San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-08
Consumers Confident Prices
Will Be Kept Within
Moderate Range. p
BIG YEAR in MAKING
Growers Planning for Big
gest Beet Crop in His
tory, Is Report.
BY J. C. ROYLE

DI Ss ". ROl LC
Copyright by The San Antonio Light.
New York, March S.-The position
of Cuba in the sugar industry is
steadily becoming of less Importance.
Consumers and retailers who keep In
close touch with the market are op-
timistic that future prices will be
confined within a moderate range I'M
less unexpected weather Developments
disrupt conditions. They are there
fore buying refined sugar only for
immediate needs at present, preferrins
to let the refiners run that risk and
carry the stocks.
The biggest beet sugar year in the
history of this country is in the MAX
ing, according to estimates of acre
ages now under contract. Growers
assert that if conditions during the
growing and harvesting season are
even reasonably favorable the year
will see a production of beet sugar
hot hitherto approached.
Records of the Colorado Crop Re- |
porting Service, affiliated with the
Department Of Agriculture, show that
sugar beets were the most valuable
crop in that state last year in pro-
portion to the acreage planted. An
increase of acreage Of at least ~
per cent is indicated there this year
The Great Western Sugar Com
2 pany expects to contract this season
3 for more than 100000 acres. the Hol-
ly Sugar Corporation for $4,000 to
$4,000 acres. the Independent Sugar
Corporation for 5000; the. American
Beet Sugar Company for 10000 and
the National Sugar Company for
5000 acres. Equally neavy paintings
are expected in other sugar beet
states.
Based On Two Factors.
The optimism of the manufactur'
ers and growers is based on two rae
tors. The first is the success which
attended the invasion OF Eastern
markets, hitherto in the grip OF ths
cane sugar refiners in 1873 ana tne
resultant high prices which the prod,
ute yielded. The second is lmproVsc
feeling which exists between the
growers and manu-. :cturers as re-
suit of the 1924 contracts which nave
been negotiated in the inter,mouhtain
states, in Michigan and ONO. anu
Nor the Pacific coast. These cases IA
most instances are on a higher sind
me- scale basis than ever before has
been offered beet farmers. This has
nromoted an accord which, it is be-
iieved. will tend toward better
handling Of beet workers and more
a5vantapeous sale of the product.
The effect Of the industry on the
business and financial position OF the
country as a whole is illustrated ac-
curateiy in the. banking position IN
tho infer-mountain states. For ex-
amn,c' the index Of rndiscounts and
Loans at the Salt Lake City branch
Of the federal reserve bank serving
J,tah. the larger part of Idaho ana
the eastern part of Nevada SHOWS ina,
whereas in 1920 these items reached
q nesk of S44. 600 900. compared with
Jeposits of s6.50O,000, the present
fotsI of rediscounts end loans IS
sround $4,000. 900, with deposits OF
S9.OOO.OOO. This improved condition
is attributed largely to the recov- |
ery of the sugar beet industry.
The companies making sugar there
are in a greatly improved condition
and the farmers who planted beers
have prospered. There is a notable
Iock Of the complaints which have
come in such volume from the. agr'-
cultural sections devoted largely to
wheat or in which crop diversified
t;on has not been practiced. and this
has been attended by reports OF bet
ter trade by merchants and large
sales BY manufacturers and wholesa.-
ers in other sections.
May Realign Situation.
A deal now is ION the fire which |
NAV result in realignment OF the
sugar situation in Wyoming and Cali
fornia. The Holy Sugar Corporation
Of Colorado has acquired a large MI
nority interest in the stock of the
Wyoming Sugar Company operating a
nlant at Worland, in the Big Horn
basin and has obtained an option on
the remainder. The Great Western
Sugar Company has offered to take
over stock and option at a profit
and IL the offer is accepted the Holy
corporation will abandon its plan OF
transferring its plant at Anaheim,
Cal, to Torrington, Wyo., where 1t
has contracted for 5000 acres OF
beets this season. The Worland dis
trict would be considerably expanded.
The Great Western Company COLI
siders tine Torrington district as trihu-
tary to its factories in Western Nc
braska and is willing TO take over the
Worland plant at a profit to the
Holy company, provided the Torring-
ton factory is not put in operation.
As an inducement. !. is said that
Great Western is willing to divert
enough beets from the Billings. Mont.
district to the Holy Plant at Sheri-
dan to allow capacity operations
there.
-.ss Demand For Farm Loans
Fort Worth. Tex. March s.-Ihe