The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1877-02-17

Among the commercial and economical
phenomena which have marked the year just
passed, we NAV note signal falling OF IN inc
production of sugar attended by somewhat
serious disturbance in the marker LOT 'nal "r'
ticla. A glance at few pertinent ngures
will show the precise extent anu oeatihss u!
this re,roprade movement on the part OF an
important staple. .,-, -,
The total product of sugar throughout the
world ten wears ago did not much exceed two
wilton tons. but by 1875 it had expanded
more than fifty per cent, being then comput-
ed at not less than 3,lGSO0O. From this
noint TO the weld of 1876 occurs an abrupt
sbrinkape of more than half s million tons,
and what is singular, the deficiency was not
confined to a single quarter but seems to
have been equally appropriated among the
sugar producing countries The extension
of the Cuban insurrection to the plantations
| in the centre OF the islands could account for
diminished returns from those varieties of
the staple extracted from the cane. A SINH
lar decline, however, was remarked in those
parts of Europe which are accustomed to re-
" mainly on the beet root for their supplies.
Thus, to cite the exact date, cane sugar, which
year before touched Its maximum contribu-
ton of $4,000 Ions, was credited in 1876
with only $4,000, while beet sugar fell Off In
the same short period from $4,000 to $780,
600 tons.
Notwithstanding the rapid development
which beet root culture has acquired during
the last few years, the consumption OF sugar
has more than kept pace, and the deficit just
signalized IN the crops of 1876 cannot be easi-
ly supported. The present demand Tor the
commodity on the part of Europe, the cnited
States, and the British colonies, is estimated
at more than three million tons; and 1t IS In
teresting to observe what proportions OF this
aggregate are assigned to different countries.
The annual consumption of sugar, for
instance, in Great Britain attains the aston
fishing figure of fifty.six pounds head. Next
comes the American citizen, who exacts not
less than forty-eight pounds, and then the
prosperous Belgian, who takes twenty. France
Germany, Denmark and Holland severally
require on an average sixteen pounds Tor
each inhabitant. On the other hand 1t is
worth noting that the heavily taxed Russian
noujik and the impoverished Spaniard can
afford but six pounds apiece, the Greek but
four pounds, and his Turkish neighbor only
two. There wOnd seem to be certain
amount of plauslbility in the assertion of
some economists that the well-belng of CIV
en- people may be accurately measured by its
use of this commodity.
Up to the end of October the reduction in
the Weld of cane sugar was the only disturb.
ing influence in the market; but the con.
tracted product of the beet crop weighed
heavily on the last two months of the year.
On the 31st OF October the stock of sugar on
hand in Europe and the United States was
smaller than it had been for ten years, az
gregating only 100000 tons, against 100000 at
the same season of 1875. The situation is
now much aggravated, since, instead of being
augmented, according to rule, between Nc
vember and December by the surplus of beet
sugar over immediate demand, the stock in
reserve must undergo fresh depletion, equiv.
alent to the deficit in European production.
1t would seem, therefore, to be inevitable
that the consumers resources should be ex
cesslvely straitened during the next few
months. This prospect IS especially unwel-
come to England and the United States,
which contributes most largely to the de.
mand; and it explains the considerable rise
in price which the staple has lately expert
enced One gainful result, however, may be
looked for from the inadequate yield of the
past year The deficiency Of sugar must
stimulate the cultivation of the beet root in
countries where it has secured roofing, and
may lead to its introduction elsewhere. There
Is no doubt, for instance, that our Middle
States are no less happily adapted than Ger
many or Russia to this most profitable indus
try-N. Y. Sun.