Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-04-23
Gum Arabic.
THE SoJDAN WAR AND THE CANDY MARKET.
THREE MILLION POUNDS USED ANNUALLY IN
CONFECTIONERY.

Few people who read OF the war in the Sou
dan consider that it is of any personal inter-
est To Americans. This is not however.
Every family is more or less interested.
Every Young man who treats his best girl to
French hon hons is Interested. and. the best
girl should be particularly interested. for FL
Mahdis operations have cut of the supply of
gum arabic. Ones mind naturally reyerts.
when thinking OF gum arabic. 10 the backs OF
postage stamps and the sticky edge of the en-
velopc flaps or to the paste pot Of country edi-
tors. These are of minor importance, how
ever. The envelope under heavy stress
might employ some other sticking matter; a
substitute might be found for the use of post
age stamps and the country papers would con-
time their editions of uncredted clippings by
substitution Of paste made Of -four.
For candy. II II is made candy should be
made. no substitute can be found. though glu.
cosc i used 10 an extent that would alarm peo-
pie who wish their chillren's digestion to re-
main perfect. Two wears ago gum arabic was
selling at from six To eight cents per pound
to-day il hring~ from - to 20 cents and really
fine H-ticle costs - cent, pound There are
higher aud are buying 1t in large quantities to
hold il for rise. The consumption Of the
ticle in the ntcd state. amounts 10 about T.
Wo.t1o pounds annually. OF which 5000 eco il
used in making candy. 1t /, used largely. also
in the colorng Of the best print goods Prior
10 the war in Egypt the supply was greater
than the demand and there was n large surplus
on hand " hich has not vet been exhausted.
The gum comes from the country now in
possession Of the Mahdi. In lSs3 only about
one-tfth OF the usual crop was gathered. and
nothing i known a TO the extent of the crop
Of lS>i. one year i required 10 transport il
from the country where it j. gathered to Cairo
and Alexandria aud even IL cessation OF hos
tilitir~ in the >ou,lan should immediately take
place. II" nrw stock could be relied upon for
many months. gum which is similar to the
arabic. called gum senegal. i gathered on the
west coast ~ Africa. II i coar,er aud some
what STRONGER but Ia, found favor a, a ,ub,ti-
tut. For many wears il has been potent
factor IN keeping down the price of the better
known gum. Formerly it wa- not extensively
gathered. but ~ prices have gone up the field
has been h,ttcr worked and dealers in gums
hope the increase. Of The one may offset thu de-
"rra>e Of The other. The higher the price goes
the smaller j. tn, demand
Candy makers who would have .cornrd the
u" Of glucose when gum arabic was only : or
~ cent, pound now ti>c il almost entirely.
Dealers in gum arabic are not in a hopeful
mood. They >ay that even il thu supply should
again ca,r considerable reduction in price it
would takr some TIM 10 replace their custom,
~ iirm hold have the glucose dealers on the
caud, m'n. Thi- they say they know from
experience, a. some ycar, ago when thu mar
kct price ~ gum caused manufacturers to use
glucose Tor substitute it was used until the
gum reached T. lowest price. Most Of the
dealing in .rIm arabic to-day j. by Spectators.
\, It /, now parents. children, candy maker,
"r -llm dealers viii hardly ri>r up and call the
ftl>" prophet blessed.