Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1923-06-11
RUMOR PRICES
OF BROOMCORN
WILL Be FIXED
Grower Urges Farmers to
Organize at Once If Prices
Offered do Not Conform
to Northern Markets Prices

Representatives Of practically all the
largest broOincorn warehouses in the
north and east will meet at the Casa de
Palma at McAllcn Wednesday or Thurs
day for the purpose ~ fixing the price
70 ~ paid for Valley broomcurn. accord
ing 10 Information received this morn
ing. Several of these representatives
have already arrived in the Valley. "A
report from llarling-n stated but the
meeting will not b- held until other rep
rrscn,ativcs arrive.
Many complaints have ben made by
growers, especially in Ilidalgo county
relative 20 the prices offered for broom
corn, and 80 far as the Herald can as
certain only three ears Of the straw have
moved from the Valley this season. and
it is reported that very little will be
shipped out or purchased until after the
meeting.
Saturday morning the situation was
called To the attention Of the Valley
Chamber of Commerce and telegrams
were immediately dispatched to northern
warehouses suggesting that adequate
prices be paid. An effort IL also being
made To get in touch with manufactur-
crs with the object of marketing direct
if satisfactory arrangements can be
made.
There are only eight or nine big
warehouses in the United States handl-
ing broomcorn. an old broomcorn
grower of the lIarlngan district stated
this morning." and il il rumored thar
all of these will have representatives ut
the meeting 10 be held in McAllen. III
they fix "a fair price for the Valley crop.
from $500 To S:l35 for the best grades
il would be advisable for the Valley
growers 10 market through them. tn.
best grades are now selling around
SiOO To Si2J on the northern market.
and many broom factories are said To
have closed down because Of the short
age. These warehouses grade the
straw. and when the factory desires q
certain grade they place their order and
are assured Of getting that grade. In
this WAY they practically control the
market because they give the manu-
facturers the service they desire.
In the event the meeting az McAllen
fails to fix n reasonable price for the
straw ! would suggest that the Valley
growers Immediately Organize utilize the
Valley Chamber VI Commerce a. get in
touch with til. largest manufacturers.
most Of which are very eager M the
present time To secure straw Ia keep
thrirsplaniS in operation. To accomplish
this Will require teamwork on the part
of the growers and possibly some delay
in marketing. but | believe II can be ac-
complished. II the McAllcn meeting
fixes reasonable price the growers
will soon be apprised of the fact. and
believe they will do u. However. il
would be advisable for the growers to
he in readiness to take the matter into
their own hands if any effort is made to
cut the price below what would be re-
quired to give the buyers and warehouse
men a Legitimate margin. | hope this
contingency will not arise. but pre-
paredness may save the Valley growers
thousands Of dollars.
Another thing which should BE- called
10 the growers attention IL the fact
that many of them do not harvest their
straw early enough. The straw should
be harvested when the seed is in the
milk stage. and If II is permitted 10 get
too mature II Il off color with III. re-
suit the grower gets a lower price,
Tclegrams received this morning by
the Valley Chpmber of Commerce from
the Chicago Chamber of Comercc stated
that the Valley broomcorn situation had
been referred 10 the proper committees
Of that organization and that prompt
action will be taken with view of plac-
ing the Valley Chamber in touch with
manufacturers.