Evening star., 1923-04-04
WARNING SOUNDED
IN SUGAR BUYING
Buy Only for Present Needs,
Grocers Urge-Price Cuts
Hinge on Lower Demand.
BY j. G. ROYLE.
Special ptsp.tcb IN tn. Star

BY j. C. RoYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. April Amy drastic
drop in the price of sugar to the con-
sumer in the near future is contin-
gent upon a corresponding reduction
in consumption by the consumer.
That was the opinion expressed to-
day by producers, distributors and
large consumers In dispatches from
widely separated sections of the
country. Warnings against the pur-
chase of sugar for more than actual
| needs are being widely circulated by
members of the National Retail
Grocers' Association, accompanied by
the declaration that overpurchases
undoubtedly will be followed by
higher prices
Actual determination of the total
Cuban output this season still re-
| mains to be made, but there is evi-
dence that present prices have dis
| counted any shortage of Cuban pro-
duction below the estimates of the
Heading authorities Statisticians state.
however, that the Commerce Depart
| ment's estimate indicating a surplus
VI fIo,UUU TONS at the enQ OF lnlS
year represents only 3 per cent of
the estimated worlds consumption Of
l9,035.0O0 tons, or about ten days
worlds, which unexpected conditions
might turn into a shortage. Dealers
said today that in view of the pros
perity of the United States, increased
purchasing power and higher wage
tendencies, drastic reduction of con
sumption Is extremely unlikely.
Producers Expect Good Year.
Cane and beet sugar producers in
| this country look confidently to a
good year ahead with expanding out
put and widening margins Of profits.
Sowing of beet seed will begin within
the next few days in Colorado, Utah.
Nebraska Wyoming. Idaho and
Montana, in which states more than
half the LOG beet sugar factories of
the country are located, and an In
crease OF at least 20 per cent in
acreage Is expected. About 100000
year and this will be raised to 100000
acres. The total beet sugar produc-
tlon or the country is expected to
| reach $4,000 short tons, compared
with $4,000 tons in 1922.
| Sugar beets are the only aRrIcul-
! tural products grown in this country
| on large commercial scale in which
| the farmer retains a financial inter
est atter the crop leaves his hands
| with the grower sharing in the in
creased prices paid by the consumer.
Under this sliding scale farmers have
received already 81 a ton for their
peets and substantial sums in addi-
ton remain to be distributed when
the remainder OF the 1922 sugar is
| sold. -
hehef Not Expected From Probe.
| western sugar men asserted +ba,
governmental investigation of sugar
prices PRICE, can have little effect in the
Wsfs t OK orlnging immediate price re-
= ll6I 10 consumers hananSA
modify is in a strong statistical posi-
stpnne uon aha bardf the nsl2 Guban supply, is in
exists Cuba has virtually the only
large supply available to the United
Seates before next fall. 1t is ex-
p;ected' I;ens' however. that the investiga-
and aggressive speculation.
| The only fly in the ointment of the
nhnefiean I'm s can sugar grower at present is
sugar; Prominent beet sugar men
! who declined TO be quoted directly in
view of the forthcoming probes, de-
caared cans suss that Their their competitors. the
! attack on the tariff under the investi
| cations of prices for which they hold
the cane reflners responsible
Assert Tariff Not Responsible.
! The beet men state that the tariff
law only Increased the duty on Cuban
sugar 16-100 of a cent a pound.
whereas the price of sugar has ad-
vanced nearly cents pound since
the law has been in effect The beet
men say they welcome the investiga-
tions, because they are confident IL
will be shown that as they produce
only one-eighth of the sugar con-
1 sumed in this country, it would be
impossible for them to have con-
| trolling effect on American sugar
prices, especially as they sell beet
| sugar at a dfferential under cane
Rush in Building Permits.
| PHILADELPHIA. April 4 (SpeciaD.
There were 1919 building permits
issued in this city during March, and
26l7 projects were started. These will
| involve total cost of S20,693,6S5 The
estimate Of the cost for all building
here the first three months of this
year is nearly s34.000,00O
Many Permits in Houston.
| HOUSTON. April (SpeciaD-March
was banner month in building con-
sseruction mere: Permits were issued
| Tor work requiring expenditure Of
S5,3oo.oo0 and April started off with
| announcement of a number of addi-
tional large building projects. includ-
ing twelve-story bank building.
Kansas City Makes Record.
| KANSAS CITY, April (SpeciaD-
All building records in this city again
were broken in March, when permits
were issued involving expenditure of
S2.99s,65o.
Farm Loan Interest Cut.
| BISMARCK. N. D.. April 4 Especially.
THE Bank of North Dakota has re-
duced the interest rate on farm loans
| from 6h to per cent, Is a result Of
| a new state law which makes TWEEN
ty-eight years the maximum amor
| tization period.
Construction Being Pushed.
| MINNEAPOLIS. April 4 Especially
The Twin cities are experiencing un-
usual real estate activity today and
| residential, factory and business con-
struction this year will be the most
| extensive in a decade Permits is
sued to date are 40 per cent above
| those Of a year ago. Sales of building
| materials and plumbers supplies are
| so per cent larger than last spring.
Copyright, 1922
THREE AUTO FIRMS
| REPORT BIG SALES