Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1918-02-07
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.


pound to the consumer, even though
there is world shortage which has
reduced this nations sugar allotment
TO 20 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
rs concerned. The food administration
has no power to regulate retail prices
except by public opinion. Even though
more than $1,000 tons Of sugar have
been shipped to France In the last
four months the retail grocer's sugar
price is around s to S1s cents. He
should sell this sugar at 815 to
cents, the food administration believes,
and asks the American housewife to
gay no more than this amount.
Last August when the food admin
astration was organized the price OF
sugar rose suddenly to IL cents
pound. During the Civil War sugar
cost the consumer 35 cents pound.
by regulation of the sugar market and
reducing the price to So and 8 cents
and keeping 1t from advancing to 20
scents the food administration has saw
ed the American public at least $780,
100000 in four months, according to
"a statement made by Herbert Hoover
Ithe 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 as we see 1t, enough
sugar for even their present meagre
and depressing ration unless they send
ships to remote markets for 1t. If 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.
"lf we send the ships to Java
Tor ESQ, 900 tone Of sugar next year
we will have necessitated the en-
ployment Of eleven extra ships for
one year. These shIps-if used in
transporting kroops-would take
$4,000 to 200, 900 men to France"
Reason for World Shortage.
AS Mr.. Hoover pointed out, the
United States, Canada and England
were sugar importing countries before
she war, while France and Italy were
very nearly self supporting. The main
sources of the worlds sugar supply
Nr1s Germany and neighboring powers,
the West Indies and the East Indies.
German sugar is no longer available.
az 1t is used entirely In Germany,
which also absorbs sugar of surround
ing countries.
England can no longer buy 100000
Song tons of sugar each year from
Germany. The French sugar produc-
aisn has dropped from 100000 to 210-
600 tons. The italian production has
E2llen from 10000 tons to 10000 tons
Thus three countries were thrown
upon East and West Indian sources
gor 1925, 900 tons annually to maintain
Gheir normal consumption.
Because of Che worlds shipping
shortage the allied nations started
drawing on the West Indies for sugar.
East Indian sugar took three times
G1e number ST ships, since the dis
aance was three times as great. Sud-
denly the west was called on to fur
lish and did furnish 100000 tons Of
sugar to Europe when 100000 tons
PEAR was the pre-war demand. The
allies had drawn from Java 100000
6uns before the shipping situation be-
came acute.
Elm spite of ehese Shipments" Mr..
Hoover stated the other day, "the
English government In August reduced
Che household sugar ration to basis
az "a pounds ner annum per capita.
And in September the French govern
raent reduced thelf household ration
Go 10 2-10 pounds year, or a bit over
L pound Of sugar month. Even this
meagre ration could not be filed by
Ghe French GOVERNMENT 1t was found
early in the fail. 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 30
pounds per person. and 1t was consid-
cred the duty of maintaining the
French morale made our course clear"
Today the sugar situation may
bs summarized by stating that u
America win reduce its sugar con-
sumption 10 to IS per cent. this
nation will be able to send 100000
anore soldiers TO France.
Sugar today sells at seaboard re-
Ensries at SIPS a hundred pounds.
Tlzs wholesale grocer has agreed to
Emit his profit 10 % cents a hundred |
rzns freight, asd the retail grocer is
Supposed to take no more than 80 cents |
n hundred pounds profit This regu-
Ia11on was made by the food admins
trztion, which noW asks the housewife |
n reduce sugaE consumption as much !
N possible, using other sweeteners,
and also reminds her that she should |
psT 40 more than cents pound for
sreaF.
Control Of can, Rsaners' Proab