Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-29
MARINE STRIKE CAUSE
/ OF SUGAR SHORTAGE
Plenty of Product in Cuba, but
Boats Cannot Be Obtained to
Bring It to U. S.
EXPORTING IS CONTINUED

There is plenty of raw sugar in
Cuba to meet all demands. but the
marine workers strike has tied up the
Transportation Of it to such an extent
that the refineries in this country are
confronted with a serious shortage.
Officials Of W. J. McCahan Sugar Re
fining Company, Front and Chestnut
streets, say that this shortage to date
has been figupred to be equal to one
weeks supply and that this deficiency
will hit the refneries some time in the
month of August.
At present the retineriev are all
oversold. The brokers have all been
buying at once. and while they were
urged, according to the PENNSYLVANIA
Sugar Company, to make their pur-
chases last April and May, they de-
layed.
As means of helping the situation,
all available ships at sea have been
reached by wireless, and ordered to
proceed to Cuba and take on cargo
of sugar before making an American
port.
Cuba's sugar crop this year of 1000. =
600 tons is the largest in history.
In 1913 Al per cent of the total supply
for the United States came from Cuba.
J. II. Houston Company, Inc,
sugar brokers in the old Stock
Exchange building, declare that export
Ing of refined sugar is heavy, despite
the governments recent injunction on
foreign shipments. This injunction only
applies to the acceptance of new or
ders, the contracts now standing not
having been cancelled.
The war supply of 81. 900 900 pounds
of sugar. which the government re-
leased short time ago. is inconsiderable
toward meeting the demand when the
average daily consumption in this
country is equal to half of that amount.
And during the first six months of this
year the average consumption per
capita increased almost 10 per cent
For the first six months in 1919 it was
forty six pounds against forty two for
the same period in 1918.
The Spreckels Sugar Refining Com
pany takes care of the demand for
Philadelphia and vicinity, while the
American Sugar Refining Company s
pant LIelts tHe sugar 1OF CApOTl. IL
was said today that this latter plant
had closed down for the present, but the
officials of the Franklin Sugar Re
fining Company, which controls both OF
these plants, did not wish to discuss the
situation.
The Wholesale grocers here report
that they are able to fill only two
thirds of their orders. They say that
there is a prevalent fear of a sugar
shortage. causing boarding on the
part of the consumer. This buying of
sugar by the consumer in larger guam
titles than usual may be explained by
the arrival of the canning and preserving
season. Most people lay in a sufficient
supply ahead of time so as to be pre-
pared. not knowing at exactly what
time the fruit may be ready. Some re-
tail grocers will not sell more than two
pounds to n consumer at a time. The
increase in the use of sugar for the
manufacture of soft drinks has not as
yet been felt to any great extent.
There may be a slight increase in the
retail price of sugar, or in what is
called selling it second hand, but there
can be no marked increase in spite of
the shortage, because the government
still regulates the refiners' and bro
kers' prices.