The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1910-01-28
Broom Corn Situation.

SNN ~
With brooms higher thar for years,
the following resume of the broom corn
situation by Twin City Commercial
ulletin in interesting:
If the $4,000, 900 inhabitants of the
United States we're divided into families
that consisted of FIVE persons on an
average, there would be 16, 900
families to be supplied with brooms.
Assuming that each family would con
SUM one broom every three months,
or four brooms a year, it would re-
quire 5,333,3O0 dozen to furnish this
annual demand. This, however, is not
all that is required. From the most
careful and conservative estimates for
public buildings, factories, railroads
and all general purposes as well as for
expectation, it is agreed that one-third
more, or 1,777,70O dozen, must be pro-
duced to supply this demand. This,
then, in round numbers, Is 100000
dozen brooms required annually to sup
ply the demand upon the broom max
ing industry.
From the beginning of the broom in
dustry it has been estimated that 1t
required 20 pounds of broom corn to
make a dozen brooms. That is, with
out doubt, too low an estimate, because
of demand in later years for a heavier
article. Taking that venerable tradi-
ton, however, as a basis, shows an
, annual consumption of 10000 tons.
: There has not been a normal crop OF
: broom corn produced in this country
+ since 1907. In that year it was esti-
o mated Oklahoma produced $4,000 tons,
S Illinois $500 tons, all other sections
1000 tons; total $4,000 tons; corrob-
O crates with reasonable accuracy the
n estimate of the annual production.
The market price of broom corn has
a wide range, depending upon supply
and demand.
A few years ago it sold as low as $50
10 to $40 per ton. In 1868, as a result Of
\ a famine in the crop and an inflated
currency, broom corn sold from $45'
y to $500 per ton. The range within tn
y past year, or until the crop harvest o
1909, has been $50 to 500 per tor
I'd The latter price is considered a goo
of price and yields satisfactory and re
munerative profits for its ~produetloI
in On that basis the value of the crop l
the United States for a productive sef
"a son amounts to 81, 100000. The crop 9
1909 and the present prices can :
81 easily explained. For the first time !
many years there was little carried owe
hi from the last crop into the present on
Fps either in raw or manufactured stoc.
The market was bare. Dealers
anticipation of lower prices when Il
new crop came in, forced their stoS
lgn down to the lowest condition. Ok
u homa is a vast territory; In prospe
ian a mighty state when climatic con
m - I'D % - hpnnm %
Dor. men looked for q yield of 4O,OOO
has SO, 0 tons. Late in the month
as August the hot winds, like the dead
. - simeon, swept over the country, a
whatever green thing it touched "
dead. Broom corn offered most resi-
" ance to the fiery heat, and farmers
d d many section moved dow the gro
the inc crop to make feed of it for the Ike
,hen of their stock through the winter,
the which we will soon enter. Instead
der. the expected yield in Oklahoma Tn
will be several hundred tons, just u
much nobody knows, The plant
we're Illinois was injured by early rams, mf
be acres planted were abandoned, and
the tonnage per acre greatly reduced.
nent. fact that Kansas and Missouri our
yeott the past few years have practlcaLly
) not continued growing pioo nn. w. +bo e,
Using IN Smail aleas' o;tnation II is {
yoing oL me +Pat there is less than a
crop, perhaps considerably less. j..
peo- When the shortage in the crop OF
g are present year was known, prices rap
ually advanced until 5000 to 1920 per
D the was reached. Under existing c1Iui'
food there, prices appear reasonable
L g nnVan GnfIGfADfl0
get legitimate. 4 Is SUM tbot no trns
c!..es syndicate has had anything to d
ci,ios manipulating the market.