The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1914-09-16

however, is caused by the position OF
Great Britain.
Y. S. and U. x. Struggle for Sugar
Great Britain and the United States
are the two greatest sugar importing
countries of the world. They are the
only first rank nations that have adopt
ed the policy of permitting other coun
tries to supply their sugar, instead
OF growing it at home. In the United
States this policy will not go into full
effect until 1916. when sugar goes on
the free list. American growers still
supply nearly one-half of the sugar
used in this country. On account OF
her greater population the United
States uses much more sugar than the
| United Kingdom, and the importations
of the two countries are nearly equal,
each importing about 2,0OO,000 tons
yearly.
Great Britain ordinarily buys l.
100000 tons Of sugar from continent
tai Europe, mostly from Germany and
AuStria-Hungary, While the United
States takes nearly all of the Cuban
| crop OF over 100000 tons year. 1t
| was explained in these columns last
| month how Great Britain, shut OF
from her continental supplies, entered
, the New York market, bidding up the
prices nearly three cents Il pound in
her eagerneSS to obtain sugar. Since
that time purchases on British ac-
count have continued. The reports OF
Wiilett & Gray's Sugar Trade Jour
nal show that British interests since
August LIST have contracted for over
SOC, 900 tons OF sugar in various parts
of the world.
New York Exports Sugar.
From being almost exclusively an
importer of sugar New York was
transformed suddenly during the
month of August into an export mar
ket More than $4,000 tons. over
l0O000O,00O pounds, was shipped from
New York. chiefly to British ports, dur
ing the month. Sugar brokers' report
ed that they received inquiries or or
ders from Greece, Norway, Holland,
Denmark. France and South America
during this same period.
The main factor in fixing sugar
prices during the continuance of the
European war undoubtedly will con-
time to be the competition OF Great
Britain and the United States for the
available sugar supply, particularly
that OF Cuba, which, is the worlds
greatest exporter Of sugar. Increased
prices will result in some leSsening
of consumption, but the United King
dom will need to obtain from other
than her usual sources of supply prob
ably 1,250,O00 tons, while the United
States, owing to the decrease in the
domestic crop following the reduction
of the tariff, will have to import be-
tween 100000 and 100000 tons if
it can be found The needs of these
two countries may be placed at $500
600 tons. Cuba, with an estimated
crop of less than 2.5O0,O0O tons, can
supply only part of this demand
Java, with Il production of 100000
tons, may help to meet it. Other
scattered small producing countries
may contribute relatively unimport-
ant amounts. Whatever is shipped
from these countries to Great Britain
or the United States must be with
drawn from other accustomed trade !
channels, however, SO that period OF
comparative scarcity and high prices
would seem to be inevitable so long |
as the war continues and possibly for |
a considerable time after it's close. |
Unless the hostilities end before next |
spring when the season for planting |
next years crop arrives. the scarcity |
for the following year is likely to be |
more marked THIN during the coming
twelve months, while the exhaustion
of beet seed supplies under such cir
would result in lowered |
output OF beet sugar for several years |
to come.
Had the United States adhered to |
the policy of building up the produc-
ton of sugar from its own soil by the !
of moderate tariff on
sugar. the next few years undoubtedly |
would see vast expansion of the do
nestle sugar industry. AS it is, how
ever, the uncertainty as to how long |
the war will continue, together with |
the prospects of free sugar in 1916, is
likely to act as a deterrent on any |
considerable extension. Some cane |
and beet fields abandoned this year
may be replanted next spring if the
war is still on. A few of the cane
mills and beet factories that have
been shut down but not yet dismantl.
ed may be reopened for another
season, but it is futile to base any eX-
pectation of permanent upbuilding OF
the American sugar industry on
factor of such temporary influence as