Imperial Valley press., 1918-02-09
AMERICAN SUGAR
SENT TO FRANCE
American Price RigidIy Regulated
by United States Food
Administration.
CONSUMERS HERE PAY Sc.
Sugar Cost IS Cents Pound During
Civil War-Refiners' Profits
Now Curtailed.

Sugar is selling today throughout
America at from S1a to 8 cents a
pound to the consumer, even though
here is a world shortage which has
reduced this nations sugar allotment
% 40 per cent. of normal.
Through the efforts of the United
States food administration the sugar
market has been regulated as far as
he producer, refiner and wholesaler
5 concerned. The food administration
las no power TO regulate retail prices
except by public opinion. Even though
more than $1,000 tons of sugar have
icen shipped to France in the last
'our months the retail grOcer's sugar
orice is around S to Sl2 cents. He
should sell this sugar at S12 TO 3
oentS, the food administration believes,
and asks the American housewife TO
pay no more than this amount.
Last August when the food admin
stration was organized the price OF
sugar rose suddenly TO II cents
1ound During the Civil War sugar
cost the consumer 30 cents a pound.
BY regulation of the sugar market and
reducing the price to S15 and Q cents
and keeping it from advancing TO 20
cents the food administration has saT-
ed the American public az least $780,
100000 in four months, according TO
A statement made by Herbert Hoover
The other day.
1T is our stern duty to feed the al
lies, TO maintain their health and
strength at any cost 10 ourselves,
Mr.. Hoover declared. There has not
been, nor will be as we see it, enough
sugar for even their present meagre
and depressing ration unless they Send
ships 70 remote markets for IT, If we
in our greed and gluttOnv 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 10 Java
for 25O,OOo tons Of sugar next year
we viii have necessitated the en-
plcyment OF eleven extra ships for
one year. These ships-if used in
Transporting troops-would take
10000 TO 100000 men 70 France"
Reason for Word Shortage.
As Mr. Hoover pointed out the
United States, Canada and England
we're sugar importing countries before
,he war. while France and Italy We're
very nearly self supporting The main
sources OF the worlds sugar supply
was Germany aud nci2hborIng powers
tie West Indies and the East Iud'es
German SUGAR is no Ionge" available.
rs r IS uecI entirely in Germany,
which also nhsorbs sugar Of surround
ing countries
England eau no longer buy 100000
ION. tons Of sugar each year from
Germany. The French sugar produc-
tlou las drorpcd from 100000 70 2lO,,
CGO tons. The Italian production has
fallen from 2lO.OOO tons to 10000 tons.
Thus three countries were thrown
upon East and West Indian sources
for .92I 900 IONS annually to maintain
fhrlr normal consumption
Because u the worlds shipping
shortage the allied nations started
drayin2 on ,he West indies for sugar
last Indian ugar tool; three tm",
the number = ships, since me Dis
tan0e was thInc times as great. SUD
denly the Vc.t WAS called on 10 fur
rfsb ard dfd r1rtfSb 42D NnO tons Dl
sugar 70 Europe when ""o0oo '"h~ d
,ra~ va 90 .~,---r .~aaEd 2l'