The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-10-07
First Review of Industry
I Made Public Today
FALLING OFF IN SALES
Increased Use Substitutes One
Reason For Decline
Shown

nome later than necessary this year,
was only half SO likely to be greet
ed with the swish Of broom or broom
handle, as he was last year, accord
ing to the first survey ever made of
the broom corn industry. and made
public here today by G. B. Alguire,
statistican of the hay. feed and seed
division Of the U. S. Bureau OF Mar
kets and Crop Estimates. His re-
view shows that the per- capita sales
this year were about forty per cent
of normal and that the total sale OF
brooms amounted slightly more than
sixty per cent of normal.
The broom corn industry has
moved slowly this year, compared
with several years past, a general
stagr ant condition existing, which
was not expected at all when the sea-
son for the 1920 crop opened.
The outlook then was comparatively
favorable, Mr.. Alguire says, with the
ing one OF the smallest on record
and the new crop which later proved
to be $4,000 tons, compared, with a
six year average of $4,000 tons, in
the United States, gave every indi-
cation of being the smallest crop in
years. " ~
Survey Broom, Corn Industry
The survey covers the entire broom
corn industry of the United States.
These conditions of bear" fore
casting should ordinarily have caus-
ed an extremely active market for a
raw product, he says, but almost the
70 fho M -
hauled their straw to market and in
many cases refused to sell It after
they had hauled it in, saying the prics
did not compensate for the labor In
volved.
Increased use of substitutes, too
many factories operating, improved
methods Of building, the decrease in
the use of horses and the increase in
street paving, new methods Of sani-
tation; curtailment of consumption
due to shutting down the larger rail
road shops, cotton mills, shelters and
other industries, non employment,
mize, and changes in methods of buy.
ing, all had their effect on depressing
the market, according to this report
Stocks of broom, corn on hand July
1. reported to the department OF agri-
culture, were considered heavy, tae
report says, about $4,000 tons being
carried over from the proceeding
year-enougn broom corn to supply
an entire world demand for seven
an entire and one half months. The
average yearly consumption Of broom
corn for a five year period, from 1915
to 1920 was shown to be $4,000 tons.
ma produced $4,000 tons, according
to the statistician of the state board
of agriculture.
ouestionaires Sent Out
In obtaining the report, question
aires were sent out to 1000 rep
urers, according to Mr.. Alguire, and
to factories in every. state, from the
largest to the smallest buckeye" shop
partment said, that possibly rs per
cent of the country's production Is
taken by those firms.
The medium grade brooms are in
much greater demand than those Of
any ether quality, according to Mr.. Al
guire's report. In fact, he says, fifty
per cent Of the demand is for grades
with 20 per cent from parlor brooms,
and 80 percent for common.
( New devices. suction cleaning
machines, and many other methods OF
modern house cleaning have been
adopted and supplanted the broom
in some extent, although 1t was be-
lieved that the broom had not lost
out entirely, the report stated.
The month of May, actual sales
reported to the department repres-
Of normal consumption There were
161, 4S0 dozen brooms sold In May be
the firms making reports for the de-
partment, and the total sales were
estimated at about 100000 dozen
brooms. The average for the past six
years as compared and compiled for
the department was $4,000 dozen
brooms month.
Driving Broom From House
What is driving the broom rom the
home? According to Mr.. Alguire's re-
port, push brushes Of ration, BAN
boo, and other material now are be-
used In street cleaning.
Many modern dwellings and apart
,nents nave installed vacuum APP
pliances and hardwood and tile floors
have come into increased use. This
had stimulated the use of oil mops
and bristle brushes that yearly has
been cutting down broom sales.
In the smaller cities and in the
country the decreased consumption is
less marked, he says. The corn
brooms have not fallen into general
disuse however, hor are they ceasing
to command first place with house
agent, according to Mr.. Alguire.
General business depression pro-
badly has been reflected in curtailed
consumption by forcing those out OF
to economic. the sum-
mary states, and the shutting down
of cotton mills, railroad shops and
smelters is given credit fer affect
ing the market seriously. Another
important factor In the business now
has come to be the hedging" against
losses his report shows. The buy
as you need" policy is icing put in
to effect. The estimated carry over
of broom stocks on August 1, was
$4,000 tons. One ton Of average
broom corn, the u. s. Bureau OF
Markets and Crop estimates states,
represents 80 dozen average brooms.
so that the total number of brooms
left in the United States to be car
ried over August !. was about 2.000.-
600.
Jensen is Sentenced.
Albert Lea, September 29.--Arthur w.
Jensen. formerly proprietor Of the restau-
rant. corner East Clark and Newton