THE CUBA REVIEW 



29 



THE SUGAR INDUSTRY 



SUGAR 



Begiuniiig with 1901, the annual imports of 

 sugar into the United States have averaged 

 about 4 billion poounds, or nearly ten times 

 the yeai-ly imports in 1851-1855. The great 

 increase occurred in 1866-1870 over the pre- 

 vious five-year period. In 1861-1865 a yearly 

 averafe of 634 milUon pounds were imported; 

 in tlie next five-j'ear period an average of 

 1,082 million pounds were imported, and 

 again an increase, when in 1876-1880 the 

 average yearly imports equaled 1,670 mil- 

 lion pounds. Beginning with 1881-1885, 

 yearly averages exceeded 2 billion pounds, 

 reaching in 1891-1985, 3,744 milUon pounds; 

 in 1896-1900, 3,900 million pounds; in 1901- 

 1905, 3,721 miUion pounds; in 1906-1910, 

 4,006 milhon pounds; and in 1911-1914 

 4,462 miUion poimds. To the imports sub- 

 sequent to 1901 should be added the sugar 

 received from Hawaii and Porto Rico, which 

 prior to 1901 were classed as foreign countries. 

 Receipts from Hawaii and Porto Rico during 

 1911-1914 averaged 1,801 million pounds, 

 wliich, added to the imports for these years, 

 gives an annual average of 6,263 million 

 pounds. Cuba for more than threescore 

 years has been the chief source of our sugar 

 supplj'. Imports from Cuba averaged 332 

 million pounds a year in 1851 — 1885 and 3,615 

 million pounds durhig 1911-1913. 



In 1914 the im])orts from Cuba had risen 

 to 4,926 million i)oimds, and receipts from 

 Hawaii and Porto Rico were, respectively, 

 1,114 million and 641 million pounds. Im- 

 ports from the Dutch East Indies, which in 

 1906-1910 averaged 610 milhon pounds a 

 year, decreased to 194 million pounds during 

 1911-1913. 



All but a small fraction of the sugar im- 

 ported into the United States is intented to 

 be further treated before it is ready for con- 

 sumption. For convenience this kind of 

 sugar is generally called "raw" sugar and the 

 kind fit for consumption is spoken of as 

 "refined." 



Compared with imports, the sugar exported 

 from the United States is relatively unim- 

 portant and has been since the begimiing of 

 our foreign trade. At present (1914) an<l for 

 a long period of time the sugar exported is 

 refined. Much of it is sent to Central America 

 and the West Indies, even to countries from 



which we import raw sugar. Occasionally 

 large quantities are shipped to other countries. 

 In 1911-1913 an average of 26 milhon pounds 

 a year was sent to the United Kingdom, 30 

 milhon pounds to countries in North America, 

 chiefly Central American and West Indian 

 countries, and about 4 milhon pounds else- 

 where. The sugar constituted during 1911- 

 1913 about one-seventh in value of the total 

 imports of agricultural products into the 

 United States. — U. S. Department of Agricul- 

 ture. 



SUGAR CANE 



The condition of sugar cane which was poor, 

 74.4% on September 1, continued to decline 

 during that month, and on Oct. 1 was esti- 

 mated at 67.4%, compared with an average of 

 85.6%, being 65% in Louisiana against 72% 

 last month and 87% average. The hiuricane 

 of September 29th, which swept the cane 

 belt of Louisiana, did considerable apparent 

 injury, but the best informed opinion is that 

 the benefit of the heavy downpour of rain, 

 and the better weather following the storm 

 will compensate for the damage and possibly 

 more than offset the immediate loss to the 

 crop. — U. S. Bureau of Crop Estimates. 



SUGAR BEETS 



Sugar beets are estimated to have fallen 

 off a fraction to 91% of normal, very near the 

 ten-year average. The crop is good in Michi- 

 gan and adjoining States, except for some leaf 

 spot and rot, good in Nebraska and Kansas, 

 very good in Idaho and California, lowered 

 by leaf spot in Colorado, and sugar content 

 lowered by late rains starting new growth in 

 L^tah.' — V. S. Bureau of Crop Esiiinaies. 



ACTIVITY IN CANADIAN BEET-SUGAR 

 FACTORIES 



Much interest has been manifested in the 

 Canadian sugar-beet industry during the 

 past year. Sarnia and vicinity is practically 

 the only territory where sugar beets are 

 raised in the Dominion at this time. The 

 factory heretofore operating at Raymond, 

 Alberta, has discontinued active operations, 

 I am informed. The chief difficulty there 

 appears to be the disincUnation of the farmers 

 to produce the necessary beets. In this sec- 



