COFFEE-CONSUMPTION OF THE 'WOELD. 209 



per capita consumption, bears out the rule that the extent to which 

 an article of diet, like coffee, is used depends largely upon its 

 cheapness. It may also be safe to assume that the shrinking and 

 retrenchment process that occurred in our community between 

 the years 1873 and 1879 tended to diminish consumption. Our 

 laboring population was forced to economize and renounce some 

 of its comforts, and, had it not been for the long period of depres- 

 sion that made itself felt with severity from 1876 to 1879, the 

 growth in consumption would probably have been very much 

 larger than is shown by the record. 



During the first four months of 1881, coffee declined two to 

 six cents per pound, and the consumption for that period shows a 

 gain over the same time in 1880 of 11,284 tons, this fact bearing 

 out the above statement. 



A period of high prices, it is evident, carries within itself a 

 double infl.uence (increased production and decreased consump- 

 tion) which must limit its extent ; and this must hold, true so long 

 as the productive capacity of the globe, with regard to coffee, is 

 not reached. 



On the whole, to one glancing collectively over the compli- 

 cated pros and cons of the question, the outlook (whatever may 

 have been the statistical position in the recent past) seems to point 

 to no inadequacy of the general production, while, at the same 

 time, altered circumstances may prevent in our main country of 

 supply a return to rates existing under a different system of labor 

 and a different distribution of wealth. 



It will be interesting to follow, in the next few years, the 

 phases of a problem which affects almost every breakfast-table in 

 the land. A glance at the consuming power of Europe will en- 

 able us to better understand, the relation of the world's supply of 

 coffee to its demand. 



The total distribution of coffee in Europe, taking the figures 

 for the past three years, will average 383,521 tons annually. 



In detail the position of coffee in the leading depots of Europe 

 on December 31st, for the last three years, was reported by 

 Messrs James Cook & Co., of London, as follows : 

 14 



