The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1911-01-20
Sugar Consumption In the United
States.


every year. This may seem a startling
statement, but if we take the quantity
of sugar produced 10 the United States
and add to this the quantity brought
from our own islands and the quantity
imported from foreign countries, and
substract therefrom the amount ex-
ported, we get grand total of con-
siderably more than Z billion pounds
consumed in the country; and by d.
viding the population into this grand
total, we get an average of Sli pounds
per capita, speaking in round terms,
for 1910, and about like quantity for
1909. 1t is not assumed, of course, that
each person necessarily consumes sugar
equal to one.half his individual weight;
but taking the total consumption and
comparing it with the total population
in the section known as continental
United States, the average yearly con
sumption of sugar is found to be about
Sli pounds per capita.
In fact, the people of the United
States are larger consumers. of sugar
per capita than those of any other
country of the world except England,
for which the latest figures show a
consumption averaging SO pounds per
capita, against our own average of S1}S
pounds per capita. The next largest
per capita consumption is in Denmark,
77a pounds. followed by Switzerland,
"a pounds; Sweden, 81 pounds; and
Germany and Holland. each about 43i
pounds.
Not only is the United States the
second largest sugar consumer per
capita, but the total amount consumed
annually is much greater than that of
any other country, aggregating, as
above indicated, more than Z billion
pounds per annum, against about 4
billion pounds in England and about 3
billion pounds in Germany.
About one-hslf of the sugar consum-
ed in the United States is brought
from foreign countries, about one
fourth from our own islands, and the
one fourth produced in this
The total production of
sugar in the United States now
amounts to II billion pounds year, of
which more than billion pounds is
beet sugar and about three-quarters of
q billion cane sugar. 1t is only recent
ly that the production of beet sugar in
the United States has come to exceed
that of cane sugar. In 1900 domestic
production of cane sugar was twice as
great as that of beet sugar, and 20
years ago was more than go times as
great; but the growth of beet sugar
production has been very rapid in
recent years, and in 1907, for the first
time, exceeded in quantity that pro-
iuced from cane and has 80 continued
since that time.
Of the sugar brought from other
nearly all is made from cane.
While about half of the worlds sugar
Is made from beets, most Of 1t Is pro-
luced in Europe and consumed in the
country of production or in other parts
IF that grand division, while most Of
he world outside of Europe obtains its
'ugar supply from cane, grown of
course, in the tropical and subtropical
ections. Of The sugar cane which we
consume, most of that coming from |
oreign countries is drawn from Cuba,
he Dutch East Indies, and smaller
from the West Indies, Mexico,
CENTRAL and South America. All of
hat coming from our own Islands
'orto Rico, Hawaii, and the Philip
ines-is cane sugar, while of the do
nestle product about 40 per cent is
reduced from cane. The beet sugar
f the United States is grown chiefly
, Colorado. California, and Michigan,
nd some in Utah, Idaho, and Wiscon-
in; while most of the cane sugar is
reduced in Louisiana, with smaller
in Texss, Florida, Georgia,
nd South Carolina.
The sugar habit" is evidently q
rowing one with the people of the
Tnited states and probably with those
{ other countries, since the total
,orld production OF sugar, including
II countries for which statistics are
has increased 80 per cent in
ne last decade and about doubled in
) years. In our own case the con
1mption has shown rapid growth.
ne per capita consumption having
cen. in 1880, 40 pounds; in 1890, 81
ounds; in 1900. SO pounds; and in 1910,
pproximately 81i pounds.
What is the cost of this enormous
uantity of sugar consumed in the
Tnited States2 This is more difficult
, answer. The valuation of that
rought from foreign countries and
mr. islands is set down at about 175
lillion dollars in 1910, and the stated
alue of that produced in the United
tates, at approximately rs million
ollars; though this comparatively
Ugh figure when considered by the
rice per pound, is due to the fact that
le valuation is based upon the refined