The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-12-08

IT has been thought best that the
chairman of the fair price committee
give to the public at this time a state
ment concerning the sugar situation in
the country. and save the question of
fair profits thereon for another time.
There was available in the Unit cd
States for the last four months of 1919
200 900 tons more sugar than have been
consumed in like period in any pre-
vious year. Despite this, however. there
apparently will be shortage of 500,
600 tons. To be exact, TO the end Of
September, 1919. there was consumed in
the United States 3,2e3.0On tons. in the
same period in 1918. 1861 900 tons,
showing an increase IN consumption OF
500. 900 tons.
The per capita consumption of sugar
in this country in 1918. was s5.4 pounds,
1914, S43 pounds; 1915, s3.S. in 1915.
1917 and 1913 the per capita pounds
consumption were materially reduced
by the patriotic efforts of our people
to 79.4. 7s.s. and 73.4, respectively. As
la intimated at the beginning Of this
article. however, IL the per capita con-
sumption of sugar la continued. at the
same rate at which it is now going on.
until the end of the year our consump-
ton Will have reached a2.4 pounds per
persons thus making nearly twenty
pounds per person more than was con-
stunned last year. and since the worlds
normal production is 100000 tons
per year. 1t appears we win consume
one fourth of il.
Various causes have been assigned
for this abnormal consumption:
/. Our people have periodically re-
Trained from useing sugar for a long
time. and now since the war Is actually
over Though not technically they have
'cut loose" and feel that they are en-
titled to satisfy their appetites. not
knowing of the above conditions.
2. by recent legislation many people
| who have been addicted to alcoholic
| beverages have been deprived of them
and thus a craving. and a new demand
for sweets has come about
8. On account OF the fact that sugar
Is a most energizing food. and that at
the cheap price that has prevailed for
II II In particularly economical. It Is
but natural that in this day OF educa-
tion that exceptional quantities OF
sugar should be used,
L. High wages have prevailed among
1aboring people for the last few years
and many who have heretofore sbeen
unable to satisfy their cravings for
sweets are now doing so without stint
8. In this day of newspaper publicity
! and general advertising such article as
aoft drinks, chewing gum and various
makeup, have been brought to the
! attention of the general public In n
way not heretofore known hence an
abnormal demand here.
| Many other reasons might be thought
| OF. but these are the most important
and far-reaching in their consequences
| 1000 900 Tons Short
| The world Is about 100000 tons
short this year in It's production OF
sugar and 1T will therefore be seen
| that this abnormal demand or rather
! the supply for this abnormal demand
will not be obtainable and thus comes
about one of the reasons for the ex-
istence Of the fair price committee
! and a demand upon all patriotic cit
| liens to- cooperate with that cont
fnittee to the end, that what ever
sugar We do have may be equally dis
| tributed 10 the consumers and thai
no dealer in tho commodity may take
/ for his handling OF II more than q
| fair and just profit.
Sugar lis probably one Of the mos
sensitive food articles we have Of the
law OF supply and demand. Less
than one million tons of sugar are