Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-12-28

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e Chicago; 725 Fifth Ave-. Nc" Aoi"
City,
TIE coUNTRY's SUGAR SUPPLY
The Increased production of sugar
beets and sugar cane in the United
States promises to make this country
independent of the rest of the world,
90 far as ito sugar supply Is concerned,
according to the views of Holland,
the we'll known New York financial
writer. Discussing the prospect of
tariff legislation In the coming special
session Of congress, Holland" makes
the following statement In relation to
sugar:
The best estimate is that somewhat
In excess of 100000 tons Of sugar
are needed to meet the worlds demand
for sweetened food. 1t is a modern de-
mand, since until comparatively recent
historic times about the only produce
relied upon for sweet food was honey
and to some extent the crystallized
juice of the grape.
Statistics recently received from
Germany show that about one-half OF
the sugar now yearly used in tho
world represents the saccharine quail
tiles OF the sugar beet. And yet beet
sugar Is almost entirely a modern in
dustry.
The statistics prepared by the
bureau OF statistics at Washington re-
port that Of the 100000 tons of sugar
yearly consumed by the world, the
United States eats and drinks a little
over 100000 tons. With the cheaper
ing Of the cost of white sugar, granu-
lated or lump, the use Of sugar has
greatly increased, and 1t is an increase
somewhat larger. relatively, than the
increase Of population.
How greatly the cultivation of the
sugar. beet has advanced In the United
States is shown by the Washington
900 tons Of beet sugar are now yearly
consumed by the United States. This
humble vegetable is now yielding a
I larger amount of sugar than are the
cane fields Of the gulf states. Extensive
as has been the cultivation of cane
sugar In Louisiana and Texas, never
theless American sugar, from Ameri-
canrgrown cane, amounted last year to
less than beet sugar. or about 100000
tons. With the vast development of
the very rich but hitherto intractable
swamp lands Of Louisiana. the con-
quest Of which IL one Of the most
notable Of the industries now in prog
ress in the south, the amount of cane
sugar produced In the United States
should BE greatly Increased. 1t is the
presumption of those who are informed
that the increase In the production OF
sugar beets in the western states, and
the enlarged areas devoted to cane
sugar cultivation will, within the next
TWENTY-FIVE or thirty years, make the
United States entirely Independent so
far as sugar production il concerned.
Must Import Million Tons.
Today about 100000 tons Of sugar
are imported tax free from our sugar
growing territories. Therefore, the
United States must import about L.
900 900 tons Of sugar In order to meet
the annual demand. Almost all of the
importation will come, and is now
coming, from Cuba, Java and Ger
many.
It IL regarded here as a purely
economic question, which is involved
IN the proposition to admit sugar free
OF duty. For 1t Is not conceivable that
the retail price Of high grade sugar
can be materially reduced. It is now
amazingly small. Testimony has been
furnished showing that the, profit
gained by the refiners upon each pound
IS only fraction Of cent And the
aggregate profits are due wholly to
the enormous sale Of sugar in the
United States. Congress will, in it's
wisdom, decide whether it Is expe-
dent to remove the duty from pro-
duct which yields in duties about $780,
OOO, 900 a year, and whether, If it does
that, the effect will be seriously to
cripple the sugar beet and cane sugar
agricultural industries. These are
questions which will be very thorough
IL discussed In the senate, and the dis
cussion will not be bounded by party
lines.