New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1918-03-23
'h;.:RICAN SUGAR
sent TO FRANCE
American Price Rigid|y Regulated
by United States Food
Administration.
CONSUMERS HERE PAY Sc.
Sugar Cost 50 Cents a Pound During
Civil War-ReNners' Profits
Now CurtaiIed.

AHs'l'H ~ lIolu OF 10 Genus
pound to the consumer. even though
there In a world shortage which has
reduced this nations sugar allotment
to 70 per cent. of normal.
Through the efforts Of the United
States food administration the suga,
market has been regulated as far M
the producer, retiner and wholesaler
In 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 s to 81 cents. He
should sell this sugar at S1s 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 - cents n pound.
by regulation of the sugar market and
reducing the price to 81 and 9 cents
and keeping II from advancing to 20
cents the food administration has saw
ed the American public at least $780,
OOO,OO0 in four months. according to
a statement made by Herbert Hoover
the other day.
at 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 rs we see II. 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.
az we send the ships to Java
for 10000 tons Of sugar next year
we will have necessitated the en-
pioyment Of eleven extra ships for
one year. These ships--if used In
transporting troops-wouid take
10000 to 200, 900 men to France"
Reason for World Shortage.
Az 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
was Germany and neighboring powers.
the West Indies and the East Indies.
German sugar Is no longer available.
AZ It is used entirely in Germany.
which also absorbs sugar Of surround
ing countries.
England can no longer buy 1,4O0, 900
long tons Of sugar each year from
Germany. The French sugar produc.
ton has dropped from 10000 to no.
600 tons. The italian production has
fallen from 10000 tons to $4,000 tons.
Thus three countries were thrown
upon East and West Indian sources
for 1926, 900 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 ~ great Sud-
denly the west was called on to fur
nish and did furnish 1,42O.O 900 tons OF
sugar to Europe when 100000 tons .
year was the pre-war demand. The
allies had drawn from Java 10000
tons before the shipping situation b.
came acute.
an spite Of these shipments" Mr..
Hoover stated the other day, "the
English government In August reduced
the household sugar ration to basis
Of "a pounds per annurn per capita.
And in September the French govern
ment reduced their household ration
to Is 2-10 pounds year. or bit over
pound Of sugar q month. Even this
meagre ration could not be filled BY
The French government It was found
early In the fall. America was then
asked for 100000 tons Of sugar and
succeeded in sending $1,000 tons By
December 1. The French request was
granted because the American house
hold consumption was then at least %
pounds per person, and It was consid-
sred the duty Of maintaining the
French morale made our course clear"
Today the sugar situation may
be summarized BY stating that II
Amsrtoa will reduce its suuar con.
sumption 10 . 10 per cent. thle
nation will b abls 70 send 100000
more soldiers 70 France.
Sugar today sells ct seaboard ~
1neries ut @7.25 a hundred poundA
The wholesale grocer has agreed to
INIT his profit to 20 cents 4 hundred
,lus freight, and the retail grocer y
imposed to take no more than 50 cents |
i hundred pounds profit. This regsl-
alton was made by the food adminis-
ration. which now asks the housewife
o reduce sugar consumption a. much
% possible. ualng other sweetsnsrs.
md also reminds her that she should
~ no moro than . eents . pound Tor