Evening star., 1924-09-13
CUBAN SUGAR MEN
ARE RUSHING SALES
American Beet Crop Threat
ems to- Lower Prices-G0od
Yield in Europe.
BY j. &. ROYLE..

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, September l@.-RiGht
now the aroma of the preserving ket-
ties of the American housewife is m
censc in the nostrils of the CUBAN
sugar producers For Cuban raw
sugar prices are up and producers OF
the island are taking full advantage
of their position to dispose aufahta-
geouSly of some of the stocks remain
ing from the l923-24 crop.
They have not long to work, since
the slicing of sugar Deets VIII &c,
under way in Utah, Colorado anu
some of the other great producing
States this week, and by OCTOBER 1
beet sugars. both domestic and for
eign, will be flowing through chah-
nels of distribution and acting as
check and stabilizer on Cuban sugar
prices.
Lower Prices Likely.
This pressure against high Cuban
prices will be eXerted OH both SUES
of the Atlantic, since all advices as to
the European sugar crop inolcate an
exceptionally heavy yield. IN TINS
country rough estimates of the Louis
lana cane and beet yield indicate that
5OS75O tons of domestic sugars VIII
be available up to December 81.
In Europe il is now known that ap
proximately 100000 acres OF peets
have been planted, an increase OF ap
proXimately 100000 acres over 1870
In addition, tests recently maze SNOW
the sugar content of the roots wen
above that of last year. In FRANCE
the sugar content is 1887 per cent
compared with 1l.65 per cent in 1873.
On this improved basis, and taking
into account the favorable weather
conditions which have prevailed II Is
probable that the European outpu.
will reach 6.S50,000 tons. This Is an
increase of % per cent as compared
with last year and will go far toWaro
supplying European demand without
the necessity of calling on CUBAN
stocks.
Cuban Crop Largest Ever.
The Cuban crop this year was the
largest on record, totallng approAl-
mately 4,052,00O tons. This compares
with 3,6O1.6o5 tons last year and
S,9961S9 tons the year before.
The l924-25 crop bids fair to be
even heavier. Temperatures have peen
high and rains abundant in the lslaho.
Om.. expert says in this connection.
Should we have normal weather from
now to the end of November ana
should we not be visited by cyclone,
il is reasonable to expect the largest
crop ever made on the island. WORK
is being rushed on new mills to ham
S1e This production and additional ma
cniucry is being added TO existing
pants.
Tariff Moves Watched.
Naturally, with heavy European
production filling foreign markets.
aud this record breaking production
in progress, Cuban producers are
watching with great anxiety for
action on the proposal for sugar
tariff reduction by the President in
the hope that lowering of the tariff
bars would enable them to rush
their heavy production into the
United states and force domestic
sugars into more limited markets.
At present beet sugar prices are
quoted from 90 to As cents below
those for sugars manufactured from
Cuban rawS.
There is every probability that the
domestic beet sugars this year Will
he marketed more extensively in the
East than ever before. Last season
these sugars were sold in compet-
tion with the Cuban product as far
east as Philadelphia and Albany and
the connections established then have
been extended materially in recent
months.
Special Efforts Against Losses.
Efforts will be made to spread the
harvesting Of beets over a longer
period than ever before to obviate
the loss in sugar content which takes
~lace when beetS are piled for ex-
tended periods, awaiting slicing. The
first payments to producers on do
mestic beet crop will be made by the
factories shortly and the cash thus
placed in circulation is expected to
have a material effect on the trade
in the middle and intermountain West
and in Michigan and Ohio.
The weather has been much against
the Louisiana cane raisers this year
and it is possible the crop may reach
only about 80 per cent of normal.
This probable shortage, which will
give Cuban producers an additional
advantage, has had a stimulating ef-
feet on the demand and prices of
SrupS.