The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1918-02-01
AMERICAN SUGAR
Hoover Tells Why We Must
Supply Our Allies.

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America at from Sh to 8 cents a
pound to the consumer, even though
there is 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 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 s TO 81s cents. He
should sell this sugar at Sh to
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 IL cents a
pound. During the Civil War sugar
cost the consumer 35 cents pound.
BY regulation of the sugar market and
reducing the price to 81s and cents
and keeping It from advancing to 20
cents the food administration has saw
ed the American public at least $780,
100000 in four months, according to
a statement made by Herbert Hoover
the other day. &
"It 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 it, lenough
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.
"If we send the ships to Java
for 25o,OOo tons of sugar next year
we will have necessitated the en-
ployment Of eleven extra ships for
one year. These ships-if used In
transporting troops-wouId take
10000 to 20O, 900 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 mafn
sources of the worlds sugar supply
was Germany and neighborfng powers,
the West Indies and the East Indies.
German sugar is no longer available,
as 1t 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-
tion has dropped from 100000 to 210,-
900 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 1.925,000 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
nish and did furnish 1,42O,O00 tons o'
sugar to Europe when 100000 tons, q
year was the pre-yvar demand. Tht
allies had drawn from Java 400,0 On
tons before the shipping situation / se
came acute.
"In spite of these shipments" MH
Hoover stated the other day, "tht
English government fn August reduced
the household sugar ration to a basis
Of "a pounds per annum per capita
And in September the French govern
ment reduced their household ratit VI
to 13 2-10 pounds year, or bit owe
l pound of sugar a month. Even thi
meagre ration could not be filed by
the French government 1t was found
early in the fall. America was then
asked for 100000 tons of sugar and
succeeded in sending $4,000 tons by
December /. The French request was
granted because the American house.
hold consumption was then at least 81
pounds per person, and it was consid'
cred the duty Of maintaining the
French morale made our course clear"
Today the sugar situation may
be summarized by stating that II
America will reduce Its sugar con-
sumption 10 to is per cent. this
nation will be able to send 200 900
more soldiers to France.
Sugar today sells at seaboard re.
fneries at $7.25 hundred pounds