The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1888-02-18
SATURDAY
SUGAR ITEMS.
War Imminent Among the Two Rival
sugar ReGnerIes A Break i'm
Prices.
IS. F. Examiner, February I'd ]

rs. F. Examiner, February I'd
The California and American Sugar
Refiners will soon be on the war-path in
an attempt to force each other out of the
business. 1t will be a struggle of the
fttest for survival, but from which the
the dear public will receive no benefit
1t will simply resolve itself into a
question as to which corporation has the
largest sack and can stand the losses the
longest.
Whatever the result may be, sugar
will remain sweet, while the small con-
sumner will be obliged to pay the same
price as heretofore, but may possibly
get smaller quantity of flour and more
sugar than he was wont to purchase.
The American Sugar Refinery, during
the last few months, has virtually con-
trolled the sugar market. Through
some fortunate circumstance that COM
pany had a sufficient quantity of the
commodity on hand to supply it's own
customers, and also some of it's rivals
from the fact that the California Sugar
Refinery had run short and was unable
to fill the demand The consumption on
this Coast of sugar has during the past
few years been about 110, 900 tons, while
the supply has been, to some degree, in
excess of that figure. From present in
dications it would appear that the sup
ply OF this year will exceed the demand
for this Coast by 10000 tons, but the
surplus will not affect the market here,
since ready outlet for the increased
amount has been found in the section
lying between this city and the Mis-
souri, river. The price charged by the
American Sugar Company has been IL
cents per pound wholesale, while the
California Sugar Refinery has supplied
it's customers at the rate of go cents per
pound.
The latter company will shortly re-
ceive about 10000 tons of sugar from
the Hawaiian Islands, and will then be
able to dictate the price In that event
the American Sugar Refinery will be
forced to submit TO probable break in
the market and reduce the price of the
sugar it furnishes, or may underbid the
other corporation and force the price
down still further.
How will such warfare affect the |
public in general?
The small consumer will reap no ben
eft whatever, unless the price reach a |
figure far below the one anticipated. |
hoc L 1
by the grocers at almost wholesale price, |
and has been used generally as emo
lasses to catch flies" In other words, |
hardly any profit has been made by the |
grocers on she sale of sugar, but it has |
been used as an advertisement by which |
the trade OF house-holders was secured |
BY selling sugar at wholesale price the |
grocer was enabled to sell other articles |
at profit and in that manner increased |
his patronage.
The benefits of a tumble in the nrice
OF sugar will accrue to the wholesale
dealer and the middle men. They will
commune to charge the small consumer
the old rates and quietly pocket the diff
ference. The canning industry will also
De the beneficiary of a decline in the
market price, as the Gamers, as class,
are about the largest consumers of the
sweet article. In no way however, will
'l'e pubic receive any advantage, as
cheapness OF sugar will not tend to de-
crease the price of canned goods. The |
Gamers have a good market for their
articies, and although they will be en-
aoled to put up their wares at a smaller
COST they will charge their customers
the old figures.
An Examiner" reporter called on
the nrm OF J. D. Spreckels & Co.. repre- |
J senting the California Sugar Refinery