The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-11-10
Europe's Sugar Surplus.

The proposed conference in Brussels
to discuss the abolition Of the sugar
bounties seems 20 have been definitely
arranged. 1t will he held in December
or January, and only the s~ugar-export-
ing countries OF Europe will be invited.
The conference has become necessary
on account OF the critical position OF the
beet sugar industry.
Germany, Austria-H Hungary, France
and Russia, the great producing conn-
tries, have gathered a beet crop this
fall that will yield the largest output OF
sugar yet produced. Germany in par
ticular bids fair To be &c overwhelmed
with sugar that IL a neither consume
II nor sell it abroad except at a ruinous
sacrifice. Owing to the enormou slim
ulation which the bounties paid on ex-
port sugar have given TO the cultivation
of the sugar beet this article is now
the largest industrial staple of the Ger
man Empire. About one-fourth OF the
sugar consumed by Europe and Amer
lea is German beet sugar, although.
~curiously enough, the Germans them
selves are small sugar eaters. They use
only one-third as much sugar per capita
az the people OF the United States or
Great Britain. The result is that for
years past it has been necessary TO find
foreign markets for a great deal more
than half the crop.
Year after year, the Germans have
been putting more and more land into
beets in spite of the increasing diff
culties Of selling sugar abroad at profit
able prices. The unusually large crop of
this year has come at "a most unfortu-
nate time, for Germany is suffering
from a poor yield of wheat and rye,
and industrial depression generally.
The result is that the purchasing ca
pacity of the poorer classes, dependent
upon the factories or the farms for sup
port, has been seriously reduced. 1t is
estimated that the decline in sugar con-
sumption in Germany alone will amount
during the current fiscal ear to 1900
tons. With a decreasing home market
Germany also sees its foreign market
threatened. Cuba is reappearing as a
competitor in the United States. which
during the last few years have bought
on an average about s~l2,OO0,0C0 worth
OF German sugar every year.
Although the crisis is most intense
in Germany, similar conditions are found
In all the other countries paying beet
sugar bounties. Even in Spain, which.
a few years ago, did not produce suhi-
cient sugar for its own consumption,
the cultivation Of the sugar beet has been
30 stimulated by bounties that the coun-
try now raises all its WI sugar and has q
surplus which il can scarcely sell abroad
at a profit. In short, the supply Of beet
sugar must be curtailed or prices are
certain 20 fall to a ruinous figure.
The governments of the sugar beet
growing countries of Europe have
decided that a definite and large restric-
ton Of the sugar beet area 10 be planted
next spring has become an unavoid-
able necessity. Many persons are adj
vocating the immediate reduction or
the total abolition Of the sugar bounties.
but the question Is whether a serious
crisis may not he precipitated by sud
denly Withdrawing the stimulant on
which a great industry has been built
up. II will he interesting to see what
remedy for the trouble will he applied.