The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-02-02
AMERICAN SUGAR
SENT TO FRANCE
American Price RigidIy Regulated
by United States Food
Administration.
CONSUMERS HERE PAY 90.
Sugar Cost IS Cents a Pound During
Civil War-Refiners' Profits
Now Curtailed.

Sugar Is selling today throughout
America at from 8h to 8 cents a
pound to the consumer, even though
there ID a world shortage which has
reduced this nations sugar allotment
to 10 per cent. Of normal.
Through the efforts Of the United
States food administration the sugar
market has been regulated as far as
the producer, refiner and wholesaler
Is concerned. The food administration
has no power to regulate retail prices
except by public opinion. Even though
more than $4,000 tons Of sugar have
been shipped to France In the last
four months the retail grOcer's sugar
price is around to 81s cents. He
should sell this sugar ut 8la to 8
cents, the food administration believes,
and asks the American housewife to
pay no more than this amount.
Last August when the food admin
istration was organized the price Of
sugar rose suddenly to II cents a
pound. During the Civil War sugar
cost the consumer rs cents pound.
By regulation of the sugar market and
reducing the price to 81 and 8 cents
and keeping II from advancing to 20
cents the food administration has saw
ed the American public at least $780,
000,0OO In four months, according to
a statement made by Herbert Hoover
the other day.
ut Is our stern duty to feed the al
lies, to maintain their health and
strength at any cost to ourselves"
Mr.. Hoover declared. "There has not
been, nor will be as we see 1t, enough
sugar for even their present meagre
and depressing ration unless they send
ships to remote markets for It. II we
In our greed and gluttony force them
either to further reduce their ration
or to send these ships we will have
done damage to our abilities to win
this war.
"If we send the ships to Java
for 250, 1000 tons Of sugar next year
we will have necessltated the en-
pioyment Of eleven extra ships for
one year. These ships--if used In
transporting troops-wouid take
10000 to 100000 men to France"
Reason for World Shortage.
AS Mr.. Hoover pointed out, the
United States, Canada and England
we're sugar importing countries before
he war, while France and Italy were
very nearly self supporting. The main
sources Of the worlds sugar supply
was Germany and neighboring powers,
the West Indies and the East Indies
German sugar is no longer available
as II Is used entirely In Germany,
which also absOrbs sugar Of surround
Ing countries
England can no longer buy 100000
long tons of sugar each year from
Germany. The French sugar produc-
ton has dropped from 10000 to 2l0,-
00O tons. The Italian production has
fallen from 10000 tons to 5000 TONS
Thus three countries were thrown
upon East and West Indian sources
for 1,925,OOO tons annually to maintain
their normal consumption.
Because of the worlds shipping
shortage the allied nations started
drawing on the West Indies for sugar;
East Indian sugar took three times
the number of ships, since the dis
lance was three times as great. Sud-
denly the west was called on to fur
nIsh and did furnish 1,420,OO0 tons OF
sugar to Europe when 100000 tons a
year was the pre-war demand. The
allies had drawn from Java 100000
tons before the shipping situation be-
came acute.
"In spite Of these shipments" Mr..
Hoover stated the other day, "the
English government m August reduced
the household sugar ration to basis
of "A pounds per annum per capita.
And in September the French govern
ment reduced their household ration