Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-10-17
EASTERN STATES
SHORT OF SUGAR
Near-Famine Due to Failure of
Public to Reduce Con-
sumption.
RELIEF LATE IN NOVEMBER
In Meantime People Are Warned
to Pay No More for
Their Supplies.
RELIEF LATE IN NOVEMBER
IBy Associated Press.l

WAS1lNGCTON, October lG-The
Eastern States face sugar shortage,
with no prospect of relief before late
and Western beet crops arrive. In a
statement tonight forecasting the
shortage. the food administration again
appealed to the American people to
cut down their consumption of candy
and sweet drinks, and ut the same
time gave warning that retailers al
ready have received their stocks at
prices recently agreed upon. and the
public should pay no more during the
temporary scarcity in the East than
it has been paying during the past
thirty days.
The shortage is due. rnc administra-
tion says. to the failure of the public
outside of a few loyal homes to reduce
consumption, and to unusual exports
to France in order that the French peo-
pie may have their meager ration OF
one pound of sugar per person per
month.
BEET AND HAWAIIAN
SUGAR PRICES FINED
In regard to prices. attention Is
called to the fact that by agreement
the price Of beet and Hawaiian sugar
has been fixed at IA cents pound
Atlantic and Pacific seaboard basis. un-
der which the maximum retail price
at interior points should be S1-4 cents,
while by an agreement with the cane
refiners and Cuban producers. the
price OF cane sugar has been held
down SO that 1t should reach the con-
sumcr at about 9 cents a pound
There will be a temporary shortage
in the supply of sugar TO the area
north OF Savannah and east of Pitts
burgh," the food administrations
statement said. during the latter part
OF October and the month OF Novem-
ber. pending the arrival in the market
of new sugar. The beet sugar fac
tories in the Western States are rapid
ly coming into action. and. together
with the Hawaiian production. will be
able In a short tim; to take care OF
the sugar supply in the area west OF
the territory referred to.
Practically ali OF the cane sugar in
the hands of the rcfiners and the pro-
duccrs has now been distributed to the
jobbers and retailers at the prices
maintained during the last two months
consumer in the nciEhborhood OF Q
cents per pound. Therefore. If by vir-
tue Of the shortage in the Eastern
States the price of sugar should in
crease. it is only proof that 1t has been
increased at the hands OF the handling
trades-not at the hand OF either the
producer or the refncr. The food ad-
ministration asks the public not to pay
more for sugar during the present
shortage than 1t has been paying dur
ing the last thirty days. When tho
supply of beet sugar reaches the At
lantic seaboard. it should be available
upon a less basis than the cane prices
above mentioned
JonBERS MIST DISTRIBI"TE
THEIR SUPPLIES WITH CARE:
Furthermore. the food administra-
tion requests that all jobbers In the
West, as we'll as in the East. should
distribute their sugar with care
amongst the retailers in much reduced
quantities, and that the retailers, in
turn. should refuse to sell but a very
limited quantity to any one customer.
Continued on Tenth Page1