The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-12-26
THE SUGAR WAR.
Is About to Be Fought With
Chicago the battle-ground.

Chicago, Dec. 26.-The Tribune says:
Chicago has become the chief battle
ground in the contest between the sugar
trust and the Arbuckles and the Doer-
schers, it's powerful rivals.
Yesterday the price of outside sugar
was cut one-eighth cent below trust
price, reaching almost the lowest quota
ton on record. The drop was accom-
panied by developments that showed the
existence of a little trust among whole
sale grocers to support the sugar trust,
and also that a new Richmond was in
the field in the shape of a beet sugar
supply. The trust was not ready to
meet its rivals prices. but is expected
to do so today. The circumstances lead
ing up to the cut are these
Arbuckle Brothers and the Doerschers
own sugar ref1neries on the Atlantic
seaboard that have a daily capacity of
5000 and $500 barrels respectively. Both
plants were started less than six months
ago and both invaded Chicago with
their goods early in the fail.
The trust was ready for them. In
September, seeing that rival goods were
to be offered its representatives visited
the jobbing trade and suggested that
contract be signed by which any
amount of sugar, up to a stated guam
tity, might be purchased by the jobber
at a given price, and that a low one.
L
the trusts rivals, but it was made only
to it's factors.
The latter are all the wholesale
grOcers except two or three, whose ar
rangement with the trust provides for
a rebate of from one-eighth to one-six-
teenth from the list price, to be made
periodically.
The ArbucIxles and Doerschers when
they entered the Chicago market, made
a cut in prices It did not bring the ex-
pected increase in sales, as the jObbers
were able under their contracts, to draw
on the trust for sugar at the same
prices. The contracts began expiring a
short time ago. Before the date was
reached the trusts representatives visit
ed the factors and extended the agree
ment. When the ArbuckleS and DOer-
schers found this out they, on Wednes-
day last, announced a cut to $40 cents,
and coupled with it the notice they
would do business direct with the retail
trade. Yesterday they followed it up
with a further cut to 5.15-a full one
eighth cent below the trust price.
The local houses of the Arbuckles and
Doerschers were bonn barded with bust
ness. Statesmen for the jobbers and
wholesalers came in to report the mar
ket was taken away from the trust, that
all the retailers in Chicago were dealing
with the opposition. No attempt was
made to meet the price. but there was
possibly a reason for this. A meeting
of the sugar committee was called in
the commercial exchange, but adjourn
ed until today, when it is expected the
trust price will be announced.
One year ago the difference between
the prices of raw and refined sugars was
about 81 .25 Yesterday it was "a cents,
or nearly SO per barrel. If the sugar
trusts output is 10000 barrels a day,
little figuring will give fair approx
mate idea of the vast sum the fight has
cost.
Within the last week or two fifteen
carloads of beet sugar have arrived in
Chicago, the first to reach this market.
This sugar was sold below the trust
price, and it is said arrangements are
making to handle an output of half a
dozen factories, built and building in
nearby states. All these features create
a situation which we'll informed men in
the trade said, pointed to the conclusion
that the war would be fought out in
this market.