Telegram Herald

PLENTY OF SUGAR.

Local Provision Against Famine When the Tariff Is Removed.

In view of the removal of the tariff on sugar, which takes effect April 1, merchants are reducing their stocks of sugar to the lowest possible point, in anticipation of the drop in prices. The local jobbers and commission men, however, have formed a pool to avoid a continued shortage when the drop comes.

The pool have purchased several thousand barrels of sugar in Cuba and will import it direct to this city. The sugar will be placed in the United States bonded warehouse and will be kept there until needed. If the demands of the trade require any of the sugar, it will be taken out and the duty will be paid on the present basis of 3 cents a pound, but the great bulk of it will be kept in bond until the first of April when it can be taken out without paying any duty, and will then be ready for immediate distribution through the territory tributary to this city, which includes all Northern and Western Michigan. The stocks of sugar will be very low by the first of April, but after that date there will be an abundance and prices will be two or three cents lower a pound than now.

The present bonded warehouse is too small in its capacity to accommodate this immense consignment of sugar and Customs Surveyor Maynard has secured permission from Washington to use the basement of the G. R. & I. depot as an annex to the regular warehouse. The present warehouse is in the upper story of the freight depot building, and is about forty to seventy feet in floor room, and this large room is crowded to its fullest capacity at the present time with goods in bond upon which the duties have not yet been paid, and will not be until the goods are needed by the importers. The goods in bond now are mostly crockery, mirror plates and musical instruments with a few cases of liquor and wines.