Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-23
PLENTY OF SUGAR.;
BUBBLE "PR|CKED"
Bureau of Crop Estimates
Declares That Famine
Did Not Exist.

Sugar supplies received in this coun-
try during the last year, with the
prospects of large beet sugar crops
and a continuation of the Cuban sugar
crop in undiminished or even greater
proportions than hitherto, assure plen-
ty of sugar for the American people.
according to the officials of the bureau
of crop estimates of the Department
of Agriculture.
While the department officials make
no predictions regarding prices. but
only give figures for supplies and
crop estimates, there is every lndlca-
ton, it is said. that the price OF sugar
will continue to decrease.
In some quarters it is predicted that
sugar will go as low as Is cents a
pound before the end of another week.
That it will go still lower is the be-
lief of some of the officials here.
No Reason for Famine.
At the bureau of crop estimates to-
day it was pointed out that the bu-
rcau has consistently informed the
public that the supplies of sugar re-
ceived in this country were large. and
that there never existed any real
justification for a sugar famine.
An artificial situation was brought
about by transportation difficulties
and by fear of many consumers. par
ticularly the large consumers. that
they would not be able to obtain the
sugar they desired. Now the law of
supply and demand is at work. The
sugar bubble" is about to be pricked
if it has not already been. as is
stated.
There never was any justific ton
for charging % and 80 cents pound
for sugar. it was said here today
The bureau does not contend that
there was not a shortage for the
average consumer. But this short
age was due to the fact that the big
consumers, the makers of candy and
soft drinks. and the sugar spectators
were responsible for this shortage
There was really plenty of sugar, if it
could have been properly distributed
The men who have been boarding
sugar have now found out there isn't
going to be any shortage. They re-
alize that the crops this year and
next year are going to be big. and
there is going to be sugar to go
around. The high prices paid for
sugar in the United States. too
brought sugar from all parts of the
world. and this has helped to break
the price.
Shortage Never Existed.
Figures given out by the bureau of
crop estimates show that there never
has been a national shortage of sugar.
During the year ending June 80. 1920.
wren sugar prices were soaring. ac-
cording to these figures, there was
Il per cent more sugar received in
the United States for domestic con-
sumption than in any of the preced-
ing three years. This does not include
the sugar shipped here for refining
and re-eXport.
The bureaus figures show the fol-
lowing supplies received for the year
ending June 80. 1920:
Domestic 1897. 900. 900 pounds; Ha-
waii. 056000,000 pounds: Cuba and
other foreign. 1887. 100000 pounds;
Porto Rico. S3s.000.000 pounds. Total,
His, 100000 pounds. Re-exported
1.444, 000. 900 pounds. Total for United
States. 9,734 100000 pounds.
As the average annual stock. based
on the last three years. is only S.42S,-
100000 pounds, it can be seen that the
United States actually had for the
year when the pinch was hardest
1900. 100000 pounds more than it or
dinarily had.
While the bureaus experts admit
there may have been an increased de-
mand for sugar. due to the increase
in the use of candy and soft drinks
since prohibition became effective.
they point out that it would have
taken a consumption of 103 pounds
of sugar for every man, woman and
child in the United States to use up
all the sugar received.