Evening star., 1923-06-28
HOPE TO ADVANCE
r PRICES OF SUGAR
Canning Season Approaching
Peak-SuppIies Below
Many Estimates.
BY j. c. ROYLE.


NEW YORK, June 2S.-Efforts to
advance the prices of refined sugar
! above the present levels are expected
In the near future. according to a
consensus of opinion today from
dealers, traders. producers and re-
fners here. There is little likelihood.
these men declare, that prices for re.
nned sugar will drop below present
quotations, while there Is an excel
lent chance that they will leap up
/ ward when the canning season gets
into full swing.
The. grinding of the Cuban sugar
cane crop now practically has been
completed. Only one or two mills
or centrals, as they are called--still
are in operation. Accurate estimates
based on the actual production OF the
majority of the 1872 plants which op-
Grated in Cuba this year indicate that
the crop will total between 3.650.O0)
I tons and 100000 tons.
This total is far below the est!
mates made by leading experts last
December. The highest amount at
that time was estimated by HtRely.
expert of the Federal Sugar Company.
who set his figure at 100000 tons
The lowest prediction was 100000
tons made by the cuban secretary of
agriculture.
Most of Crop Sold.
Cuba has already sold the major
portion of the 1923 crop at excellent
prices. About 1,250,000 tons, how
planters are in excellent financial
shape to hold these stocks for higher
figures than prevail at present.
Refiners are we'll stocked up, but
tIn i
packers, grocers and distributors
have not yet begun to buy heavily.
They have held off later than usual
In the hope that threats OF boycott or
other factors might bring prices
However the canning season is
1 now getting under way and 1t Is ex-
pected that the trade will begin to
nil its requirements shortly. AS the
refiners have already paid pretty
high prices on the whole for their
raw sugar and face the prospect of
equally high figures for further
tempt to mark up their own prices
on refined sugar when the demand
becomes pressing, although refined
prices have almost doubled since the
first of 1922.
Live Stock Uncertain.
Live stock conditions are viewed
from widely different angles in vari-
Gus sections of the county at present.
J. w. Scheuber. vice president of the
Drovers Cattle Loan Company at
Kansas City, asserted today that
there was more live stock liquida-
ton in southwestern live stock
circles than for many months, but
range trading was at a standstill
This he asserted, was due to lack of
confidence.
THE COW has not the range value
to-day that a calf had last fall" Ne
added. Despite the lack of trading,
however. live stock Is in good condi-
ton, as cattle have not yet begun
to show the effects OF the drying up
of the ranges. Cattlemen of the
plains are spaying their heifers and
aged cows are going to market from
nearly every section. At this rate
which does not argue we'll for breed
ing and replenishment of herds, the
COW Will have a much higher value
and will be in greater demand at
not distant date
Live stock producers in the middle
and northwest and far west are
greatly encouraged at the higher
prices for cattle in the various mar
kets, according to reports from Chi
cago. The price of $11.50 per hun
dred for prime steers in Chicago is
believed to have indicated still high
er prices for we'll conditioned stock,
growers assert. Ranch land values
are improving and bankers said to-
day there was better sentiment
with regard to cattle loans.