The Chanute times., 1901-01-25
FRIDAY. JANUARY 25. 1901
sx BROOM CORN ss

There Is little to be said on the
broomcorn subject this week, as the
trade has not opened up very lively
since the holidays. Everyone connect
ed with the broomcorn industry, or
broom making seemed inclined to be-
lieye that lull would inevitably come
at that time, and consequently made
no effort to change the result, but
rather accepted it gladly, In order to
get breathing spell, and time for
relaxation from the tension of business
since the trade opened up with the
appearance of the new crop.
Brokers are in receipt Of many in
quiries for stock, and orders have been
placed which have not been filled,
largely from the fact that brokers find
it ditfiult to fill their orders with
the quality Of stock desired, the
greater part Of desirable stock held
by farmers having been taken and con-
sumed, and those now having stock
which could be used to fill such orders
decline to sell at the price offered.
Inferior stock could be had, but it will
not ill the bin consequently brokers
find themselves in many instances,
"between the devil and the deep sea-"
while their customers are not lit
tie perplexed at the non appearance
of their orders. This condition Of af
fairs causes the trade to be less
satisfactory than in most former years.
A few factories are supplied with
sufficient stock to carry them well
through the year, but it is very evil
dent from what is positively known
of many others that they have very
little. If any stock ahead, while the
communication of still Others leads
to the conclusion that they, too, are
casting about for stock to continue
operations with, and must have it
soon or shut down, and of the latter
there is no probability while the pres
ent demand for goods is anywhere in
the condition it now is.
We do not state it as positive Ger
tainty, yet from the best information
obtainable, it is evident the jobbers
are not stocked up very largely with
brooms, from the fact that opinions
differed so widely AS to the prices that
broomcorn would bring when the new
crop came on the market, that there
was more risk than ordinary in stock
ing up so that they bought spairingly,
knowing that if they ran low, it was
a short cut to replenish stock. The
fact that the jobbing market was al
most bare of brooms when this season
opened up lends color to the idea that
the same caution would be exercised
in stocking up.
There has not been time in many
years when the Chicago ware houses |
were as empty at this season of the |
year as they are now, yet they are able
to supply any ordinary demand asst is,
and were 1T demanded would fill up in
some way or other.
Then again it is pretty we'll under
stood that the stock in the west is
quite well cleaned mp, perhaps not
much more being left there than will
supply the local demand.
Coming to the central district the
stock yet in the farmers hands is in
here ard there, where
a number of ueighbOrs are no ding to
gether for prices they think they ought
to have, and to see much of this re-
quires a good amount of travel, which
with the condition of the Illinois roads
now Is not very inviting task.
There yet remains from to s months
upon which the market must depend
for its supply upon the present stock,
and the holder of good brush can feel
with the reflection that
he is quite likely to find good mar
ket yet,-Arcola Record.