286 PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION. 



which was 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 181 2, when it was 

 increased to 10 cents, owing to the increased expendi- 

 tures of the government, due to the war with England^ 

 At the close of this war, in 18 14, 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 I 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/^r capita consumption increasing from three pounds 

 in 1830, to nearly six pounds in i860, the quantity 

 imported into the United States in the latter year 

 reaching nearly 236,000,000 pounds, being valued at 

 ;^2 1,500,000, 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, 14^^ 

 cents ; these being the three principal then in demand 

 in the American market, while in i860 the range was 

 considerably higher and the consumption correspond- 

 ingly less, Rios averaging 13^ cents ; Maracaibos, 14^^ 

 cents ; and Javas, 16^ cents. These prices continuing 

 to advance until 1863-4, when the prices of coffee ruled 



