Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1910-01-28
Broom Corn Situation.


With brooms higher than for years,
the following resume of the broom corn
situation by Twin City Commercial
ulletin in interesting:
If the sO,O0O0OO inhabitants of the
United States were divided into families
that consisted of FIVE persons on an
average, there would be 100000
families to be supplied with brooms.
Assuming that each family would con-
sumo one broom every three months,
or four brooms year, it would re-
quire 5,333,30O 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
duced to supply this demand. This,
then, in round numbers, is 100000
dozen brooms required annually to sup
ply the demand upon the broom maxi
ing industry.
From the beginning of the broom in
dustry it has been estimated that it
required 20 pounds of broom corn to
make dozen brooms. That is, with
Oub oOhpOJ OOO INV Oh Oob1l1bCO1 OONduoO
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 normal crop of
broom corn produced in this country
since 1907 In that year it was esti-
mated Oklahoma produced $4,000 tons,
Illinois $500 tons, all other sections
| = fol h.
crates with reasonable accuracy the
estimate of the annual production.
| The market price of broom corn has
wide range, depending upon supply
and demand.
A few years ago it sold as low as $50
to $40 per ton. In 1868, as a result of
a famine in the crop and an inflated
currency, broom corn sold from $3.50
to $500 per ton. The range within the
past year, or until the crop harvest of
1909, has been $50 to 500 per ton.
The latter price is considered good
price and yields satisfactory and re-
munerative profits for its production.
On that basis the value Of the crop in
the United States for a productive sea
son amounts to $7,000,000. The crop of
/ 1909 and the present prices can be
many years there was little carried over
from the last crop into the present one,
either in raw or manufactured stock
The market was bare. Dealers in
anticipation of lower prices when the
new crop came in, forced their stock
down to the lowest condition. Okla,
homa is a vast territory; in prospect
a mighty state when climatic condi.
| lions h 10 ID 10
: men looked for yield of 10000 tc
; $4,000 tons. Late in the month OF
August the hot winds, like the deadly
, simeon, swept over the country, and
whatever green thing it touched wa:
dead. Broom corn offered most resist
ance to the fiery heat, and farmers il
many section moved down the grow
ing crop to make feed of it for the keeI
of their stock through the winter, il
which we will soon enter. Instead Of
the expected yield in Oklahoma there
5 will be several hundred tons, Just how
) much nobody knows, The plant il
7 Illinois was injured by early rains, many
acres planted were abandoned, and the
, tonnage per acre greatly reduced. Tht
fact that Kansas and Missouri during
the past few years have practically dis
continued growing broom corn, eXcep
in small areas, contributes to the fore
of the present situation. 1t is est
= mated that there is less than hal
7 crop, perhaps considerably less.
When the shortage in the crop of tn
present year was known, prices rapid,
advanced until 5000 to 1920 per tol
was reached. Under existing condition
there, prices appear reasonable ant
legitimate. 1t is some satisfaction il
!, these times to know that no trust o
4 syndicate has had anything to do il
manipulating the market.