The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1913-12-05
Future Of Great Industry in United
States SonAewhat Gloomy. Con
cessions May Be Necessary Along
the Line.
(National Farmer)

In the New York wholesale sugar
market last week the list price of all
refiners were on basis of 4.35c less
2 per cent, except Arbuckle's which
was on basis of 4.3Oc less 2 per
cent, the same as the general selling
basis.
Beet gran lated is unchanged on
New York basis of 4.20c less per
cent cas- Of the Mississippi ciyer to
Buffalo and Pittsburg, and 4.10c to
Also less 2 per cent west of the
river
1t will be observed that the margin
between raw and refined sugar in
New York is barely at cost and in
some instances below cost.
This is the program of the New
York importers and refiners for some
years past. The moment beet sugar
| is put on the market the Trust re-
finers in the east mostly shut down
their refineries and reduce the cost of
sugar to meet the beet sugar COM
petition. This is in order to discour-
age the beet sugar manufacturers
and help put them out of business.
AS soon as the beet sugar crop is
sold the trust puts up prices again.
Sugar at the present time is very
low. Last week quotations on beet
sugar in Detroit were the same as in
New York, on a basis of $4.2O per
100 pounds, less per cent for cash.
This leaves a narrow margin for
the manufacturer. The beet grower
in Michigan receives from the factory
$2.45c per hundred pounds of sugar
produced from his beets. At 4.20c
per cent, which the manufacturer
receives for his sugar, after taking
into account his investment, cost of
repairs, supplies, payroll and other
expenses incident to o,eld,ing the
plant, there is very little left in the
nature of profit at the present time.
And taking into account that next
year there will be 81 per cent re-
duction in the tariff protection on
sugar, it will trim down he maui
facturers' margin still more.
Moreover the tinkering with the
tariff by congress has disturbed the
selling value of his property on the
market. He is in the air, so to
speak. If the rs per cent reduction
in the tariff next year is continued
in conformity to the tariff law, the
beet manufacturer justly apprehends
that when May 1, 1916, comes and
sugar is put on the free list that the
entire value of his property will have
been legislated away in order to salts
| fly the greed of INSCRIPTIONS impor-
ter and refiners of raw sugar on the
Atlantic coast.
Prospects for the future are un-
settled. One or two companies in
California have shut down and an
nounce they will go out of business.
Colorado factories say there must be
reduction of at least SO cents ton
on beets.
| In Michigan no formal action has
been taken. The existing conditions
possibly may not be disturbed for the
next crop, but if the rs per cent re-
duction continues annually until May
/, 1916, and then all protection is re-
moved, reductions in the price paid
for beets will be unavoidable.
The present season has been one Of
unusual advantages to the Michigan
beet grower. The crop has turned
out well and the beets in sugar con-
tents have exceeded those grown in
California and Colorado; and in those
states there is already general talk
of slight reductions to be paid for
beets next year.
Michigan beet growers will aver
age pretty close this season to an
average of at least Sc per ton for
their beets.
| We don't know of any other crop
of the farm that will produce better
results, and if 1t comes to matter
of necessity or going out of business,
1t is believed the farmers will be dis
posed to meet the factory men on a
fair basis.
BY their votes next year for men,
bers of congress the people who are
interested in the beet sugar industry
in twenty states and in which more
than 800, 100000 capital is invested.
can show what they think of the ef-
forts made to ruin this great indust-
ry without corresponding benefit to
h,.A horaF,,I - ironortorc n