Omaha daily bee., 1893-04-10
TIE AEGIR MIRkNT.

A New Orleans newspaper that should
be well informed on the sub ject of sugar
says: with the prospect of short
sugar crop there is reason to expect that
the United States will have to draw
upon European supplies of beet sugar
later in the season. This prospect has
already assisted in the advance in Lon
don" The market has been steadily
growing stronger for some time past,
there having been two advances OF one
eighth of u cent each in the new prod
uct. The causes assigned for these ad-
vance5 are comparatively light supplies
of sugar in Europe and the pros
pect that the Cuban crop will
fall considerably below that of last
season. If there is anything in the pre-
diction that there will be an increased
demand for the beet sugar product of
Europe, it must follow that the same in
dustry in this country will be corre-
spoudingly stimulated by the anticipated
shortage. Some color is given TO the
statement that the cane sugar supply is
to be short by the fact that the price of
the raw product is going up, with
prospect of going considerably higher
yet.
If it be true that there is prospect of
higher prices for sugar and an increased
demand for the beet product on account
of reduced production in the great cane
sugar districts, it is a matter of some
interest to those who are engaged in the
sugar beet industry in Nebraska. That
prices are advancing is undeniable and
the fact that the advance extends all
over the world indicates that it is due
to the operation Of the law Of supply and
demand rather than to speculation. 1t
may prove to be only temporary, but
it has the appearance of being genuine.
Such q strengthening OF the raw sugar
market at time when the tendency of
| prices of nearly all commodities is down
ward where any change whatever is
noted, should be regarded as encoura-
| ging by producers. The beet sugar indus
| try of this state. though yet in its infancy,
| and no doubt conducted less ad-
! yantageously than it will be when it has
become better established, has already
proven highly profitable at such prices
as have prevailed. 1t cannot be doubted
that the sugar demand will increase in
| proportion to the worlds growth in
| population and wealth. and this means
that new sources of supply must be laid
under tribute to meet it. There is no
longer any need of proof that Nebraska
soil is in the highest degree suited to
sugar beet culture. Unlike many other
agricultural products the sugar beet
cannot be successfully cultivated every
where. There are favored localities
in which the conditions of soil
and climate are adapted to it,
and such conditions exist in
this state, as has already been practically
demonstrated by the development which
this young industry has attained here N
a few years.
The present advance in the price of
raw sugar as u result of an anticipated
shortage in production may have nc
great significance, but it certainly
affords some encouragement to the pro.
o. ducer. 1t proves to the beet grower
that the production of the cane districts
is not likely to destroy his market,
though if he is a philosopher he needs
no evidence that so staple an article a,
sugar must always be in demand.