Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-02-12
SUGAR FAMINE IN
CITY IN TEN DAYS
So Says Olen F. Phillips,
Broker. Who Has Supply
on Hand for Week
TELLS OF SITUATION
CAUSED BY STRIKES

That there is enough sugar on hand
in Wilmington, and in sight, to meet
the normal demands of this city for
only about another week, was the
statement today OF Glen f. Phillips
sugar broker, of Nos. 2, A and Jones
street. MIR. Phillips says he is supply
ing and practically has been for the
past week, sugar to the retail grocers
of Wilmington. He also had been sup
ulying the wholesalers with much OF
their stock of sugar, he says, but DIS
continued furnishing them with that
commodity a. week ago. The whole
salers received q carload of sugar on
Saturday. he says, which was dis
tributed among them and in turn sup
piled by them to retailers.
Mr.. Phillips says he has had an AMI
pie supply OF sugar on hand 70 meet
,the normal demands of Wilmington az
AN times. and has not been out OF
sugar. DESPITE the unusual conditions
caused by strikes and other diihcul-
Ties al the refneries In New YORK.
PHILADELPHIA and Boston. He has
enough sugar in this city and on the
way to Wilmington in cars 10 last
until the end Of the week. -, l.,
.Tha real sugar famine VIII begin IN
about ten days" Mr.. Phillips adaeu
unless there is a sudden adjustment
~ the labor situation at the Phliaoel
mia rehneries. There Is no sign OF
n settlement OF the Philadelphia
strike and the reserve supply OF su
gar is becoming exhausted. The Ne"
Torl- reSneries settled their strike
about the time the Philadelphia labor
trouble began, but they have not re
sumed anywhere near their norma
nroduction. as they have been COINS
over their plants and improving an'
renewing machinery, this being I'M
lime OF the year devoted 70 ina
work -.
IT am selling the sugar I have OF
hand and in sight to the retai srVc
. ers confectioners, druggists an'
hakers of Wilmington direct, at TN
lowest possible price. I am piacihl
no restrictions as to the price
which thew shall sell to the retailers
but am giving them enough sugar U
meet the normal demands Of their Gus
toners. and will continue TO do so
long as / can get the stock. l mish
mako a big profit for myself out Q
tb;a situation. If I care TO take au
xontage of Il for several Philadelphi
houses have called me by telepnon
renaatedlv and pleaded for quantitie
az sugar saving that the price coul
he set nv me. / have refused then
nreferring to take care OF the WI
mington trade at prices absolulei
consistent with what l have TO pay;
Mr. Phillips says that when the Il
bor trouble developed at the Pnilaoe
mia reHneries he bought all the sug
he could get hold Of This included
carload at Wilkes-Barre and anoth
carload at New York the past wee
for which. he had to pay premium
i'm addition TO extra freight, and
also acquired considerable sugar
Tamaoua. Reading, Hazleton al
York. Pa, which he has had shipp'
10 this city. Ten days ago Mr.. Pm
lips was selling sugar to wholesale
and retailers in this city at 1910
hundred pounds, and today he w
selling il at $3.50 a hundred pounc
II being spot" sugar. for whicn
had to pay premium. Mr. Fhilll
said he had about 10000 pounds
sugar in stock when the trouble
veioped that has curtailed prouuclio
Mr.. Philips lhiS HAoi 80
touch with the refneries Of Philad'
mia. New York and Boston IN an
deavpr 10 add to his stock. Boston
Fneries refused to take orders. II
New York rehneries promised a ca
load Of sugar on Saturday, and o
carload the following Saturday T
philadelphia rehneries are practical
al standstill, one with capaei
Of 45OO barrels a day turning out 2
barrels a day. One hundred teal
and automobiles we're backed up q
morning in Philadelphia as one rem
cry that had just five barrels OF sue
ON hand. Mr.. Phillips said. He
meets the New York reineries TO wi
draw from outside shipments M
week. The market for raw matters
closed at eighteen points higher
Saturday. which means an increase
the cost Of sugar at the rehneri