The Clayton news. (Clayton, N.M.) 19??-1954, 1918-11-23
THE BROOM CORN SITUA-
TON IN UNION COUNTY


for broomcorn last year. the far
mers of Union County planted
large acreage this season, and today
ton after ton OF broomcorn can be
seen as one drives over the county,
But why has not this broomcorn
been sold before now? The ques-
ton is simple. When the broom
corn market opened this fall, the
farmers of Oklahoma and other
states were receiving as high as
$4,000 ton. VMr. A. S. Hefner, of
Clayton-Clayton's only broom max
er-informed us this week that his
folks in Oklahoma sold their broom
corn early in the fall for $4,000 a
ton. We notice from our exchanges
that the farmers of Guymon, Okla,
a neighboring town, sold their
broomcorn for $4,000 a ton. We
asked the question last week, and
we repeat. Have the farmers of
Union County been bothered with
broomcorn buyers?"
Why is Union County and es-
pecially the vicinity of Clayton so
different to other counties and COM
munities Adf a farmer lands on the
streets of Clayton with load of
broomcorn, he finds but one buy
er, and he can either take the price
offered, take his brush back home,
store and pay storage or ship on con,
signment and be contented, but not
satisfied with the price received.
This condition of affairs is driving
Thousands Of doAars in hlisiness a.
way from this town daily. Some
thing must be done-it is dangerous
TO delay
Mr. C. C. Hodges received a let
ter from the Chamber of Commerce
of one of the neighboring towns a
few days ago bidding for the busi-
ness of the Union County broom
corn raisers. This same letter
stated that the merchants of this
neighboring town had arranged to
have buyers from the leading
broomcOrn houses in the country to
come TO their town and offer the
farmers the very highest market
price for their broomcorn. In adj
dition to this, this same town has
ARRANGED for the farmers to store
their broomcorn, without cost, if
the market Sfs-not satisfactory. Mr..
Merchant of Clayton, what can you
expect? Can you blame your GUS
toner living within ten miles of
your own door, if he drives fifty
miles TO market his brOomcOrn
rather than to sacrifice it at the
price offered by the one lonely
broomcorn expert of Clayton? Re-
member that not only the merchant,
but every business and professional
man in Clayton suffers financial
Toss every time one of our Clayton
neighbors markets his produce in
some other town.
1t goes without saying that if
one of our farmers sells his en-
tire crop of broomcorn, consisting
Of ten or twenty tons, in one of our
neighboring towns, that this same
man WIN spend at least a part of his
chec the place he received it
He nay return home in a new au-
tomr e, he may treat his wifo to
nev range, he may buy the baby
br new rocker; and he might
yes il is possible subscribe for the
local newspapers published in our
neighboring town and discontinue
his subscription. TO the News. This
of course would be a calamity "a
all the News force and we DOM
intend for it TO happen if we car
prevent it.
The farmers of Union County have
no fault to find with Clayton as q
market for their beans and other
produce. When Mr.. Farmer drives
into Clayton with load of bean:
he will find a dozen buyers ready
TO give him the highest market
price. Now we are going to pas;
the buck 10 the Clayton Rotary Club
and ask that organization, for thi