Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1914-08-21
CLAIM RISE IN SUGAR
IS NOT ARBITRARY
Pamphlet Entitled Facts About
Sugar" Would Build Up
Home Production

New York, Aug. 2O.-The outbreak
of war in Europe has resulted in a
sharp advance in sugar prices. On
July 30, the lowest net cash quota
ton of the New York refiners for
g%ranulated sugar was 4.165 cents a
pound while raw sugar was selling a
1923 cents. BY August 10 refined had
advanced to 6 cents and raws to S
cents.
Germany, Austria, Russia France
and the nations actively engaged in
conflict, are the chief sources of Eu-
ropes sugar supply, producing to-
gether some 100000 tons of beet
sugar. This is nearly 80 per cent Of
the entire output of beet sugar and
more than one-third of the total sugar
crop of the world. Ordinarily Ger
many, Austria and Russia export a
million tons or more of sugar, to other
countries, largely to Great Britain.
The largest production and the larg-
est expectation is that of Germany.
The harvesting of the German beet
crop is carried on largely by laborers
from Russian Poland, and this labor
will not be available if the war CON
tinues during the harvesting period.
In all the countries involved in the
war the labor supply is drained by
military operations, and it Is, likely
that the beet fields may be devast-
ated by the movement Of troops.
Great Britain Big Importer.
Great Britain is the chief sugar i'm
porting country OF Europe. Her year
ly importationes are over two million
tons, of which approximately 100000
tons ordinarily is drawn from nations
now involved. in war. With this
source of supply cut off, Great Britain
has turned to the New York market
to secure sugar, buying 10000 tons
within the first few days of August
and bidding up prices rapidly in order
to obtain it. While the European war
continues it will be necessary for the
Britons to depend for sugar upon
sources Of supply on which usually
they do not draw to any extent. 1t
is evident from what has occurred
already that they are likely to con
tinue in sharp competition for Cuban
sugar which ordinarily comes to the
American market.
The supply of Cuban and American
grown sugar in sight at the end Of
July was just about sufficient to meet
the estimated demands of American
consumption up to the time when the
crops now growing will become avail
able. Any considerable outside draft
uron, this supply, therefore, was
bound to show its effect at once in
advancing prices.
Domestic Production.
Fortunately for the United States,
in spite of the curtailment Of pro-
duction in the care and beet growing
districts due TO the reduction of the
tariff, we still have a domestic pro-
duction Of sugar, including that OF
Porto Rico and Hawaii, which should
~niaGunt to owe. 40 and a hHlf million
|'o2s this year his will serve as a
lcat steadi,l 0 lie market in case
OF 2 protractel ! 2r. AMI will prevent
prices from goins IS high as they
otherwise would II hough the ne.,es-
SlS VI SECURING CHfT N.0 mllilCn TONS
- } outside tie 1T d States, in adj
dition to the domestic supply, will
lenve the Amer CHI market und !. the
%insuence Sof the general adyance in
world pr,oas.
Cne Of the aiGu, sats that has be j,
PIT forward against the destruction
II The American sugar growing in
lstry through tie removal OF the
iHrcrt duty or sugar is that it wonld
expose American consumers to all
tie violent fluctuations that take
place in the !eurorean sugar marker
as a result of war, speculation or
crop shortage. The present situation
affords a striking illustration Of the