Evening star., 1924-05-07
SOFT DRINK MAKERS
CHEERED BY OUTLOOK
Manufacturers, Celebrating Gen.
tennial of Industry, See Prospect
of Improved Business.
LOW SUGAR PRICES A FACTOR
Invest Heavily, in Readiness for
Soda Water Season.
BY j. C. ROYLE.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, May 6.-Manufactur-
ers of carbonated beverages-soda
water, in other words-are celebrat-
ing today the Tooth anniversary of
the starting of the industry in this
country. They are far more cheer
full over the present low prices of
sugar than over the fact that the in
dustry is hundred years old. So
are the manufacturers of bottles,
botting supplies and soda fountain
equipment.
With Cuban raw sugars down to
about Az cents pound, cost, jnsur-
ance and freight, and with refined
granulated well under s cents, the
majority of the makers of soft drinks
and confectionery in this country al
ready have laid in heavy supplies of
cheap sugar, which commodity plays
a heavy part in their manufacturing
costs.
Cuban Unrest Not Serious.
Interests in this country in close
touch with the Cuban political situa-
tion declare the unrest now evident
there is not serious. Even should it
proceed far enough to interfere with
raw sugar production and shipment,
the result. they declare, would not be
serious to American consumers be-
cause of the larger production In
Cuba this year and the steadyins in
fiuence of the big beet sugar outpC
within this country.
Even those factors in the sugar
trade who declare the available sup
plies have been oyerestimated admit
there will be sufficient for American
consumptive needs. So far about one
third of the Cuban centrals or cane
mills have completed grinding. Their
output has been heavier than expect
ed. The entire Cuban crop for 1925
1924 is estimated at above 100000
tons. Deducting amounts already
sent to the United States and other
countries, the consumption in Cuba
itself and the estimated requirements
of other countries for the remainder
to some authorities, 1.716,000 tons of
Cuban sugar which is available for
this country up to January l, 1925.
Sugar Supply Outlined.
The amount which will be available
from the Louisiana cane crop, the
beet sugar factories. Porto Rico,
Hawaii. the Philippines and the
Virgin Islands is placed at 1,S99,0OO
tons. The net requirements of the
country are estimated at 3.641,000
tons; but the difference between re-
quirements and supplies from the
sources mentioned is expected to be
wiped out by the unknown quantity
of sugar in refinerS hands and the
imports Of full duty sugars.
Both the requirements and the sup
plies for the remainder of the year
are estimated. Consumption is sub
ject to violent changes as the re-
finers found out last year, when the
prices OF granulated shot skyward.
Production is governed to some ex-
tent by weather conditions and it
also is subject to revision. However,
the canning trade is making prepara-
tions for an active season, and the
demand for fruit jars and other glass
and tin receptaclcs indicates the
housewives will preserve large guam
titles of fruits and vegetables this
summer.
With these facts in mind, some Of
the larger Cuban producers are max
ing no effort to crowd their raws
on the market at this time and are
willing to wait in the hope of some
what higher price levels.