Home

Arizona Highway 69
   Area Communities

Mayer
   Spring Valley
   Dewey-Humboldt
   Cordes Junction
   and Cordes Lakes

Local Links

Other Stories

The newspaper of August 27, 1902 ran this story:

A few weeks since the Journal-Miner made mention of being the recipient of a sample lot of cactus toothpicks from Joe Mayer. The toothpicks were made from cactus thorns and were quite unique. An industry involving their manufacture is now being developed at Mayer by a man named E. S. Rogers, and it is his intention to place them on the market. In their natural state, with their external covering on, they are dull and unattractive, besides being too sharp to be serviceable. To scrape their covering off a beautiful variegation of colors is obtained, but the process of doing this by hand is entirely too slow to be profitable. Mr. Rogers therefore interested Joe Mayer with him and began a series of expensive experiments with chemicals for a method of treatment by wholesale. He has been rewarded

The newspaper of September 12, 1902 ran this story:

Under the name of the “Indian Souvenir Toothpick Company”, a plant is in operation at Mayer that shows the natural resources of this section in so far as furnishing toothpicks go. Messrs. Mayer and Rogers are the men who are behind the enterprise and are now diligently employed in not only preparing the article they semi-manufacture, but in marketing the same. They are up to date unable to supply the demand owing to the great number of orders received. The little instruments they are handling are the production of the cactus plant, serviceable in their duty more so than the common wood article, and when polished are variegated in color.

Mr. Rogers, who “caught on” to the idea of preparing the thorn from the plant, has labored earnestly to prepare a chemical solution to strip the branch of its natural growth and has succeeded admirably. The toothpick he produces is about two and one-half inches long, has an amber tip of a natural color, while along the stem there is a variety of colors, showing the natural condition of the plant. There is nothing whatever artificial in the toothpick in either color or composition. They are also durable and will give better service than the manufactured goods. A box may be seen at this office, and a sample will be given any who may call.

---

---

Arizona Highway 69 Chamber Of Commerce
11255 S. HIGHWAY 69, Mayer, AZ 86333

Phone: 928.632.4355
Fax: 928.632.4355
Web: www.arizonahighway69chamber.org
E-mail: Hwy69chamber@commspeed.net

 

An RLSCONSULTING Solution