| SHORT TONS | PER CENT | |
|---|---|---|
| Refined made from raw cane | 3,044,825 | 74.94 |
| Domestic and foreign beet | 862,694 | 21.23 |
| Foreign refined cane | 5,845 | .14 |
| Consumed in the raw state | 150,000 | 3.69 |
| 4,063,364 | 100.00 |
Among articles of food that contain a large percentage of sugar are jams, jellies, chocolate, canned fruits, condensed milk, confectionery, chewing gum and cordials. It is estimated by Willett & Gray that in 1915 the direct per capita consumption was 31.43 pounds, and that the remaining 52.40 pounds were used in various prepared or manufactured foodstuffs. Over ninety-nine per cent of all the cane sugar consumed in the United States is refined in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, New Orleans and San Francisco. The beet comes chiefly from California, Colorado, Michigan, Utah and Idaho; the maple from the New England states, Ohio and Canada; and the small amount of full duty-paying foreign cane from Java, Peru, Mexico, Central America and Santo Domingo.
During the past eleven years the consumption in the United States has grown at an average rate of 3.57 per cent per annum. In 1911, on account of the abnormally high prices, the increase was practically nil.
The annual per capita consumption of sugar in some of the other countries of the world is as follows:
| 1914 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Servia | 4.60 | lbs. |
| Greece | 8.99 | ” |
| Bulgaria | 9.94 | ” |
| Italy | 10.45 | ” |
| Portugal | 13.60 | ” |
| Spain | 15.91 | ” |
| Roumania | 17.12 | ” |
| Turkey | 20.33 | ” |
| Russia | 29.26 | ” |
| Finland | 32.54 | ” |
| Austria-Hungary | 37.38 | ” |
| France | 39.01 | ” |
| Belgium | 42.79 | ” |
| Holland | 53.44 | ” |
| Norway | 60.37 | ” |
| Sweden | 60.48 | ” |
| Switzerland | 74.87 | ” |
| Germany | 74.95 | ” |
| England | 89.69 | ” |
| Denmark | 93.48 | ” |
The sale and distribution of large quantities of refined sugar is a serious problem and just as important as the production and the refining of the raw product. Competition is so keen, and the questions involved so complex, that the sale of the product really results in commercial warfare.
To dispose of the output of a large plant successfully requires great intelligence, a broad grasp of business principles, strict honor and integrity, and prompt, decisive action in times of fluctuating markets.
Sales managers of the sugar-refining companies of the United States command high salaries, for the success of the business depends to no small extent upon their ability and judgment. Their knowledge of human nature must be broad and sound and it is tested to the utmost in their selection of assistants and brokers, for representatives always reflect the ideals, principles and methods of the parent authority.
The selling of sugar by the refiner direct to the consumer has not been found practicable, as an organization complete enough to keep in touch with consumers in every city, town and village of the country would be so top-heavy and costly to maintain that the price of the commodity to the consumer would be needlessly increased.