The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1911-10-20
OKLAHOMA, BROOM CORN STATE.
Other States Must Raise It If Prices
Are to Go Lower

Wichita, Kan, oct IA single
state of this union holds the key 70
the broom situation of the country.
Upon conditions in that state depend
the prices that the American house
wife is asked to pay for one of the
real necessities of house work. AS
things go in Oklahoma, so goes the
broom market of the world.
1t is this remarkable state of af-
fairs that makes the broom so easily
subject to fluCtuatiOn in price and
renders it impossible for any indivd-
ual or group of persons to hold the
broom market at an even stage.
Manufacturers must have broom corn
in order that the housewives of the
country may have brOOms, but it is
all up 10 the wonderful new state of
Oklahoma, where four.fifths of the
corn used in broom manufacture is
grown.
Nobody is responsible for the recent
rise in the price of brooms. That
rise is due to the increase in the
price of broom corn, which was caus-
ed by the drouth and extremely hot
weather prevailing during the sum-
mer months. There isn't as much
broom corn in Oklahoma this year as
usual. The demand for broom corn
becomes stronger as the population Of
the country grows larger, so there
you have the very simple reason for
the marked advances in broom
prices.
The soil and climate of Oklahoma
are peculiarly adapted to the grow.
ing of broom corn; which is a prod
uct that will not grow under ordinary
conditions. Certain sections of Okla
homa and Illinois are exactly right
for broom corn, so for the utensils
with which TO keep their floors, car
pets and rugs clean the women of
the United States must depend upon
the broom corn crops in those states
Wichita is the biggest broom corn
market in the world and there have
been some real activities in this crop
in the last few weeks. with prices
soaring skyward. 1t is not believed
that the top figure has been reached
either FOR many farmers i'm Oklahoma.
Illinois and a few other states that
grow corn in small quantities are
holding their corn for a further ad-
vance, and if brooms go up a few
more nOtchCs the scarcity of material
will alone be responsible for increas-
ed prices
In Illinois this season, where par
ticuarly fine corn is grown around
Arcola and other points. some farm
ers have made profits on broom corn
that have practically paid for their
farms. II has been a fine year for
the ones who have had broom corn to
sell Few crops even including fruits
or vegetables, yield larger profits un-
der conditions like the ones now pre-
vailing than the corn from which
American brOoms are made. Okla
hOma brush corn has commanded as
high as SlT5 a ton, and some predict
that average prices will go near the
5000 mark before the market settles
back to normal.
Clinton X. Lee, whose factories at
Boston, Davenport and Lincoln con
sumo more raw material than any
other broom plants in the world. has
spent much of his time in Wichita
and Oklahoma during the recent fur
ry. Discussing the situation today,
he said
1T is an unfortunate occurrence.
but one for whom no one can be held
responsible. The price of broom corn
can only be regulated by the supply,
for the supply comes from such lin.
tied territory, This year the broom
corn crop is short in Oklahoma, and
that can only mean high prices. Then,
again, the demand is heavy because
of the short crop of two years ago.
All the surplus corn was used up at
that time, and the manufacturers