The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-01-28
American Price RigidIy Regulated
by United States Food .
49,. Administration. ,>
CONSUMERS HERE PAY Sc.
SUGAR Cost IS Cents Pound During
Civil War-Refiners' Profits
Now Curtailed.

pound to the consumer, ever thOusA
there is a world shortage which has
reduced this nations sugar allotment
10 20 per cent. Of normal.
Through the efforts Of the United
States food administration the sugar
market has been regulated as far rs
the producer, refhner 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 g%rocer's sugar
price Is around 8 to 81 cents. He
should sell this sugar Mt 81 to 9
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 IS cents a pound.
BY regulation Of the sugar market n
reducing the price to 81 and 8 cents
and keeping It from advancing to ~
cents the food administration has saw
ed the American public ut least $780,
600, 900 in four months, according to
a statement made by Herbert Hoover
the other day.
ut Is our stern duty to feed the al
lies, 10 maintain their health and
strength ut n cos 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 1t. 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.
~ we send the ships to Java
+ for 100000 tons Of sugar next 5'eaF
we will have neeessitated the
ployment o. eleven extra ships for
one year. These ohirs--H ueed IN
Transporting troops-would take
10000 to 100000 men to France"
Reason for World Shortage.
As Mr., Hoover pointed out, the
United States, Canada and England
were sugar importing countries before
the war, while France and Italy were
very nearly self supporting. The main
sources Of the worlds sugar supply
Il Germany and n%cighboring powers,
the West Indies and the East Indies.
German sugar Is nc longer available,
NJ It 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 produce
ton has dropped from 100000 to 21O.'
600 tons. The Italian production has
fallen from 100000 tons to $4,000 tons.
Thus three countries were thrown
upon East n West Indian sources
for 1926, 900 tons annually to maintain
their normal consumption.
Because OF the worlds sh'pp'ng
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
dcnlv the west was called on to fur
nish and did furnish 100000 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.
"ln spite Of these shipments" Mr..
Hoover stated the other day. "the
English government in August reduced
the household sugar ration to a basis
Of "a pounds per nnnum per capita.
And in September the French govern
ment reduced their household ration
to 13 2-1O pounds a year, or q hit over
! pound OF sugar a month. Even his
meagre ration could not be filled by
the French government It was found
early in the fall. America was then
asked for 100000 tom Of sugar ana
succeeded in sending 5000 tons by
December l., The French request was
granted because the American house
hold consumption was then at least ~
mounds per person. and It was consid'
cred ,he duty of maintaining the
French morale made our course clear
Today the sugar situation may
be summarized by stating that u
America will reduce ito sugar con-
sumption 10 to IS per cent. this
nation will be able to send 100000
more soldiers to France.
Sugar today sells at seaboard 70
fineries at 1925 a hundred pounds.
The wholesale grocer has agreed to
limit his profit to Is cents a hundred
Mus freight, and the retail grocer IL
supposed to take no more than so cents
a hundred pounds profit. This reSu-
lation was made by the food admins
tration, which now asks the housewife
to reduce sugar consumption as much.
as possible, using other s~weeteners.
and also reminds her that she should
INV no more than 8 cents a pound for
sugar.
ccntro, Of Cane Rehners' Profits.
"Imimediately upon the establish
ment Of the food administration" MI.
Hoover said, IAN examination was
noodo NJ tina rosfs and nrOhts of refn.,