XI.

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.

Joaquin Bernardo Calvo, in his work on Costa Rica published in 1890, observes that “at the beginning of the Colonial Government the Port of Suerre, on the Atlantic coast, had some commercial importance, but that the Port of Rivera on the west coast of the Gulf of Nicoya was greater, as were also Coronado del Norte on the Island of Caño and the Golfo de Ossa, now Golfo Dulce.

“All the ships then plying on the Pacific between Mexico, Panama, Perú and intermediate ports were wont to ride at anchor at the Island of Caño. The most important centre of commerce in those times was the City of Santiago de Talamanca, now extinct, whence cargoes were sent in three days’ time to Porto Bello. The exports of that age were cacao, potatoes, honey, wax, sarsaparilla and hemp. When the city was destroyed its traffic was dispersed.

“In 1638 the opening of the Matina road was the beginning of a new era. The cacao haciendas in the valley of that name acquired a new importance. At the same time the Gulf of Nicoya became a centre of traffic. Costa Rica was then in a flourishing condition and would have prospered finely but for the pirates and Mosquito Indians, who constantly menaced its welfare and whose vandalism ravaged the coast settlements.

“After that period Costa Rica was reduced to woeful misery, carrying on an insignificant commerce overland with Panama by mules and sending a few unimportant articles to Nicaragua. Thus more than a century passed.

“In the present century (1813) the Captaincy General imposed severe restrictions on the commerce of the Province. At the time of declaring independence the situation of Costa Rica was wretched.

“Just beginning an independent career, struggling to inaugurate a system of government wholly new and opposed to the preceding one, contending with poverty, in a state of complete upheaval, the work undertaken by the forefathers of the present Costa Ricans was full of difficulties.

“Coffee culture gave a new impulse and importance to Costa Rica. At the close of the first half of the Nineteenth Century commerce was carried on with the north through Matina and Sarapiqui, and through Caldera on the Pacific.

“The greater facilities available on the Pacific coast, however, especially when a line of steamers connecting with the Panama Railroad opened a new way to the Atlantic, turned the course of business to Puntarenas, a new port which soon became the sole commercial route.

“This state of things, unnecessarily adding to the expense of importations, continued for years. When the Port of Limon was opened to commerce the competition of two routes and the new facilities of a railroad and a wagon road to the Atlantic greatly promoted traffic and contributed to the general wealth.”

In 1848 seventy vessels entered Puntarenas, having a registration of 7180 tons. In 1884 this number had increased to 113, having 137,368 tons registration, and in the same year there entered Port Limon 121 vessels of 126,875 aggregate tonnage. In 1894 there entered 158 vessels with 155,869 tons at Puntarenas, and 294 vessels with 348,355 tons at Port Limon. The freight in 1858 on coffee to Panama by steamer alone was five-eighths of a cent per pound. In 1870 the West India and Pacific Company’s steamers received as freights from Puntarenas to Liverpool, £5 10s. 0d. per ton; from Puntarenas to London, £6 2s. 6d. per ton.

In 1888 freights from Puntarenas to European ports were £4 per ton, and from Port Limon £2. To-day the freight rates are cheaper still.

The present tariff is in many ways inequitable. It is based on no principle, and, with the exception of some later laws especially enacted, it does not correspond with the economic condition and commerce of the country. Yet on a great number of articles the tariff is less than in Mexico, Guatemala, Salvador, Peru, Bolivia and Uruguay.

The custom-duties are collected on gross weight, and generally amount to from twenty to twenty-five per cent. on the valuation of imports. They are paid one-half down and one-half within three months’ time. All goods for Costa Rica have to come accompanied by corresponding consular invoices. The principal importations are silk, wool, linen, cotton, machinery, implements and tools for agriculture and other industries, furniture, glassware, tinware, hardware and haberdashery, ornaments, articles of luxury, mercury and perfumery, beer, wines, liquors, soap, coffee-sacks, flour, sugar, shoes, saddles, harnesses, butter, etc.

Table of Exports and Imports of Costa Rica Since 1884.

Exportations. Importations.

1884 $3,745,400 gold. $3,521,900 gold. 1885 2,535,500 ” 3,660,900 ” 1886 2,257,600 ” 3,537,600 ” 1887 4,689,100 ” 5,601,200 ” 1888 4,052,300 ” 5,201,900 ” 1889 4,612,800 ” 6,306,400 ” 1890 6,664,700 ” 6,615,400 ” 1891 6,116,800 ” 8,351,000 ” 1892 4,725,900 ” 5,389,700 ” 1893 4,294,200 ” 5,849,500 ”

1894 { 5,053,113 ” 4,094,853 ” {12,488,263 silver.

1895 { 5,922,204 gold. 3,851,460 ” {14,509,440 silver.

1896 5,597,727 gold. 4,748,818 ”

Imports and Exports by Countries.

1892.

Imports in gold. Exports in silver.

Great Britain $1,702,145 $4,916,287 Germany 947,647 386,737 France 526,382 70,004 Spain 189,623 -- Italy 32,412 -- Belgium 7,280 -- United States 1,295,682 3,642,896 Mexico 18,725 -- Colombia 82,326 20,912 Ecuador 125,416 800 Peru 3,890 502 Cuba 123,921 -- Jamaica 81,609 -- Central America 252,691 75,810

1893.

Imports in gold.

Great Britain $1,697,944 Germany 1,123,836 France 807,761 Spain 192,026 Italy 39,829 United States 1,399,615 Mexico 11,993 Colombia 228,036 Ecuador 94,387 Cuba 40,023 Jamaica 25,939 Central America 143,437 ---------- Total $5,804,926

1894.

Imports in gold.

Great Britain $907,462 Germany 566,367 France 223,479 Spain (Cuba) 103,276 Italy 40,215 United States 940,640 Colombia 32,138 Ecuador 36,917 Belgium 7,082

_Commodities Imported in 1894._

Gold. Pesos.

General merchandise $2,857,580 56 7,062,224 60 Merchandise not dutiable 944,835 09 2,335,065 44 Coined money 4,183 46 10,339 00 Silver bars 89,018 37 220,000 00 Animals 30,929 84 76,440 00 Animals coming overland 91,041 52 225,000 00 Lumber 15,911 27 39,323 12 Passengers’ baggage 6,352 45 15,699 45 Merchandise from custom houses 5,000 00 12,357 00 Merchandise by post 50,000 00 123,570 00 ------------- ------------- Total $4,094,852 56 10,120,018 61

_Total Exports for 1894._

Gold. Pesos.

Coffee $4,198,252 08 10,375,560 19 Bananas 443,315 37 1,095,609 60 Coined money 58,611 78 144,852 95 Gold, not coined 23,500 00 58,078 10 Woods 144,584 66 357,326 53 Various products 115,231 68 284,783 58 Unspecified products 69,617 57 172,052 86 ------------- ------------- Total $5,053,113 14 12,488,263 81

_1895._

_Imports by Countries._

Gold.

Great Britain $851,849 Germany 684,118 France 261,534 Spain (Cuba) 223,441 Italy 33,088 Belgium 5,978 United States 1,179,546 Central America 263 South America 65,633

_1896._

Gold.

Great Britain $1,264,856 33 Germany 893,816 66 France 378,906 35 Spain (Cuba) 162,825 54 Italy 71,769 52 Belgium 3,089 48 Denmark 103 05 Portugal 24 00 United States 1,401,074 25 Central America 813 75 Colombia 16,951 48 Ecuador 38,385 27 Peru 15,791 35

_Commodities Imported in 1896._

Gold.

Merchandise entered at custom houses $4,226,925 05 Merchandise sent by post 61,622 93 Baggage of marine passengers 6,095 84 Baggage of overland passengers 5,000 00 Woods 21,481 98 Animals 423,069 23 Coined money 4,623 59 ------------- Total $4,748,818 62

_Total Exports for 1896._

Gold.

Coffee, 11,089,523 kgs., valued at $4,318,285 90 Bananas, 1,692,102 bunches, valued at 670,072 40 Woods, valued at 485,695 35 Coined and other metal, valued at 29,459 50 Re-exports and provisions, valued at 11,328 59 Various commodities 82,885 27 ------------ Total $5,597,727 01

_Imports by Countries for First Half of 1897._

Gold.

Great Britain $518,833 37 Germany 357,652 02 France 167,303 77 Spain 55,154 48 Cuba 20,543 78 Italy 83,070 50 Belgium 4,893 50 United States 871,646 91 South America 94,571 90 Santo Tomas 445 00 Nicaragua 10,739 90 Guatemala 288 06 Salvador 21,334 50 Postal packages 44,999 30 Merchandise in passengers goods 1,493 40 ------------- $2,252,970 39 Additional for 3816 animals, valued at 74,743 60 -------------- Total $2,327,713 99

The following list, which I owe to the amiability of the highly competent Director General of the National Department of Statistics, Hon. Manuel Aragon, shows the principal articles of import and their value in gold pesos by countries since 1893:

(Part 1 of 4) ----------------+-------------------------------+ | United States. | +-------+-------+-------+-------+ | 1893. | 1894. | 1895. | 1896. | ----------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ Wheat flour |289,418|139,421|191,478|234,528| Wheat | 21,418| 27,768| 31,354| 35,925| Corn | 42,818| 50,486| 2,001| 2,039| Beans | 29,416| 9,056| 3,818| 8,777| Rice | 57,429| 4,561| 34,182| 42,233| Tobacco | 6,437| .. | .. | 1,472| Butter, lard | 78,416|114,866|120,283| 65,530| Beer | 20,436| 13,353| 21,520| 20,015| Wine | 14,318| 541| 6,915| 18,584| Drugs and | | | | | medicines | 37,469| 26,187| 8,107| 12,718| Perfumes | 5,693| 1,196| 862| 1,064| Oil paints | .. | 1,326| 2,898| 2,886| Fence wire | 28,416| 13,264| 18,378| 33,065| Sacks for coffee| .. | 1,005| 1,459| 2,063| Furniture | 6,409| 11,359| 21,328| 15,310| Shoes | 9,416| 14,084| 6,918| 7,460| Hardware | 30,268| 27,116| 931| 159| Cashmeres | .. | .. | 2,263| 1,803| Implements | 6,326| 1,779| .. | 12,720| Machinery | 19,816| 19,086| 45,237| 52,352| Mercury | 32,416| .. | .. | 1,720| Cloth | .. | .. | .. | 202| Cotton goods | 29,491| 461| 3,314| 27,582| Mixed cotton | | | | | and woolen | .. | .. | .. | .. | Prints | 31,896| 20,821| 18,556| 31,097| Fancy articles | 23,418| .. | .. | .. | Sugar | 29,437| 4,561| .. | .. | Cotton shirts | .. | 1,859| 3,007| .. | Preserv. meats | 8,211| .. | 8,062| .. | Coal | 23,416| 7,065| 2,818| .. | Ready-made | | | | | Clothing | .. | 1,434| .. | .. | Cognac | 2,896| 137| 246| .. | Cotton drills | .. | 1,516| 2,585| .. | Preserv. Fruits | 13,228| .. | .. | .. | Railroad | | | | | material | 77,262| .. | 4,023| .. | Galvan. iron | .. | 263| 3,498| .. | Ordinary soap | .. | 1,064| 2,627| .. | Fine jewelry | 1,028| 321| 115| .. | Cotton shirting | .. | 380| 1,061| .. | Chinaware | .. | 521| 256| .. | Machetes | .. | 4,472| 6,525| .. | Manta-cruda | 19,416| 16,932| 41,437| .. | Sewing machines | 21,640| 6,379| 9,156| .. | Cotton | | | | | handkerchiefs | .. | .. | .. | .. | Sardines | .. | .. | .. | .. | Candles | .. | 1,965| 923| .. | Matches | .. | .. | .. | .. | Cigars | .. | 206| .. | .. | ----------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

(Part 2 of 4) ----------------+-------------------------------| | Great Britain. | +-------+-------+-------+-------| | 1893. | 1894. | 1895. | 1896. | ----------------+-------+-------+-------+-------| Wheat flour | .. | .. | .. | .. | Wheat | .. | .. | .. | .. | Corn | .. | .. | .. | .. | Beans | .. | .. | .. | .. | Rice | .. | 3,109| 1,785| .. | Tobacco | .. | .. | 50| .. | Butter, lard | .. | .. | 66| .. | Beer | 6,593| 5,309| 770| .. | Wine | 46,431| 1,657| 4,665| .. | Drugs and | | | | | medicines | 52,395| 18,916| 7,910| .. | Perfumes | 5,385| 462| 332| .. | Oil paints | 9,353| 1,838| 2,760| .. | Fence wire | 47,769| 245| 948| .. | Sacks for coffee| 43,628| 27,476| 37,141| .. | Furniture | 6,823| 1,601| 2,977| .. | Shoes | 14,421| 6,836| 2,758| 2,250| Hardware | 23,462| .. | 7,461| 967| Cashmeres | 28,791| 18,760| 36,242| 58,417| Implements | 3,246| 193| .. | 1,176| Machinery | 49,762| 6,226| 961| 13,952| Mercury | 31,945| .. | .. | 968| Cloth | 37,626| 9,161| 6,606| 7,409| Cotton goods | 72,416| .. | 5,823| 60,369| Mixed cotton | | | | | and woolen | 12,119| .. | 13,009| 72,335| Prints |182,129| 92,498|110,224|141,659| Fancy articles | 4,236| .. | .. | .. | Sugar | 6,128| 103| .. | .. | Cotton shirts | 1,094| 17,563| 18,143| .. | Preserv. meats | 3,497| 1,673| 6,147| .. | Coal | 78,543| 23,828| 13,136| .. | Ready-made | | | | | Clothing | .. | 1,656| .. | .. | Cognac | 9,461| 219| .. | .. | Cotton drills | 43,897| 15,803| 14,178| .. | Preserv. Fruits | 8,976| .. | .. | .. | Railroad | | | | | material |155,346| .. | 8,502| .. | Galvan. iron | 9,896| 33,740| 42,701| .. | Ordinary soap | 13,418| 3,058| 3,192| .. | Fine jewelry | 32,466| .. | .. | .. | Cotton shirting | 75,417| 15,844| 37,158| .. | Chinaware | 8,423| 2,436| 1,657| .. | Machetes | 5,202| 6,069| 6,029| .. | Manta-cruda | 14,617| 20,508| 15,098| .. | Sewing machines | 3,201| 102| 851| .. | Cotton | | | | | handkerchiefs | 12,819| 24,721| 20,778| .. | Sardines | 8,619| 1,263| .. | .. | Candles | 35,709| 29,963| 23,891| .. | Matches | .. | .. | .. | .. | Cigars | .. | .. | .. | .. | ----------------+-------+-------+-------+-------|

(Part 3 of 4) ----------------+-------------------------------+ | Germany. | +-------+-------+-------+-------+ | 1893. | 1894. | 1895. | 1896. | ----------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+ Wheat Flour | .. | .. | .. | .. | Wheat | .. | .. | .. | .. | Corn | .. | .. | .. | .. | Beans | .. | .. | .. | .. | Rice | 7,128| 29,998| 14,622| .. | Tobacco | .. | .. | .. | .. | Butter, Lard | .. | .. | .. | .. | Beer | 58,934| 46,189| 63,034| .. | Wine | 25,418| 3,527| 7,730| .. | Drugs and | | | | | medicines | 45,631| 4,993| 16,421| .. | Perfumes | 7,826| 143| 1,840| .. | Oil paints | 15,821| 3,904| 4,188| .. | Fence wire | 30,418| 16,494| 9,512| .. | Sacks for coffee| 17,620| 9,414| 10,049| .. | Furniture | 12,345| 4,792| 17,752| .. | Shoes | 12,427| 11,793| 5,598| 5,106| Hardware | 14,416| 2,764| 5,051| .. | Cashmeres | 92,416| 28,027| 58,902| 49,632| Implements | 17,721| 363| .. | 1,478| Machinery | 2,389| 1,835| 1,252| 497| Mercury | 38,893| 3,103| .. | 3,777| Cloth | 9,681| 2,075| 2,236| 418| Cotton goods | 12,401| 10,230| 5,374| 47,070| Mixed cotton | | | | | and woolen | 8,419| 4,368| .. | .. | Prints |131,416| 1,983| 8,035| 9,912| Fancy articles |108,412| .. | .. | .. | Sugar | 7,128| .. | .. | .. | Cotton shirts | .. | .. | .. | .. | Preserv. meats | .. | .. | .. | .. | Coal | .. | .. | .. | .. | Ready-made | | | | | Clothing | 20,457| 1,223| .. | .. | Cognac | 13,419| 2,137| 2,676| .. | Cotton drills | 29,617| 37,266| 46,322| .. | Preserv. Fruits | .. | .. | .. | .. | Railroad | | | | | material | .. | .. | 4,185| .. | Galvan. iron | .. | 4,837| 9,795| .. | Ordinary soap | 7,382| 4,080| 4,896| .. | Fine jewelry | 3,726| .. | .. | .. | Cotton shirting | 16,893| 87| .. | .. | Chinaware | 7,521| 10,677| 12,130| .. | Machetes | 4,289| 5,620| 6,539| .. | Manta-cruda | .. | .. | .. | .. | Sewing machines | 5,028| .. | .. | .. | Cotton | | | | | handkerchiefs | .. | 6,313| 8,780| .. | Sardines | 5,262| 5,675| 7,241| .. | Candles | 8,645| 13,719| 7,348| .. | Matches | 14,527| 12,335| 17,970| .. | Cigars | 14,427| 4,965| 8,248| .. | ----------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

(Part 4 of 4) ----------------+------------------------------- | France. +-------+-------+-------+------- | 1893. | 1894. | 1895. | 1896. ----------------+-------+-------+-------+------- Wheat Flour | .. | .. | .. | .. Wheat | .. | .. | .. | .. Corn | .. | .. | .. | .. Beans | .. | .. | .. | .. Rice | .. | .. | 28| .. Tobacco | .. | .. | .. | .. Butter, Lard | .. | .. | .. | .. Beer | 8,101| .. | .. | .. Wine | 73,648| 21,174| 24,792| .. Drugs and | | | | medicines | 35,841| 4,343| 2,687| .. Perfumes | 10,942| 3,301| 7,450| .. Oil paints | .. | .. | .. | .. Fence wire | .. | .. | .. | .. Sacks for coffee| .. | .. | .. | .. Furniture | .. | .. | 3,117| .. Shoes | 8,492| 1,403| 2,546| 2,290 Hardware | 5,892| .. | 53| .. Cashmeres |139,818| 12,600| 8,286| 10,318 Implements | .. | .. | .. | 267 Machinery | 1,926| 20| .. | 360 Mercury | 47,328| 6,439| .. | 3,661 Cloth | 18,435| .. | 4,060| 486 Cotton goods | 7,281| 464| .. | 2,590 Mixed cotton | | | | and woolen | 1,049| .. | .. | 202 Prints | 32,768| .. | 743| 945 Fancy articles | 75,417| .. | .. | .. Sugar | .. | .. | .. | .. Cotton shirts | .. | 151| 752| .. Preserv. meats | 1,795| 3,147| 6,870| .. Coal | .. | .. | .. | .. Ready-made | | | | Clothing | 14,431| .. | .. | .. Cognac | 87,468| 14,973| 23,801| .. Cotton drills | 5,712| .. | 176| .. Preserv. Fruits | 7,626| .. | .. | .. Railroad | | | | material | .. | .. | .. | .. Galvan. iron | .. | .. | .. | .. Ordinary soap | .. | 154| .. | .. Fine jewelry | 7,893| .. | 3,021| .. Cotton shirting | .. | .. | 126| .. Chinaware | .. | .. | 86| .. Machetes | .. | .. | .. | .. Manta-cruda | .. | .. | .. | .. Sewing machines | .. | .. | .. | .. Cotton | | | | handkerchiefs | .. | .. | 18| .. Sardines | 5,102| .. | 2,378| .. Candles | .. | 243| 746| .. Matches | .. | .. | .. | .. Cigars | .. | .. | .. | .. ----------------+-------+-------+-------+-------

Among other countries _Spain_, including Cuba, imported in 1893, alcohol ($26,346), cigarettes ($11,418), cognac ($8976), liquors ($14,719), cotton cloth ($19,416), and wines ($126,417); in 1894, alcohol ($15,500), cigarettes ($7753), wines ($30,436); in 1895, alcohol ($81,000), cigarettes ($10,800), tobacco ($6288), wines ($46,957).

_Colombia_ imported in 1893, alcohol ($7783), cacao ($4229), cattle ($115,847); in 1894, cacao ($9710); in 1895, cacao ($11,720), tobacco ($6959).

_Italy_ imported in 1893, marble ($4623), wines ($14,791); in 1894, wine ($3491); in 1895, butter ($2209), hats ($1240), cotton cloth ($1568), and wines ($6933).

_Central America_ imported in 1893, tobacco ($112,418), sugar ($9895), cacao ($2846), maize ($6891), butter ($2893), cigars ($7626).

_The exportation during the first six months of 1897 was as follows_:

--------------+------------+-----------------------+--------------------- | | Port of Limon. | Port of Puntarenas. |Total value.|-----------------------+--------------------- | | Kilos. | Value. | Kilos. | Value. --------------+------------+----------+------------+---------+----------- | Gold. | | | | Coffee, in | | | | | pargement | $538,462 20| 1,794,874| $538,462 20| .. | .. Coffee, in oro|4,127,698 05|10,139,879|3,548,957 65|1,653,544|$578,740 40 Bananas | 225,267 50|27,400,966| 225,267 50| .. | .. | Silver. | | | | Cedar wood | 525,042 09| .. | .. | 656,451| 525,042 09 Mora wood | 67,831 16| .. | .. |3,322,435| 67,831 16 Hides | 41,443 59| 125,397| 37,665 80| 7,945| 3,777 79 Rubber | 13,961 95| 7,587| 11,095 75| 2,194| 2,866 20 Gold, in bars | 7,200 00| 12| 7,200 00| .. | .. Gold, coined | 6,117 17| 6| 6,117 17| .. | .. Skins | 5,977 59| 49| 60 00| 6,557| 5,917 59 Cacao | 2,898 15| 1,294| 1,548 40| 659| 1,349 75 Guaygacum wood| 2,809 96| .. | .. | 138,000| 2,809 96 Potatoes | 1,590 14| 597| 112 00| 11,535| 1,478 14 Plants, alive | 1,487 00| 1,846| 1,487 00| .. | .. Blue thread | 1,679 00| .. | .. | 134| 1,679 00 Hule or rubber| 1,767 00| 1,350| 1,767 00| .. | .. Soap | 700 00| .. | .. | 1,890| 700 00 Cocobola wood | 640 67| .. | .. | 31,465| 640 67 Dulce (mas | | | | | cabado) | 606 04| 175| 52 00| 3,565| 554 04 Zarzaparrilla | 377 15| 468| 360 90| 29| 16 25 Cedron | 143 75| .. | .. | 264| 143 75 Sugar | 223 02| .. | .. | 732| 223 02 Pita-hats | 68 00| .. | .. | 70| 68 00 Caoba | | | | | (mahogany) | 374 32| .. | .. | 111| 374 32 Pearl shell | 350 00| .. | .. | 2,241| 478 00 Turtles, alive| 200 00| 2,000| 200 00| .. | .. Turtle shell | | | | | (carey) | 150 00| 16| 150 00| .. | .. --------------+------------+----------+------------+---------+----------- Total $5,201,966 58|39,491,033| $4,348,123|5,231,835|$853,843 27 --------------+------------+----------+------------+---------+-----------

In regard to coffee there were exported from October 1, 1896, to June 30, 1897, 231,904 sacks (13,843,088 kilos), of which 84.67 per cent., or 196,343 sacks, in oro, and 15.33 per cent., or 35,561 sacks, in pargement. From this amount 87.93 per cent., or 203,913 sacks (12,184,027 kilos), went through Port Limon and 12.07 per cent., or 27,991 sacks (1,659,061 kilos), through Puntarenas.

From Limon 61.329 per cent. was transported by the Atlas Line, 32.300 per cent. by the British Royal Mail, 2.271 per cent. by the French Steamship line, 3.299 per cent. by the German Line, O.801 per cent. by other lines.

It will be interesting to know the places to which this large amount of coffee is shipped. These particulars are found in the following list:

Sacks. Kilogr. London 133,676 7,903,450 San Francisco 19,946 1,183,980 New York 33,887 2,072,289 Hamburg 24,833 1,502,311 Bordeaux 5,827 346,822 Paris 206 12,524 Bremen 12,373 } Montreal 37 } Antwerp 310 } Lockport 1 } Chicago 1 } Malaga 1 } 821,712 Geneva 439 } Trieste 254 } Valparaiso 50 } Panama 62 } Barcelona 1 } -------- ----------- Total 231,904 13,843,008

In connection with the coffee trade there are here given interesting statistics concerning the average annual consumption of coffee _per capita_ of the population of different countries:

Pounds. Holland 21.00 Denmark 13.89 Belgium 13.48 Norway 9.80 Switzerland 7.03 United States 7.61 Sweden 6.11 Germany 3.94 France 2.73 Austria 2.13 Greece 1.24 Italy 1.00 Great Britain 1.00 European Russia 0.19

_Industries._—The scarcity of working people and the absence of capital were formerly the greatest barriers to the progress of industry, while at the same time the abundance and relative cheapness of imported articles rendered useless all attempts at home production.

In regard to industrial and manufacturing establishments and workshops, there were in 1892:

842 in the Province of San José. 700 ” ” Alajuela. 193 ” ” Cartago. 272 ” ” Heredia. 187 ” ” Guanacaste. 89 ” Comarca de Puntarenas. 20 ” ” Limon. ---- 2303

_Distribution of industrial and manufacturing establishments in Costa Rica._

-------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----- | | | | | G | P | | | | | | | u | u | | | S | A | | | a | n | | | a | l | C | H | n | t | | | n | a | a | e | a | a | | | | j | r | r | c | r | L | T | J | u | t | e | a | e | i | o | o | e | a | d | s | n | m | t | s | l | g | i | t | a | o | a | é | a | o | a | e | s | n | l | . | . | . | . | . | . | . | . -------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----- Iron foundries | 2 | .. | 1 | .. | .. | .. | 1 | 4 Blacksmith-shops | 25 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 2 | 68 Gunsmith-shops | 3 | 1 | .. | .. | 1 | 2 | .. | 7 Flour-mills | 1 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 1 Soap factories | 5 | .. | 1 | 1 | .. | .. | .. | 7 Breweries | 3 | .. | 1 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 4 Ice Factories | 2 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 1 | .. | 3 Distilleries | 1 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 1 Brick and tile factories | 22 | 29 | 34 | 4 | 18 | 2 | .. | 109 Fine brick-yards | 2 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 2 Lime-kilns | 7 | 12 | 10 | 1 | 3 | 1 | .. | 34 Cartridge factories | 1 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 1 Sugar factories | 1 | 6 | 2 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 9 Sawmills | 16 | 35 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 74 Coffee-mills | 80 | 75 | 16 | 85 | .. | .. | .. | 256 Iron sugar-mills | 205 | 154 | 32 | 46 | 10 | 2 | .. | 449 Wooden sugar-mills | 248 | 258 | 21 | 13 | 82 | 17 | .. | 639 Marble yards | 1 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 1 Stone-cutting yards | 1 | 1 | 1 | .. | .. | .. | .. | 3 Carpenter-shops | 31 | 28 | 8 | 37 | 19 | 15 | 3 | 141 Cabinet-shops | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | .. | 2 | .. | 13 Tailor-shops | 25 | 13 | 10 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 89 Tanneries | 9 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 16 | .. | 1 | 39 Shoemaker-shops | 38 | 17 | 9 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 103 Barber-shops | 17 | 9 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 2 | 53 Saddleries | 11 | 8 | 5 | 1 | 4 | .. | .. | 29 Bakeries | 22 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 45 Confectioners | 5 | 1 | .. | 1 | .. | .. | .. | 7 Drug stores | 15 | 16 | 8 | 9 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 58 Dyeing establishments | 5 | 5 | .. | 2 | 1 | 1 | .. | 14 Photograph galleries | 3 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 3 Printing establishments | 9 | 1 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 10 Lithographers | 1 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 1 Book binderies | 4 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 4 Watchmakers | 7 | 1 | 4 | 3 | .. | .. | .. | 15 Silversmiths | 4 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | .. | 22 Candle factories | 5 | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | .. | 5 -------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----- Total | 842 | 700 | 193 | 272 | 207 | 89 | 20 |2323 -------------------------+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----+-----

There are in San José the San José Foundry and the National Workshop, which contributed greatly to the progress of mechanical arts, iron manufactures, cabinet work, machinery, implements, farming utensils, tools, etc.

There also exist a silk and cotton factory, manufacturing fine articles like shawls, scarfs, wraps, in the favorite colors of the people; also an ice factory, a shoe factory and a flour-mill.

Among the miscellaneous companies we have to mention the Agency Company for unloading and loading vessels, capital 200,000 pesos; San José Market Company, capital 215,000 pesos; Cartago Market Company, capital 100,000 pesos; Heredia Market Company, capital 100,000 pesos; Monte de Aguacate Mining Company, capital 500,000 pesos; La Trinidad Mining Company, capital 250,000 pesos; Costa Rica House Construction Company, capital 250,000 pesos; Costa Rica Pacific Gold Mining Company, Limited; Electric Light Company.