Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-21
PINCH or SUGAR FAMINE
MANIFEST IN RICHMOND
Quantities for IL Cents
Per Pound.
STRICT ECONOMY Is URGED
Nation Faces First Self.Denial In
Matter Of Food Administration
Issues Warning-Candy Manufac-
turers Put Under Ban.

Sugar must be conserved. II it Is
not, Richmond will feel the pinch of
the sugar famine which now conrronts
the country. This was learned last
night from the largest Wholesale dis
tributors OF sugar In the South, and
from the smaller grocery stores OF the
city, which ~dea1 directly with tho con-
sumers.
1t was stated by one OF the large
wholesalers In this way: I'VE have
not a grain OF sugar in our ware
houses. We usually have from 1000
to 10000 barrels on hand. There will
unquestionably be a shortage, for every
refinery IN the country except two. and
these are supplying the government.
have shut down They cannot get raw
materials and manufacture sugar to
sell for S7.25 per 100 to the jobber.
1t Is hoped that relief will como with
the beet crop. which is now ready to
be put on the market"
One car lond OF yellow sugar was
received yesterday, and 1t was seized
upon by the retailers. and. it was
stated. would doubtless be bought up
by consumers at once. Under normal
conditions. 1t was said. car load of
this class OF sugar would not be con-
sumed in a year.
SOME ASK Il CENTS
AND MANY GLAD TO GET TT
Grocers who had small supplies of
sugar last night were selling only
to regulSr customers, and only in two
pound lots. conditioned upon the GUS
toner buying so cents worth, and In
some cases more OF other goods. The
price for the past week has ranged
from 1-2 up to IL cents per pound.
Some groceries were selling for 1-2
cents last night, and others were ask
ing IL cents. Sales of brown and yell
low sugar were reported heavy. Some
stores were willing to sell five pounds
to customer. but one dealer said that
he would not sell more than that
amount even to his own wife.
A few weeks ago there was an
adequate supply of sugar in local
wholesale warehouses. and this would
have tided over the threatened famine
in Richmond. However. when the gov
ernment fixed the price at s7.25 to
jobbers. the wholesale houses here. hay-
ing paid as high as "a cents per
pound for the supply on hand. sold in
New York in order to protect it's In
terests.
Local hotels and restaurants have
stocked up in anticipation of the
shortage 1t was stated that the larger
eating places have from twenty to five
barrels on hand. One large restaurant
proprietor stated that he had a supply
Of 1000 pounds. having been stocked
up by his wholesaler short time ago.
MANY STOCKS EXHAUSTED
IN SHOPS OF CITY
The supply for ordinary consumption
in homes is to be had only in the local
groceries, and from reports some Of
these had no sugar on hand and others
were selling the small remainder Of
their stock under the restrictions
stated.
Those closely in touch with the sit
uation here stated that 1t would be
three weeks at least before any relief
could come. and stated with impress
sive forcefulness that the people must
conserve the present supply or feel the
pinch consequent upon the failure Of
the supply OF sweets. This famine will,
II was stated. first be felt by the
dealers in candies, sweet beverages,
pickles. Confectioners who were seen
stated that thy had not felt the
famine and expected shipments of
sugar. This statement would seem to
conflict with that. of local wholesalers.
who say that reflneries are not accept
ing any orders. 1t is understood that
the larger confectioners have their own
reflneries.
All in all. the situation 10 not Of
vital pressing seriousness just at this
time. It will be = week at least be-
(Coatinnsd oo Elsvonth PaEal