The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-20
SCARCITY OF GUM-ARABrc.
How the Mahdi Is Affecting American Trad
Uses of the Product.

How the Mahdi Is Affecting American Trade
-Uses OF the Product.
New York Tribune.
Few people who read of the war in the soudan
consider that 1t is of any personal interest to
Americans. This is not SO. however. Every
family is more or less interested. Every young
man who treats his best girl to French bon bons,
Is interested, and the best girl should be par
tculacly interested, for Ell Mahdis operations
has cut off the supply of gum arabic. Ones
mind naturally reverts, when thinking of gum
arabic, to the backs of postage stamps and the
sticky edge of envelope flaps, or to the paste
pot OF country editors These are of minor i'm
portance however The envelope, under a heavy
stress, might employ some other sticking mat
ter; substitute might be found for the use of
postage stamps, and the the country papers
would continue their editions of uncredited clip
pings by substitution of paste made of -four
For candy. il it is made as candy should be
made, no substitute can be found though glu-
cose Is used to an extent that would alarm peo-
pie who wish their chiidren's digestion to re-
main perfect Two years ago gum arabic was
selling at from six to eight cents pound; to-day
it brings from twenty fve to thirty cents and
really fine article costs fifty cents pound
There are spectators who believe that il will 60
still higher and are buying it in large quantities
to hold for RISE The consumption of the ar
ticle in the United States amounts to about
100000 pounds annually; of which 1900, 900
pounds is used in making candy. 1t is used
largely, Also in the coloring Of the best print
SoOuS IFlor 10 Ln6 war In ESypL the supply
was greater than the demand and there was a
large surplus on hand which has not yet been
exhausted.
The gum comes from the country now in pos
session of the Mahd In 1883 only about one
fifth OF the usual crop was gathered and moth
ing is known as to the extent Of the crop of
1884. One year is required to transport it from
the country whore it is gathered to Cairo and
Alexandria, and even il cessation of hostilities
In the Soudan should Immediately take place,
no new stock could be relied upon for many
months. A gum which is similar to the arabic,
called gum -segenal, is gathered on the west
coast OF Africa. 1t is coarser and somewhat
stronger, but has found favor as substitute.
For many wears it has been potent factor In
keeping down the price of the better known gum.
Formerly it was not extensively gathered but
as prices have gone up the field mas been better
worked and dealers in gums hope the increase of
the one may offset the decrease of the other.
The higher the price goes the smaller is the de-
mand.
Candy makers who would have scorned the
use of glucose when gum-arabic was only eight
Dealers in gum arabic are not in Il hopeful mood.
They say that even if the supply should again
cause considerable reduction in the price it
would take some time to regain their custom, so
firm hold have the glucose dealers on the candy
men. This they say they know from expe-
rience as some years ago when the market price
of the gum caused manufacturers to use glucose
for a substitute it was used until the gum
reached it's lowest price. Most of the dealing in
gum-a arabic to-day is by spectators. AS it is
now, parents, children, candy makers OF gum
dealers will hardly rise up and call the False
Prophet blessed.