The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-12-05
SUGAR AT $4,000 A POUND.
Price in Soviet Russia, Where Average
Person Has None.

mas TNOIt.
While Russia has never been a large
sugar-consuming nation, never has its
consumption of this product been cut off
TO so great an extent as it has since the
war. In fact, according to Charles G.
TubbS, whose article ON Sugarless Rus
STA appears in a recent issue of the
American Sugar Bulletin. ''the ordinary
Russian probably has not tasted sugar
for four years"
This condition has been brought about
by the reduction in her sugar production.
In 1914, according to official figures,
Russia produced 100000 tons of sugar,
as compared with her 90,000-ton output
last year. The entire 1920 production
did not equal her exports to other coun
tries in the year before the war; the
major part of which, in pre-war days,
went to Persia and Finland.
Before the war; says Mr.. Tubbs,
there were 296 beet-sugar factories in
Russia, for the most part in the Ukraine,
which is the sugar-beet area of Russia.
The Soviet government has reported that
last year 1856 factories had sufficiently
withstood the ravages of war to be in
operating condition, but it is probable
that only small percentage of these ac
tually worked beets. Explanation of the
deficient output of sugar in 1920 is to
be found, however, not in the number of
factories operating, but in the lack of
beets, fuel and transportation. The Rus
sian farmers have been unable to obtain
the farming implements they require and
seed has been scarce, so that the quantity
of sugar beets and other agricultural
products raised has been small, almost
negligible.
Undoubtedly the sugar factories have
had difficulty in handling what beets they
have been able to secure, as the Russian
fuel problem is serious. So great has
been the deterioration in the coal mines
10 Of haS pTF
tailed so per cent.
Even in cases where the obstacles of
insufficient beet supply and fuel short
age have been partially overcome the
sugar manufacturer must find himself
confronted by a discouraging problem in
the matter of transportation, as the
scarcity of coal has been a serious blow
to the railroads Russia's available mo-
tive power represents only p to 40 per-
cent of pre-war transportation facilities
and to aggravate the embarrassment.
one-sixth of this much needed power lies
idle because of the lack of fuel.
THE ordinary Russian probably has
not tasted sugar for four years. Accord
ing to Il price list compiled in the early
part of this year by a Russian bank of
fetal. one pound of lump sugar cost 1000
rubles. or &bout $1,000 in American
money at normal exchange"
Mr.. Tubbs points out that while Russia
before the war seemed to be large sugar
consuming nation. ranking fourth among
! the countries of the world. it actually was
not Russia has an immense population.
| he asserts and therefore her per capita
consumption amounted only to about
| twenty pounds annually in normal times.
| Last year the United States consumed
| eighty-six and One-half pounds per capita
Possibly those who are familiar with
the tea drinking propensity of the Rus
| sian people Will marvel at the low per
capita consumption" he continues. The
Russian may imbibe large quantities of
| tea and may prefer it strong. bnt he does
not take it unsweetened. He breaks off
| a small piece of sugar from the huge
cone which he always has on hand, and
places the morsel in his mouth. He does
not swallow the sugar but holds it CH his
/ tongue as he proceeds to drink his tea, al
! lowing the liquid to pass over the sugar
and thus become sweetened. This is very
economical. as a lump of sugar may see
service for several cups of tea
! In conclusion, Mr.. TubbS declares that
when Russia comes hack her sugar indus
! try must be revitalized. Her methods
previously have been crude. and il is
| known that in many eases railroad
| has been sixty miles away from the sugar
| factory. If Russia had maintained her
sugar industry at its pre-war size SAYS
| the writer. the worlds production would
now be about 100000 long tons in
| stead of 100000 world shortage of
| 100000 tons.