The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-24
WORLDS SUGAR OUTPUT
MARVELLOUS INCREASE IN PRODUC-
TION AND CONSUMPTION.
Both Are Far Outstripping Growth
of PODuIatiOn-PrOpcr of
Beet and Cane Sugar.
special to the indianapolis Journal.

Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, March 23.-"The Worlds
Sugar Production and Consumption. 1900
1870, is the title of a monograph just is
sued by the Treasury Bureau of Statistics.
1t discusses the sugar production and con-
sumption of the world during the past CEN
tury, and especially during the last half
century, in which the burden of sugar pro-
duction has been transferred from cane to
the sugar beet, and in which the world
has so largely increased its consumption of
sugar. The worlds sugar production has
grown from 10000 tons i'm 1870 to S,SOO.OOO
tons in 1900. During the same period the
worlds population has grown, according
to the best estimates from 95OO0OOO0 TO
about 1,5OO.O0O.0OO Thus sugar production
has increased about $50 per cent while
population was increasing but about 80
per cent. Coming nearer home and con-
sidering the United States alone, it is
found that the consumption of sugar,
which in 1850 was only twenty-five pounds
per capita. was in 1901 over sixty-eight
pounds per capita.
One especially striking fact shown by the
statistics presented in this study is the
rapidly increasing proportion of the worlds
enlarged sugar consumption which is sup
piled by beets. According to the figures
presented by this study beets, which sup
Piled in 1910 less than 3 per cent. of the
worlds sugar, in 1900 supplied 81 per cent.
OF the greatly increased consumption;
While cane. which then supplied 50 per cent
OF the worlds sugar consumption. now sup
plies but 50 per cent. Stated in quantities.
1t may be said that the world cane-sugar
supply mas grown from 1,lO0.O00 tons in 1910
TO 2S50.0OO tons in $780, increase of 16O
per cent; while that OF beets has grown
from $1,000 tons I'm 1910 to $3.50 900 tons in
1900, an Increase of IL 500 per cent
The figures above quoted include that
portion which enters into the worlds sta
ustical record of sugar production, and does
not include the large quantities of cane
sugar produced IN India and China exclu-
sively for home consumption, and in a con-
siderable number OF the tropical countries
does not include that portion of the sugar
consumed at home Even If these figures
OF cane-sugar production for home con-
sumption were Obtainable the production
from beets would still show a much more
rapid growth during the last half century
than that from cane. This, apparently. is
due TO two causes: ID The elimination of
slavery in the tropics. the seat OF the prin-
cipal sugar production, and (2) the intell-
gent study OF and government aid to the
production OF beet sugar I'm the temperate
zone, especially in European countries
One effect of this enormous increase and
the competition which has accompanied
the developments above alluded to has
been a great reduction in prices TO the con-
sumner. The figures of the Bureau of Sta
tistics obtained from statements supplied
by importers of the cost in foreign coun-
tries of the sugar which they import show
that the average cost of the sugar imported
in 1S71-2 was 537 cents per pound, and in
the year 1S99-lsO0 2.49 cents per pound.
The sugar production OF France has
grown from o. metric tons in the sugar
year 1S39-40 TO sos 600 tons i'm 1S99-19o0: that
of Germany from u ESQ metric tons in 1S39-4O
TO l,S75O0O tons in 1900-1S01; Austria Hun
gary frOrr 25,000 metric tons in 1884 the
earliest date for which figures are OBJ
tainable, TO 10000 tons in lS99-1900: Russia
from 10 900 metric tons I'm 1S53-54 10 100000
tons i'm 1S99-ls00, Belgium from 200 metric
tons in that year TO 100000 tons in 1S99-l9OO:
Holland from ! 600 metric tons In lS6O-Sl TO
$50. 600 tons in 1S99-19O0. Turning TO the cane
sugar producing areas. In which the sta
tistics are not available for so long a pc
Philippine islands increased from 3,4l6 met
rio tons in 1919 10 $4,000 metric tons in 1896
From Cuba the exports in 1860 were 537 49l
tons and in 1894 96S. $50 tons; in Hawaii the
production has grown from IL 200 tons i'm
1875 to DAB 40 tons in 1899. Java produced i'm
1884 $685. SOC tons and in 1901 765 600 tons and
Rrazil which I'm 1854 produced 26g as TONS
produced in 1901 2l5,O00 tons
The table which follows shows the worlds
production in tons Of sugar from cane and
beets. respectively. at decennial years from
1870 to 1900 and the percentage supplied by
beets.