The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1918-02-21
American Price RigidIy Regulated
by United States Food
Administration.
CONSUMERS HERE PAY Sc.
Sugar Cost IS Cents q Pound During
Civil war-Refiners' Profits
Now Curtailed.


there Is a world shortage which has
reduced this nations sugar allotment
10 70 per cent. OF normal.
Through the efforts Of the United
States food administration the sugar
market hns been regulated as fur az
the producer. refiner nnd wholesaler
Is concerned. The food administration
has no power to regulate retail prices
except hy public opinion. Even though
more than 5000 tons OF sugar have
been shipped to France In the last
four months the retail grocer's sugar
price Is around 8 to 81 cents. He
should sell this sugar at 81 to 8
cents, the food administrat tiOn believes,
md asks the American housewife to
my 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 35 cents pound.
by regulation OF the sugar market and
reducing the price to 8Ia and 8 cents
and keeping II 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 ny Herbert Hoover
he other day.
ut 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 II, enough
sugar for even their present meagre
and depressing ration unless they send
ships to remote markets for It 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 tho ships to Java
for 25o, 900 tons Of sugar next year
we will have necessitated tho eu,-
pioyment Of eleven extra ships for
one year. These shlps-If used In
transporting troops-wouid take
i50,0 900 to 2oo, ,oCO 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
was Germany and neighhoring powers,
the West Indies and the East Indies
German sugar Is no longer available.
rs II is used entirely In Germany,
which also absorbs sugar Of surround
ing countries.
m nd NnU M lnn h,,xx 4
long tons Of sugar each year from
Germany. The French sugar produc-
tion has dropped from 10000 to 210,-
900 tons. The italian production has
fallen from 100000 tons to $4,000 tons
Thus three countries were thrown
upon East and West Indian sources
for 1.D25.0OO tons annually TO maintain
their normal consumption.
Because of the worlds shipping
shortage the allied nations started
drawing OH the West Indies for sugar {;
East Indian sugar took three times
he number OF ships, since the dis
ance wns three times as great Sud
denly the west was cu"cd on to fur
nish and did furnish 100000 tons Of
sugar to Europe WHEN 10000 tons a
allies had drawn from Java 100000
'ons before the shipping situation be-
ume acute.
"In spite Of these shipments" Mr..
Hoover stated the other day, "the
! English government In August reduced
he Household" sugar ration to q basis
VI "a pounds yer annum per capita.
And In September the French govern
ment reduced their household ration
20 IL 2-1O pounds year. or q bit over
pound Of sugar month Even this
meagre ration could not he filed by
the French government II was found
early IN the fall. America was then
asked for 100000 tons Of sugar and
succeeded in sending $4,000 tons by
December I. The French request was
granted because the American house
hold consumption was then at least IS
pounds per person, and II was consid-
cred the duty Of maintaining the
French morale made our course clear"
Today the sugar situation may
DO 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.
The wholesale grocer has agreed to
limit his profit to Is cents a hundred
plus freight, aud the retail grocer is
supposed to take no more than SO cents
hundred pounds profit. This regu-
iation was made by the food admins
ration, which now asks the housewife
=" reduce sugar consumption as much
n' possible. using other sweeteners,
and also reminds her that she should
pay no more than 8 cents . pound for
sugar.
Contrci Of Cane Ref'ncrs' Profits.
Immediately upon the establish.