San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-04-06
Heavy Purchases by Con-
sumers Will Probably Re-
suit in Boosts.
SHORTAGE Is POSSIBLE
Producers Expect a Good
Year-Total Cuban Out
put Unknown.
Ry i g. ROyIE

Copyright. by The San Antonio Light.
p-cs4Sew York, Epril 6.-Any drastic
drop in the price of sugar TO the con-
suner in the near future is contingent
upon corresponding reduction in con-
sumption by the consumer. That was
the. opinion expressed today by pro-
ducers, distributors and large con-
suIners i'll dispatches from widely sep
arated sections of the country.
Warnings against the purchase of
sugar for more than actual needs are
being widely circulated by mmebers
OF the National Retail Grocers' Asso-
citation, accompanied by the declara-
ton that over-purchases undoubtedly
will be followed by higher prices.
Determination of the total Cuban
output this season still remains TO be
made. but there is evidence that pres
ent prices have discounted any short
age of Cuban production below the es-
Inmates of the leading authorities.
Statisticians point out however.
that the Commerce Departments es-
innate indicating surplus OF 4I6,-
600 tons at the end of this year rep
resents only ) per cent of the estim.
ated worlds consumption of 10.03J,-
WV tOUS. Ut dDOul uds NVA"
supply which unexpected conditions
might turn into shortage.
Dealers pointed out today that in
view of the prosperity of the United
States. increased purchasing power
and higher wage tendencies. drastic
reduction of consumption is extremely
unlilply.
Producers Expect Good Year.
Cane and beet sugar producers in
this country. therefore. look confident
ly TO a good year ahead with expand
ing output and widening margins Of
profits.
Sowing of beet seed will begin with
in the next few days in Colorado,
Utah. Nebraska. Wyoming and Mon
tana in which states more than half
the 106 beet sugar factories of the
country are located. and an increase
of at least 20 per cent in acreage is
expected.
About 100000 acres were sown in
sugar beets last year and this will be
raised to 100000 acres. The total beet
sugar production of the country is cx-
pected to reach $4,000 short tons
compared with 725000 tons in 1922.
Sugar beets are the only agricul-
tural products grown in this country
onsa large commercial scale in which
the farmer retains n financial interest
after the crop leaves his hands with
the grower sharing in the increased
prices paid by the consumer. Under
this sliding scale farmers have re-
ceived already 81 ton for their Dects
aud substantial sums in addition re-
main TO be distributed when the re-
mainder of the 1922 sugar is sold.
Relief Not Expected.
Western sugar men asserted that
governmental investigation of sugar
prices can have little effect in the way
OF bringing immediate price relief to
consumers because the commodity is in
a strong statistical position and the
Cuban supply is in strong hands.
While no real shortage exists, Cuba
has the only supply available TO the
United States before next fail. 1t is
expected, however, that - investi-
cations will discourage unwarranted
and aggressive speculation.
The only fly in the ointment of the
American sugar grower at present is
the agitation against the tariff on
sugar. Prominent beet sugar men, who
declined to be quoted directly in view
of the forthcoming probes. declared
that their competitors. the cane sugar
refiners. have masked an attack on
the tariff under the investigations Of
prices for which they hold the cane
refiners responsible.
Tariff Not Responsible.
The beet men state that that the
tariff law only increased the duty
on Cuban sugar 16-100 of n cent n
pound whereas the price of sugar has
advanced nearly 3 cents a pound since
the law has been in effect.
The beet men say they welcome the
Investigations because they are conf
Itirt~sS will be shown that as they
produce only one-eighth of the sugar
consumed in this country. it would be
impossible for them TO have a con-
trolling effect on American sugar
prices, especially as they sell beet
Augar at diffrential under cane.