Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-09-16
STATE FOOD DEPARTMENT TRY
ING TO EXPLAIN WHY SWEETS
ARE LACKING.
ASSIGNS SEVERAL
REASONS FOR FAMINE
Spectators Corner Much of Product,
Beet Sugar Crop is Short and No
Production Whatever in Some Coun.
tries--United States Produces Ono.
third Only Of Amount Consumed.
70 Times RopublIcan.

Special TO Times Republican.
Des Moines, Sept 1.-THE sugar
shortage which prevails turnout the
country is due to a combination of cir
cumstances, according to information
which has been received by the state
food and dairy department. This In
formation sets forth the situation as
follows:
The United States food administra-
ton has a sugar adjunct known as the
United States sugar equalization
board. This board, under the autf,or-
lty of the United States government
and jointly with the representatives
from France. England and Italy, was
formed for the purpose of handling the
Cuban, Porta Rican and other West
India products. The same board con-
trolls the shipments Of sugar from the
Philippine islands, the Hawaiian is
lands and the island of Java.
From the sources enumerated prac-
tically all Nf the worlds supply of
sugar that is shipped out of the coun-
tries of production and info the coun-
tries of no production is, obtained. the
price of raw sugars Is regulated so
thGt they are standardized to Il set
price and the price of raw sugar at y
cents per pound to wholesalers is also
standardized and not subject to fluctu-
alton. These conditions have prevailed
for almost year and VIII continue I'M
til the 31st of December, 1919. Whole
sale grocers must. pay their own
Il ,t,,, 4 hD
their profit can not exceed So cents per
hundred pounds plus IL cents for hand
ling.
Furthermore the sugar bins OF the
country were entirely empty when this
present shortage became apparent. The
consumers were without an apprecia
BILE quantity. The retailers We're buy
ing from hand to mouth. The whole
sale grocers had but limited supply
,"SpGculators in large centcrs like
New York. Chicago and ST. Louis were
successful in. getting Il large supply for
the reason that they were in n position
to receive inside information and sew
eral weeks ahead of the other fellow
An extreme shortage would not have
occurred had it not been for the ma
rine strike which continued for almost
| two months During the period but
| few cargoes of raw sugar arrived NJ
| our shores and no vessels departed &c
! the sugar countries during that strike
| Beet Crop Short.
Furthermore the beet sugar crop OF
| 1918, which is under the same contro
as the other crop. became exhausted
This radically increased the shortage
Most people have the idea that the
United, States produces most all of the
| sugar that it uses. Tho fact is that
| the United States, including the bee,
sugar production of he country. the
| cane sugar of Louisiana and Texas, the
| Hawaiian and Philippine island, can
sugar crop, only produces about one
| third of the sugar it uses and the 9TH
err two thirds must be imported from
| other countries.
| 1.-THE sugar consumption per capita
| in the United States is about eighty
| five pounds. This includes what Is
consumed for candy, cooking, canning
and household purposes"