Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-04-11

ing. A leading Paris banker, meaning
to be sarcastic, told a
Amar;oon prominent American cor
respondent recently, Eyes,
fr0ouct. you taught us to chew
gum" He really spoke a great COM
mercial truth. and unwittingly pointed
to one Of the trade opportunities In
which the United States has a practical
monopoly.
Chewing gum is essentially United
States product. Tho domestic manu-
facture and consumption exceeds that OF
any other nation-easily. The 1920 CEN
sus figures will be noted with the great
est interest because they will tell for the
FIRST time the size Of this industry
Heretofore chewing gum was In
cluded in the class OF confectionery.
AS Canada is the only other country
where the manufacture Of chewing
gum has been established on any
considerable scale. there is great OPP
portunity for the exploitation Of the
foreign markets for this commodity
with little competition other than
that from Canada.
How easily It will be possible to
teach the rest Of the world to chew
gum was indisputably proven during
the war, when the American soldiers
overseas gave a demonstration that
act tho laws Of the allied nations
working in harmony. 1t was re-
markable achievement of volunteer
advertising. and the power OF good
example.
Chewing gum was an insignincan.
item in United States exports until
the outbreak Of the war, although lts
use had gradually spread. first to Can
ada and then to England. But chew
ing gum to the value Of $2,1s4.2s0 was
exported from tho United States dur
ing the calendar year 1919. This is an
increase of $468.387. or 81 per cent. as
compared with 1918. the last year OF
the war. That this growth Is extend
ing into 1920 is shown by January re-
turns Of $330.536. representing gam
Of $59,672. or % per cent; over .ne he 3,
last year.
Chewing gun Is a preparation OF
some form Of gum resin. to when na-
voring and coloring matters. brown
sugar and pepsin are often aoas Sa
naseberry, a tree Of Central and tropi-
cal South America somewhat similar
to the india-rubber tree. and this IS
most extensively employed In the
manufacture Of chewing gum. Paraf-
I'm. balsam Of tolu. spruce and other
It's production.
Restrictions on tho manufacture and
sale Of confectionery during the war
period in order to
War Demand conserve sugar did
not apply to chewing
10r yum. gum. as the sugar
content is small. This was an impor-
tant factor IN increased European
sales. as tho sweetness and flavor of
the gum partly satisfied tho craving
for sugar.
Gum chewing became a favorite in
door sport during the war in NUM-
tons factories Of the United King
dom. and was a real solace and luxury
In certain front trenches Of France
whore smoking was forbidden. It less
ems the craving for water by troops
making forced marches. by athletes
undergoing violent physical exertion.
or by others to whom the drinking Of
water for the time being would be
harmful.
The Importance OF chewing gum as
new commodity in world trade is
emphasized in a summary just made
by the division Of statistics. bureau
of foreign and domestic commerce.
The monthly exports of chewing gum
from the United States during the
first year of peace have averaged
$1S0,357, with January. June ana NO
vember as the biggest months.
During the last year OF the war
1918, England was the heaviest pur-
chaser Of chewing gum exported from
this country. taking $1.11s,SsS OF the
total exports Of s$1,695.s03. sales OF
$S28,494 however, to the United KING
dom in 1919 declined 1891, 404 from
that figure. Purchases by a Er san On
ing the past year, show an increase
Of $300.s6s over the preceding year.
when the amount was $s4'4Sl.
Before the American troops went
to France there was practically. no
and for
France Learned chewing gum
From Doughboys. the bureau Of
foreign and domestic commerce show.
With tho exception of purchases by
England. France and Italy, largely for
the allied armies. the only exports in
1918 to Europe consisted Of $7s to Ice
land and $4S5 to Spain.