When once coffee growing is well established, 4 cwts. (448 pounds) per acre may be expected, and this return should last for fifteen years at least. It may vary considerably from year to year; thus, after a very heavy crop, say 6 cwts. (672 pounds) or even 7 cwts. (784 pounds) per acre, the return would be proportionately small; still, 4 cwts. per acre should be about the return in good land, and without fertilizers should last fifteen years. In this part of the island, we expect coffee to bear for twenty years after the first bearing, say twenty-five years from the time of planting.

COST OF CULTIVATION.

Speaking roughly, the cost of land, fencing, planting, cultivation, and all other charges should come to £15 ($73) per acre by the end of the fifth year-that is, the year when one may reasonably expect a crop; a small crop would be reaped possibly the third or fourth year, but it is not good for the trees. I think that a fair estimate of the cultivation, reaping, and curing of the crop per acre, including 10 per cent for supervision and 10 per cent for extras, is £5 ($24.33) for a return of 4 cwts. of clean coffee fit for sale.

The price of land varies very much, but, generally speaking, £1 ($4.8665) an acre has been considered fair value. Of course, there are lands to be had at much lower prices; the Government lands sell at about 5s. ($1.22) per acre. In short, there is no regular price, values being determined by the situation. It would be useless to undertake coffee planting unless there is plenty of labor, as much is needed for weeding, pruning, and reaping.

As to the price of land in coffee, I should imagine that about £20 ($97.33) an acre for old and £30 ($146) for young coffee would satisfy most people.

Rye crops could not be planted between the rows of coffee trees, though orange trees might be planted at this altitude (2,200 feet) in place of other shade trees. During the first three years, some sort of shade is necessary, and it is the custom to plant yams, cassava, cocoa, etc., but this should be done sparingly, as undergrowth is not good for the trees.

WEATHER.

The climate here has averaged 72° F. in the shade for years.

In the summer, it

rarely goes above 80° F. We have two rainy seasons-one in May and one in October.

It is always healthy in the coffee-growing districts, as the best altitude for that industry is between 2,000 and 4,000 feet. In this parish (Manchester), we are dependent for our water supply on rain caught in tanks.

PLAN FOR CONTROLLING COFFEE MARKET.

Minister Loomis writes from Caracas, June 3, 1899:

I inclose an article from the Venezuelan Herald, published in this city, which sets forth a plan for controlling the coffee output of the New World.

The project is interesting as an evidence of the hard straits in which coffee growers in this and some other countries find themselves, by reason of the extremely low price which their product commands.

Unless the price of coffee is advanced considerably within a year or two, a great many estates will have to be abandoned and the attention of the owners given to the cultivation of more profitable crops.

CONTROL OF THE COFFEE MARKET.

The late Señor M. J. Olavarria advanced a proposition for the formation of a league of all the coffee-producing countries, with the object of controlling the price of coffee. He estimated that the coffee producers of the Latin-American republics, under the conditions prevailing, are losing about $16,000,000 per year, of which about one-half falls upon the Brazilian producers. Calculating the total production of the world at 13,000,000 bags of 132 pounds each, and the consumption at 12,000,000 bags, Mr. Olavarria considered that the fall in price is due to overproduction. He appealed to the Government of Venezuela to take the initiative by inviting the governments of other American producing countries to a conference, with a view to the formation of a coffee combination. The duties of this conference will be the restriction of the output, the formation of a central committee to control the sales, the imposing of a general export duty of 5 francs ($1) per bag (the proceeds to be applied to buying up the surplus exports), and, generally, the adoption of measures to increase consumption and decrease import duties on coffee in other countries. The production for all markets is to be restricted to 10,500,000 bags per annum, of which Brazil shall be permitted to export 6,600,000 bags, and the remainder is to be divided among all other countries.

CANADIAN CANAL PROBLEM.

The Province of Ontario is becoming alarmed over the seeming decadence of the Welland Canal, and strong pleas are being made for harbor improvements at Port Colborne, its Lake Erie terminal. It is urged that the lack of harbor facilities at that port is largely responsible for the loss in traffic. The harbor is in the same condition that it was seventeen years ago, when the Welland Canal was opened. The lake vessels now require such a depth of water that none of the larger class attempt to enter Port Colborne.

The Welland Canal is 2634 miles in length, connecting Lake Erie and Lake Ontario by cutting through the narrow Niagara peninsula. There is a fall of 3264 feet in the 27 miles of canal, necessitating twenty-six locks. These locks are 270 feet in length by 45 feet in width. The canal has a depth of 14 feet, and when it was opened it was supposed that provision had been made for the largest lake craft. But the deep Sault Ste. Marie Canal has permitted the construction of such immense freight carriers that most of the vessels which could navigate the Welland Canal have been driven out of the carrying trade.

When the vessels became too large to enter the Welland Canal,

lightering was resorted to. The Grand Trunk Railway built a branch line parallel with the canal. Enough of the cargo was transferred to the railroad to enable the vessel to pass through the canal, and then the cargo was taken on again at the other terminal. This expedient has worked fairly well until recently; but in the meantime. the lake vessels have been growing in size each year, and with each increase came lower freight rates, driving the smaller vessels out of competition. Steamers with 200,000-bushel capacity now control the grain-carrying trade, and these can not enter Port Colborne Harbor. The vessels that can enter are growing less in number each season, and soon even the expedient of lightering vessels will not suffice to bring traffic to the canal.

While the Government admits the necessity of a better harbor, it seems unwilling to take immediate steps toward providing one. It is urged that this will prove of only temporary value unless the canal is enlarged as well; and if the canal is enlarged so as to admit the largest lake craft, there would still be heavy expenditures required on the St. Lawrence route, which does not even have a 14-foot channel for its entire length, although that depth is expected to be secured this season.

The Welland Canal, up to date, has cost the Government $24,173,352. Its best year in tonnage was 1893, when 1,294,823 tons of grain and merchandise passed through it east and west. Since then, the decline in grain shipments has been especially marked, although the grain traffic on the lakes increases every year. In 1893, the grain that passed down the Welland was about 16 per cent of the grain receipts at Buffalo; in 1898, it was about 9 per cent, or a loss of 43 per cent as compared with Buffalo. The grain that passed down the Welland last year was less than five years ago, while the grain receipts at Buffalo were nearly three times what they were ten years ago.

CLIFTON, May 31, 1899.

HARLAN W. BRUSH,

Consul.

NOTES FROM DAWSON CITY.

Consul McCook sends, under date of May 24, June 8, and June 20, reports in regard to conditions in Dawson City and vicinity. The city, he says, is being rapidly rebuilt after the recent fire. The following extracts are from his reports:

There is a great deal of activity in shipping at present; at one time, there were seventeen steamers at the various landings. The boats are providing improved accommodations for passengers, and I do not see why excursion parties are not organized to come and see No. 228- -5.

I

this land of gold, now that traveling is made so comfortable. should think a trip up the Yukon would be more interesting to Americans than a trip up the Rhine.

The bulk of passenger and freight traffic will hereafter come by the upper river route, several lines of steamers connecting this port with Lake Bennett. The rates from Dawson to Puget Sound are: First class, $185; second class, $160; but these will probably be reduced one-half as the season advances. The rates charged by the companies running boats to St. Michael's, there to connect with ocean steamers, are $150 first class and $100 steerage. No secondclass mail matter will be brought in or sent out for the present, as the rates are too high. No second-class mail matter was received all winter, and if anyone wishes to send papers or magazines to their friends, they should mail them as first-class matter.

Instead of $20,000,000, which was reported as the probable output for this district for the past twelve months, I am informed that $10,000,000 will fully cover the product. Reports from Alaska indicate that more gold will be found there than will ever come from this territory. Alaska is rich in placer mines, but requires development. Very little prospecting was done here last winter. The miners simply ate up their grub and waited for someone else to report discoveries of gold. If the indications are good, they go on a stampede, dig a hole or two, and if they can not find pay dirt at once, they say the creek is no good and return. This country requires indomitable pluck and energy. It is very difficult to take care of one's health, as the canned food and poor cooking are hard on the system. Typhoid fever has already broken out-six weeks earlier. than last year. The ground upon which the city is built is being drained, $13,000 having been spent on this work. There are several hundred destitute persons in Dawson, who want to get out of the country and have not the means.

All sorts and conlawyers, politiAt one gambling

The city is overcrowded at present, most of the work on the mines having ceased for the season, and the gambling fraternity and saloons are reaping rich harvests. At the junction of Eldorado and Bonanza creeks, 14 miles from here, quite a town has sprung up since last year, chiefly composed of gambling houses. ditions of men are found in this country-doctors, cians-working at anything they can find to do. table there sat recently four men, three of whom had been chiefs of police in cities in the United States, and the fourth a well-known Pinkerton detective. The authorities are now fining the gambling houses, however; and, in spite of all the drinking, etc., order prevails. Dawson is comparatively quiet and safe, and the laws are enforced.

MINING IN SZECHUAN.

The Department has received from Minister Conger, under cover of a dispatch dated Pekin, April 25, 1899, copy of the regulations. for the working of mines in the province of Szechuan, according to the contract between the Chinese Government and Mr. Pritchard Morgan. The contract, says Mr. Conger, has just received imperial The regulations (copy of which has also been forwarded by Consul Fowler, of Chefoo, under date of May 13, 1899), read:

sanction.

REGULATIONS FOR THE WORKING OF MINES IN SZECHUAN UNDER CHINESE AND FOREIGN DIRECTION BY THE HUA YI COMPANY, ESTABLISHED FOR THE PURPOSE BY THE SZECHUAN MINING BUREAU, AND THE HUI TUNG COMPANY ACTING IN COOPERATION.

(1) The Szechuan mining bureau establishes the Hua Yi Company, by whom an agreement is drawn up with the Hui Tung Company that the work is to be done by Chinese and foreigners conjointly to their mutual benefit. Profits are to be divided proportionately, so as to avoid trouble and disputes.

Both companies shall obey all the regulations mentioned in the agreement and the existing rules memorialized and adopted by the head office.

(2) The Hua Yi Company is to subscribe a sum of 1,000,000 taels* for the purchase of land. This must be Chinese and not foreign money.

This company is to buy and own all mining lands and carry out all negotiations. The Hui Tung Company have no interest in the prices of land, whether dear or cheap, nor with the amount of capital spent or reserved. When the Hua Yi Company has bought the land and obtained the right to open mines, the same is to be handed over to the Hui Tung Company for working. In the Hui Tung Company there are foreign merchants; they are not to be allowed to buy mining property from any other Chinese, so as to avoid all complications.

(3) The Hui Tung Company, with a Chinese managing director and a foreign assistant director, is to prepare a working capital of 10,000,000 taels, to be formed first of 50 per cent Chinese shares and next 50 per cent of foreign shares.

Shareholders of all nationalities are allowed to take shares out of the 50 per cent allotted to foreigners. There can be no monopoly for any one country. Now, Mr. Morgan, an English merchant, has taken shares and undertakes to assist in carrying out the work. Shareholders of all other nationalties who should hereafter take shares will be supplied with share certificates, paid dividends, and refunded capital according to the number of shares they take. Should any other country also start a company on the same lines with both Chinese and foreign shareholders, the mines of the one company will have to be kept distinct from those of the other. Different prefectures and districts will be granted to each company to work in, and their proceedings should be regularly reported to the head office; but the rules and regulations of this agreement must, however, be complied with by all to prevent any unfairness. Any company composed of foreign shareholders only and no Chinese shareholders shall not be allowed to work any mines.

(4) The Hui Tung Company is to send out mining engineers to find out what

* The value of the haikwan tael was estimated by the United States Director of the Mint, April 1, 1899, as 71.4 cents,