The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-03-20


Pounds in 1920--Absencc of Ger
many and Austria Hungary as Com
petitors for Foreign Trade Is An
ether Cause of Boost in Price
Look for Easier Conditions Before
End of Year.
The fact that the average American
family today consumes more sugar in
the home than in prewar years Is one
of several important factors which
have contributed TO the recent spec
tacular advance in quotations of both
raw and refined grades Of sugar. Con-
sumption figures compiled by trade au-
thorities show how markedly the trend
has been upward during the last three
years.
In 1920 American consumption of
sugar was 4.101 100 short tons in
1921, 1929, $50 tons, and in 1922, 1885,
343, or, translated into figures of con-
sumption per capita, the amount of
sugar eaten by every man, woman
and child in the country averaged dur
Ing 1922 10l12 pounds, against 90
pounds in 1921 and ST in 1920.
In the same period, American ex-
ports had also Increased, the 1922 fig
ure having doubled the export figures
of 1920 aud 1921. IN 1920, exports of
refined sugar totaled 461 ,943 tons; in
1921, 466, S97, and in 1922 920,374. This
movement is Of particular interest be-
cause it shows that the American re-
finer is in better position today to
compete with foreign refiners in the
world market than he was even so
short time back as 1921. Much of
this volume of export trade went to
Europe, and smaller portions found
their way to the ports of Japan, China,
South America. Australia, Africa and
the numerous islands scattered
throughout the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans. Compared with the years be-
fore the war, 1922 export figures stand
out. especially strongly, the average
export volume prior to 1914 having
been only 10000 to $4,000 tons.
Cause Of the Increase.
This remarkable increase Is due to
the absence OF Germany and Austria
Hungary as competitors for foreign
trade, crops of both countries having
been largely bought by Great Britain
prior to the World war, but, subse-
quent to 1914, production has fallen off
in those countries until 1t now cares
for almost purely domestic business
only. The prospect of increased pro-
duction in 1928 is not bright, either, al
though 1t is likely that there Will be
nominal Increase in shipments from
other nations of interior Europe
AS result of continued Eeavy con-
sumption, coupled with little increase
in the prospective world sugar supply
for 1923, an advance In sugar prices
could be expected, but the advance in
the last few weeks has accelerated at !
such pace that practically all inter
ests In the sugar trade, producers as |
well as refners are beginning to ques- |
ton whether 1t has not been too rapid |
to prove healthful. If the market is
left entirely alone to the normal laws
Of supply and demand, they declare, |
the situation will promptly correct it.
self; but evidence has not been lack
ing that persons with a speculative
bent have been getting into the mar
ket also, thus artificially stimulating
the demand.
Household consumers have, however,
shown little inclination of being STAN
peded into boarding away sugar to
care for the future-a lesser example
IF speculation, but nevertheless effec-
tive in temporarily boosting prices.
Some Of the largest refiners have eau
Toned against such a policy on the
part of the frugal housewives, but
heir efforts were somewhat embar-
.assed by the Interpretation placed on
he recent statement of the Depart
nent of Commerce which Indicated
hat an actual shortage was in sight.
2efiners emphatically insisted that
shortage Is not in sight, and that the
eactfOn of consumers would In itself
end to check overconsumption.
High Price Checks Demand.
"a person who can buy sugar at five
ents a pound will not hesitate to use
t literally" one authority on sugar
onditions explained, "but if the price
8 marked up to ten cents pound or
fteen cents pound the buyer will
become more careful, max
ag one pound do what two pounds did
efore. Thus perfectly natural
heck is put on consumption, and with
sss consumption to contend with the
rice naturally reacts to lower levels"
For that reason ref1ners look for
asier conditions before the year Is
nded.2 Their efforts, however to hold
rices down have thus far proved fu-
lie, although several large refiners
ave att times withdrawn from the mar
ct. An explanation Of this situa-
on lies In the fact that at the
art OF the new. year there was the
sual seasonal dullness in the sugar l
'ade, and refiners, In an effort to at
act business. set prices at COM
aratfyeiy low level As 81 result an