New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-15
New Sugar Crop
Assures Allies of
Adequate Supplies
Shortage Teaches Lesson, Says
National Bank of
Commerce

Three hundred years ago the great
mass of people scarcely knew the taste
of sugar, while for the rich it was the
rarest of luxuries. To-day the saccha-
rine appetite of the nations of the world
has become so strong that the shortage
of sugar causes greater anxiety than
almost any other phase of the food
problem. In pamphlet just issued by
the National Bank of Commerce many
interesting facts concerning the pro-
duction and distribution of sugar are
presented.
The present sugar shortage, accord
ing to this publication, is only tempo
rary, and the supply will again be ade-
quate as soon as the new crop begins
to move. But the present shortage has
taught the need of carefully conserving
this valuable food product, and no waste
will be tolerated when it once more be-
comes available in normal quantities.
Worlds Production
The total sugar production of the
world has increased from l,288,C00 tons
in 1870 to an average a little in excess
Of 100000 tons for the four years
from 19l4-I5 to 19l7-1S, inclusive The
sugar Of ordinary domestic consump-
ton was first produced exclusively
from the sugar cane, which is a native
OF the tropics and which does not -four
ish proftabiy outside Of a sub-tropical
climate. The presence of the same kind
of sugar that is found in the sugar
cane was discovered in the root OF the
beet as late as l7i7. Beet sugar be-
came of commercial Importance carly
in the nineteenth century. 1t increased
rapidly in importance until, during the
ten years from lSS9-'90 to 1898-'99, it
constituted three-ffths Of the worlds
supply. One of the most dramatic
races of history is that which took
place between beet and cane sugar.
Cane sugar has apparently won the VIC
tory, for in the five years from l9O9-1O
to 19l3-1l, just preceding the outbreak
of the war, it constituted 90 per cent of
the worlds product. Cane sugar pro-
duction has increased from little less
than 100000 tons in 1904-'O5 TO an es-
timatcd crop of about l3,475,000 tons
for the year 1917 10.
The chief factors in the worlds cane
sugar market are Cuba, Java and the
insular possessions of the United
States. since British India, the second
largest producer OF cane sugar in the
world. consumes locally its entire prod
uct. During the four years from 1914
rs to I9l7-1S Cuba produced an aver
age Of 3,326,715 tons of sugar year,
and of this amount she exported 81
per cent to the United States.
Java Crop Important
Java is second in importance as an
exporter Of cane sugar Java's average
production for the same period was
1.645,732 tons, and her sugar, while
widely distributed, is an important fac
tor. under normal conditions, IN the
sugar supply for the United Kingdom,
Continental Europe and British India.
The sugar produced IN the insular
possessions Of the United States, which.
during the four years from l9l4-15 10
III q 10, hFcldbtu lt1lofvDN NS..' f'''NN'
cally ali goes to the United States.
The United States is the heaviest
sugar consumer in the world, our aver
age consumption for the five years
l9OS-'O9 to l9l2-I3 being 3,797,6l0 tons
a year. The United Kingdom is sec
ond, having averaged a consumption
for the same period OF little over
1000 900 tons q year. Russia is third,
and Germany and France follow as to
total quantity consumed. The United
Kingdom has the heaviest per capita
sugar consumption. The figure IS IN
the eighborh God of 90 pounds year.
The United States is second. with per
capita consumption under normal con-
ditions of somewhat more than 81
pounds a year. The sugar per capita
CONSUMPTION in other countries does
not even approach that of the two great
English-speaking nations Germanys
consumption before the war was about
80 pounds per capita, French consump-
ton was about ~ pounds a year. while
the Italians used only about 10 pounds
per capita year.
French Beet Fields Devastated
The present sugar problem centres
around adequate supplies for France,
Great Britain and the United States
Before the war had devastated her beet
fields and before her agricultural labor
had been called into the trenches.
France produced practically her sugar
consumption. 100000 tons per year