates of Exchange at 60 days,
per 112 pounds. equivalent in cents per pound.
Shillings. $4 80 $4 85 $4 90
50 $11 43 $11 54 $11 65
51 11 63 11 78 11 89
52 11 89 12 00 12 12
53 12 11 12 23 12 35
54 12 34 12 46 12 58
55 12 53 12 69 12 81
56 12 73 12 91 13 04
57 13 02 13 14 13 27
58 13 23 13 38 13 51
59 13 48 13 60 13 75
The best and most rapid method of reducing the cost of coffee in Brazil
to United States currency is, however, to multiply the price by the
rate of exchange ruling at the time of purchase. The result will be in
English pence, which is converted into American gold in the regular
way at the existing rate of London exchange. Another method by which
a result accurate enough for all practical purposes may be obtained
is to multiply the price by the rate of exchange, and then deducting
one-fourth of the amount so obtained, first getting the free-on-board
charges in Rio or Santos, to which must be added the cost of freight
and other charges.
TABLE IX.
Showing the average value for each year from 1846 to 1878, inclusive,
for fair to prime Rio coffee, cargo price in gold, “in bond,” in New
York:--
Year. Value.
1846 7.44
1847 7.34
1848 6.63
1849 7.37
1850 10.91
1851 9.44
1852 8.85
1853 9.76
1854 10.48
1855 10.47
1856 11.04
1857 11.15
1858 11.08
1859 11.66
1860 13.74
1861 12.31
1862 15.22
1863 16.39
1864 16.22
1865 15.95
1866 13.86
1867 12.23
1868 10.5
1869 11.00
1870 11.33
1871 12.91
16 48
1872 -- --
17 27
1873 19.99
1874 21.08
1875 18.87
1876 18.21
1877 18.45
1878 15.58
1879 14.87
1880 15.12
1881 12.23
1882 9.77
1883 10.36
1884 10.92
1885 9.01
1886 10.33
Coffee was admitted free up to the first of August, 1861, when an
import duty of four cents a pound was levied. In January, 1862, the
duty was raised to five cents a pound; and this continued to 1870, when
the duty was reduced to three cents a pound. On the first of July,
1872, the impost was removed, and coffee was admitted to duty free
once more. In the above table, it will be observed that the highest
point was in 1874, after the impost had been removed, when it was 21
cents. This was about the same as in 1863 and ’64, with the duty of 5
cents added; but this, it will be remembered, is an average for the
years alluded to for fair to prime, but during the year there was often
fluctuations, and prime, as circumstances demanded, brought a very high
price, as in some instances it touched at or near 25 cents, when of
course all other coffees were proportionally large.
TABLE X.
Showing fluctuations in the coffee market from 1850 to 1867, inclusive.
Year. Pounds.
1850 131,640,000
1851 177,760,000
1852 291,344,000
1853 172,898,000
1854 175,780,000
1855 206,250,000
1856 214,104,000
1857 168,916,000
1858 246,510,000
1859 219,010,000
1860 173,844,000
1861 194,656,000
1862 87,406,000
1863 78,562,000
1864 107,052,900
1865 125,708,000
1866 157,146,000
1867 199,760,000
1868 219,212,400
1869 238,653,800
1870 275,895,400
1871 310,956,800
1872 266,866,600
1873 264,666,600
1874 272,608,600
1875 301,727,800
1876 295,039,800
1877 297,523,600
1878 213,830,000
1879 396,391,600
1880 390,188,500
1881 411,633,200
1882 467,504,400
1883 449,002,400
1884 490,468,000
1885 530,127,400
It will be seen that the consumption increased to 1858, and gradually
declined to 1863, when it touched the lowest point. Since that time it
has increased nearly seven-fold, but while the quantity imported or
consumed has increased beyond our power to fully realize the amount in
figures, it is curious to consider the varied values of coffee under
the many peculiarities of circumstances for the past thirty-six years.
TABLE XI.
SHOWING HOW COFFEE IS IMPORTED.
_Pro Forma Invoice of 1,000 Bags of Coffee, of 60 Kilos. each, Shipped
from Rio de Janeiro or Santos to the United States._
1,000 bags coffee of 60 kilos. each
=net 10 kilos. 60,000, @ 6$350 per
10 kilos., [1]Rs. 38:100$000
1,000 empty bags @ 700 reis, 700$000
-------------- Rs. 38:800$000
Export duty on kilos. 60,000 @ 502
rs. per kilo. = Rs. 30,120$000 @ 13
per cent., Reis 3:915$600
Harbor-master (Capatazias) fees, 60
rs. per bag, 60$000
Brokerage, 50 rs. per bag, 50$000
Shipping expenses (at 220 rs. = Rs.
220,000), sample, tins and box (Rs.
25$000), freight on same (Rs. 2$000),
consul’s certificate (included in
sample, tins, etc.), cablegram (Rs.
100$000), stamps, petties, etc.
(included in sample, tins and box), 347$000
-------------- 4:372$600
--------------
43:172$600
Commission for buying, 2 per cent., 863$450
--------------
44:036$050
Bill brokerage and stamps, ³⁄₈ of 1 per cent., 165$760
--------------
Reis 44:201$810
[1] 1,000 réis = 1 mil-réis = 54¹⁄₂ cents, U. S.
TABLE XII.
SHOWING CONVERSION OF BRAZILIAN INTO AMERICAN CURRENCY.
Amount of pro forma invoice, Reis 44:201$810
At 21¹⁄₂d. exchange at Rio, £3,959 15
$4.84¹⁄₂--¹⁄₈ per £ sterling, $19,161 00
Charges accruing in the United States:--
Freight per steamer to New York,
40c. per bag and 5 per cent.
primage, $420 00
Marine insurance, 1 per cent. less
30 per cent.--⁷⁄₁₀ net, on $21,672
or invoice and £ value @ $5.50, 151 70
Banker’s commission for credit =
³⁄₄ of 1 per cent. on $19,161, 143 72
Bill stamps in London (nil).
Labor at vessel, 4c. per bag;
storage, one month, @ 4c.;
weighing, 3¹⁄₄c.; fire insurance,
1¹⁄₄c. per bag; delivery
(lighterage), 4c. per bag = 16¹⁄₂c.
per bag, 165 00
Petty charges, _i. e._, sampling,
sewing, custom fees, etc., on bags,
per bag, 3¹⁄₂c.; approximate for
skimming of quality,----bags
@ ; furnishing new bags, 35 00
Cables at New York, 5 00
--------- 920 42
----------
Cost of 1,000 in store, $20,081 42
Transcriber’s Notes
Unusual, inconsistent, erroneous and archaic spelling, hyphenation,
punctuation, grammar, typography, etc. have been retained, except as
mentioned under Changes below. Many non-English words and phrases
and geographical, proper and scientific names in particular contain
typographical or other errors.
Page 74, alumnia (2x): possibly an error for aluminia.
Page 132, ...crops of which the first or “roor-pluk,” which is
small...: probably an error for “voor-pluk,” (pre-picking).
Page 292, table: the entry for 17¹⁄₂ is not present in the source
document.
Page 296, table VII: presumably the bottom 6 rows in column 1 should
read 1.000, 1.200, ..., 2.000.
Page 297, Table IX: the values for 1872 may represent the two
values 16.48 and 17.27 (before and after the removal of the impost
respectively).
Page 298, Showing fluctuations in the coffee market from 1850 to
1867, inclusive: the data given continue through 1885.
Page 300, table entry Petty charges ... bags @ ; furnishing new
bags: the price per bag is missing in the source document.
Changes made:
Illustrations were moved out of text paragraphs.
Minor obvious punctuation and typographical errors have been
corrected silently.
Page 31: ...climatic conditions favorable to its production has
been found... changed to ...climatic conditions favorable to its
production have been found....
Page 46: ...the latter being claimed to be analagous... changed to
...the latter being claimed to be analogous....
Page 86: ...when about two weeks’ old... changed to ...when about two
weeks old....
Page 95: An easy meany of applying artificial heat... changed to An
easy means of applying artificial heat....
Page 135: ...at least equal to the renumeration changed to ...at
least equal to the remuneration.
Page 139: Stored coffees, for this reason, loses weight... changed to
Stored coffees, for this reason, lose weight....
Page 142: ...the bean graduing changes to a deep-yellow... changed to
...the bean gradually changes to a deep-yellow....
Page 143: ...by becoming throughly dry and seasoned... changed to
...by becoming thoroughly dry and seasoned....
Page 177: ...Rios improve with age, and with time loses their harsh
flavor... changed to ...Rios improve with age, and with time lose
their harsh flavor....
Page 210: ...coffee leaves contain the principle coffeine... changed
to ...coffee leaves contain the principle caffeine....
Page 213: ...innumerable other substances has been tried... changed
to ...innumerable other substances have been tried....
Page 217: ...patent or proprietory ground coffees... changed to
...patent or proprietary ground coffees....
Page 232: A decoction known as Kishre... changed to A decoction known
as Kishr... as elsewhere.
Page 271: ...it should be used chiefly as an accessary to food...
changed to ...it should be used chiefly as an accessory to food....
Page 295, table: repeated entry 150, 487 50 deleted.
Page 296, table VIII, bottom row: 1360 changed to 13 60.