The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-10-03

Asia ,655, 600 tons
Africa - - -.--.--.35 I 900 tons
Europe:
e ne----. ------ %, 600 tons
Beet -8, O57, 900 tons
Grand total OF cane ard
bset sugar for the
entire world = II. Asa, coo tons
| A study of the above table shows
that E Irope alone produces, n rourd
numbers, is-h4lf of tue word supp
of sugar. OF the O57, 900 IONS IaiseI
ia Europe, the counties OF Germany,
Frabce and Austria HuegarJ produce it
all, except the small amounts B -Igiam.
Holland and Switzerland may grow.
To be accurate, Germany produces
annually, two and one half million tons,
Austria, two million, France, one and
Ole-q1arter million and Belgium, one
half million tons Tnese great coun
tries, so prolific in the sugar beet in
dustry, are now engaged in a deadly
war and her fertile fields are running
blood; instead or marketing their beet
crops their farms are converted into
military camps All able bodied men
have been callei to the coiors, Tearing
the women, children and dacrepit t.
harvest their crops and work in the
sugar factories. Consequently this
years sugar beet crop of 6. 900, coo tons,
one-half Of The worlds production, vii
all. or nearly all be lost.
Another glance at the above t4bla
will show that America produces in
round numbers, 800. 900 tons of sugar,
Including both cane aad beet sugars
When it is known that the U. s. con-
sumes annually, in round numbers, 3,
800, GOO tons of sugar, it Is seen that
she is a great importer of raw sugar
aud must enter into competition with
the other nations of the world for her
supply. England also is heavy con.
sumner Of sugars add produces none. In
round numbers England takes annually
two and One-quar,er million tons Of the
worlds supply. Heretofore Great Brit
ain has purchased one-hslf OF what she
uses from Germany. At present she
cannot buy from Germany, so England,
as we'll as the U. s., must look abroad
j for her sugar supply. South America,
Africa and Asia barely produce sufic-
lent Quantities for home consumption,
therefore the only supply of sugars for
the u. s., Great Britain and the other
countries Of Europe, both neutral anc
at war. must come from the East and
West Indies, Hawaiian Islands and
Inff Il sci
It is evident that the supply will be
very inadequate. which is bound to
make the price high.
If this war continues, and it looks
now that it would, Americans may ex-
pect the price.of sugar to soar 90 still
greater heights.
Another important factor effecting
the production Of sugar in America il
the 1nfavorable attitude OF Congress
toward that indu strY during the last
three or four years. It has been gen
orally believed bV politicians from most
Of the political parties that the sug Ar
industry, as a whole, in the United
States was not Legitimate business.
Perhaps no other corporation has been
kicked around by the courts and ma
ligned by statesman as has the Amer
lean Sugar REFINING Go. Yet under
all it has prospered and the price o.
sugar has been reasonable. But tn
last congress succeeded in carrying out
it's wishes and the tariff was so ADJUST
ed that American refineTs and sugar
producers have no protection what
ever. The result is that thousands OF
planters in the south and sugar beet
growers Of the north, have ceased the
raising Of cane ard beets. Conseq tent
ly many sugar factories throughout th
81 United States have closed, many of
them permansntly, and thu result Is 3
great diminution in the quantity of sug
AZ put cut By this country. Instead of
putting out one million tons of beet SD
gar this year, as no doubt would have
been the case IL the tariff had not beer
removed, this country will produce a.
bout $50, 900 tons
Therefore the law OF supply and d :
mapd steps Ia and fixes the prica, and
as the supply is certain to be materially
reduced. the price Of sugar must BE-
proportioaateIy high.
The question NAV be asked, Why
should the price Of sugar have gone ur
30 rapidly in so short a period OF time
as it has recently done? The answer
! is that foreign countries see = sugar
famine approaching and they sre there
fore buying al the sugar they can find
It is authenticity reported that few
Jays after the var began England sent
her agents to this country for that pur
pose and in one day they bought 800,
600 bags, or 100. GOO tors, of sugar in
New York Cit7, The7 also authorized
their agents to purchase sugar in the
soath. in Cuba OK in any place where II
might be secured. Surely this bidding
for necessity ike sugar would make
the prIss jump Ep st tremendous
Rats. G. R. T.