The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-03
THAT SWEET TOOTH.


Although the beet sugar industry has
added enormously to the home produc-
ton more than 5 billion pounds of SUI
gar. valued at over 100 million dollars
was brought into the Tilted States in
the fiscal year just ended. This is a larger
importation of sugar than at any pre-
ceding year in the history of the coun-
try. and the value is greater than in any
preceding year except the importations
of 1891. 1898, and 1884. These figures in
cIude the sugar brought from Porto
Rico and the Hawaiian Islands; and
while the figures of the shipments from
Porto Rico and the Hawaiian Islands
are not included in the official statement
Of imports, they are properly included in
the statement to show the quantity OF
sugar coming into the United States.
The total number of pounds of sugar
brought into the United States during
the year was, as shown by the records
Of the department Of commerce and Ia
Dor through its bureau Of statistics, 81
217 or 094 while in no earlier year in the
history of the country has the importa-
ton of sugar ever reached billion
pounds.
The largest importation in any earlier
was 4,91S.9O5. 733 pounds. Adding TO the
enormous Importation of 1908. 500 mil
lion pounds as the domestic production.
would give a total sugar supply of s.
81 million pounds for the year, or suhi-
cient to furnish an average Of p pounds
for each individual in the United States,
estimating the present population at so
million.
ia of a 60
the year differs materially in certain as
poets from that Of earlier years. The
total importation of beet sugar during
the year was only 81 million pounds.
against 255 millions in the fiscal year
1902 and 9Os millions in the fiscal year
1901. Cane sugar of course composed the
remainder and the cane sugar importa :
lions of the fiscal year, exclusive of that
brought from Porto Rico and the Ha-
waiian Islands. amounted to 4,O75 mil
lion pounds, against 1855 millions in the
fiscal year 1902, and 1856 millions in
1901. From Porto Rico the total sugar
brought into the United States amount
ed to 226 1885 pounds, valued at ST.
466,579, and from the Hawaiian Islands,
7T4.S25,42O pounds, valued at s25,310, 6S4
Thus, the total quantity of sugar sup
RAAtA ny Il VI ~ INlCb anu lilc HAWAIIAN
Islands amounted to one billion pounds
or about one-ffth of the total brought
into the country, it's value being nearly
80 million dollars.
Another marked characteristic of the
years production of sugar is the fact
that the price of sugar brought from
foreign countries has averaged lower
than in any preceding year The official
have for many years shown the aver
age cost per pound in foreign country
OF the sugar imported. This average
cost was in 1872 and 1873 over cents
per pound. From that period it ranged
downward, averaging four and a frac-
ton cents per pound, until 1888 when the
cost first fell below cents, being II
1884, 3.6 cents per pound. From thai
date forward 1t ranged downward, il
some years falling below three cents pei
pound. the figure for 1894 being % cents
as the years average rate of cost. By
1901 the movement was still slowly
downward, the average rate for 100
being 2.3 cents per pound. while in 100.
the average cost was 1.S2 cents PEI
pound. and in the fiscal year just endet
the average cost in the country of pro.
duction il the sugar imported from for
eign countries was LII cents per pound
which is lower than in any preceding
year.