The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-11-20
BROOM CORN IN BOOM
Price of kaw Materi-
al Shoots Up Trade
Thermometer.
WORCESTER is Affected.
Oliver D. Dean Discusses
the Situation For
The Spy.
WORCESTER is Affected.

Worcester has seen some extraordi-
nary advances in the price of various
articles of trade during the last year,
including the phenomenal rise in iron
and steel products. Now comes a re-
ported corner in broom corn from
which the humble but necessary broom
is made.
A story from Chicago is to the effect
that the syndicate that has been work
ing to control the broom corn raised
during the past two years, has Suc-
ceeded in the attempt and now practi-
cally has the price of the commodity
in its owns hands. Apart from the ma
tural interest that the housewife feels
in that article of industry, Worcester
is interested in this gigantic combine
from the fact that Oliver D. Dean, who
has broom factory at 176 Austin ST., is
the largest manufacturer and dealer in
that line of any one in New England.
The Spy reporter called upon Mr..
Dean yesterday and asked him about
the reported formation of the broom
corn trust. Mr.. Dean laughed when
asked if the rapid raise in price of the
raw material would affect his business
injuriously.
Il have large stock on hand now"
he said bought before the big rise
and at present prices 1 can realize a
handsome profit on this stock today
l have noticed the advance, of course.
being in the business, and the report
that comes from Chicago is substantial
ly correct"
According to the report, w L. Rose
boom and others have advanced the
oil TO H. ~ Va
ton. The profits of this deal today are
estimated at more than 81, 500, 900. In
1872 the price went up to $500 a ton and
the syndicate is confident that it can
get the price up to that figure again.
Mr.. Dean has been in his present bus
mess about Is years, and so does not
remember the fabulous price of 1872
He does remember however, the prices
from year to year. and at this season
ne says would not be surprised at al
most any figure for broom corn, as the
price is steadily climbing up, as in the
case of steel and wire goods. He con,
tinued:
Il saw in the Arcola Record, a. paper
published in one of the great centers
Of the broom corn industry an article
relative to the formation Of this syndi-
cate or trust The articles of incor-
poration were filed in indianapolis and
ten persons are named as the incorpo-
rators. 1t is estimated that they con-
troll seven eighths Of the output"
In view of the rise in price, Mr. Dean
said that meeting of broom manu-
facturers was held in Chicago at the
Palmer House, Nov IA. He was in
vited to attend, but on account of bus
mess reasons was unable to do so. The
object OF the meeting was to take mea-
sures to protect themselves. 1t was
agreed to advance the price of brooms
and supplies as necessary. A new
schedule of prices was necessitated by
this broom trust. To show the advance
here in the east, Mr.. Dean said that
some time ago he was able to sell
broom corn to small manufacturers for
IA cents. BY tomorrow it may be -
cents a pound. Last year broom corn
could have been bought for $55 a ton
ana now 1t might cost at least $3.50.
Ihis Will stop some of my trade"
he said, for orders will not come in so
fast at the present rate. but | have
this advantage deal mostly in broom
supplies, such as wire, handles, materi
al, etc. l have a number of men
working all the time making brooms.
and every day l get orders for many
bales of brooms. That does not look
as though the advance in price was GO
ing to kill my business Handles are
50 thousand more than last year, and
wire of course has gone UP so fast that
the price has almost doubled"
1t would seem that if the syndicate
continued to boost prices, it would be-
hooVe every housewife to Law in a
stock of brooms before they become too
much of a luxury