The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1891-01-23

AS the price Of sugar j. somuch lower
in England than with US, its consump-
ton is much greater. England con-
sumcs seventy-four pounds a year per
person. the United States fifty, France
twcnty-eight, and Germany twenty.
One reason for the large consumption in
England is the fact that vast quantities
Of sugar are used there every year in
making fruit jam. more than 800. o0o. 900
pounds being consumed in this way
alone. Much Of this was exported to all
parts Of the world, and in this way the
actual consumption Of sugar in England
Is not SO great as the figures make 1t
appear. we are ourselves large consum-
crs Of English jams and preserves. En-
glands consumption per capita ought,
therefore, 70 be slightly reduced, and
ours somewhat increased.
The cheapness Of sugar in England Is
not due simply TO the lack Of a duty on
sugar; Il is further caused BY the sugar
export bounties of France and Ger
many. Our own drawback on refined
sugars has also had the same effect as
IN export bounty, the American refiner
being able TO sell his product to the
English buyer at about $3.50 per 100
pounds cheaper than the home buyer.
George Medley. an English economist,
says: II hold that il is in great meas
ure owing TO the folly OF other nations
that we occupy the commanding posi-
ton we now do in trade, manufactures
and navigation, and that were il not for
that folly we should not be anywhere
near il, absolutely or relatively" Dow
Bramwcll has estimated that foreign
nations by their sugar bountics make
England present Of about 81, 200, 600
every year.
The great fruit jam industry Of En-
gland and Scotland has been built up
as the direct result Of cheap sugar. In
London alone more than 5000 worlxmcn
are employed during the season in maxi
ing jam; and il was estimated even six
years ago that there were $4,000 persons
IN the jam making business Of England
Besides these there were $4,000 persons
in the single county Of Kent who were
Interested as growers. pickcrs and
packers Of small fruit for the jam in
dustry. The great production Of jam
has given the working people a cheap
and wholesome substitute for butter.
This may be seen from the following
words Of an English country grocer:
We have just ordered eleven tons OF jam.
Years ago we never used 70 keep It. when
II was high we could not sell II. Now II IL an
article Of food for quite poor people. Al tho
school treats children used TO think bread
and lam great pleasure now they would
hs.xs
accustomed 20 jam
The production Of small fruits in the
United States il hardly less than that Of
England. conservative estimate
places the value Of our yearly crop Of
Strawberries. cranbcrries. black berries.
currants, etc. al $4,000, OO0 This value
would be much greater but for the fact
that the growers are often compelled to
sacrifice their fruit in gluttcd market,
and are even fortunate at times II they
get back their empty baskets from the
markets without actual loss.
The abundance Of small fruits with
US gives MS an opportunity TO become
one Of the greatest Of jam producing
countries. But the tariff stands in the
way with its high duties on sugar and
on tumblcrs and earthcnware jars. The
sugar duty win soon be abolished. and
one difficulty will thus be removed. But
Mckinley has made the question Of
packing more difficult than ever. The
old duty on tumblcrs suitable for pack
ing jam was cent per pound equal 70
about is per cent; the Nc Kinlcy duty Is
~ cent per pound, equal 70 about ~
per cent. II common brown carthcn-
ware jars are used the duty Is 25 per
cent. In both old and new tariffs; but II
these jars arc glazed the old duty was
s. per cent. and the Mckinley duty il
60 per cent.
II Is interesting TO calculate just how
much the tariff operates toward pre-
wanting the growth q : Jam industry