Los Angeles daily herald. [volume] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1873-1876, 1874-03-25
A Growing Industry.

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preserving establishment recently
erected in San Lorenzo, led to much
inquiry whether the right to use the
process could be secured for fruit
growers in other parts of the State.
In answer to numerous letters, the in
ventor, Charles Alden, has arrived in
California, and a company has been
organized in this city, called "The
Alden Fruit Preserving Company of
California" office at 402 Montgomery
street. Officers have been chosen as
follows: G. w. Deitzier, President;
w. M. Wherry, Vice-President; Frank
Pyle, Secretary and Superintendent.
These officers, associated with John
Hewston, Jr., and Thomas Cole, are
the Directors, and they are now pre-
pared to furnish machinery for fac
tories in any portion of the State re-
quired, and the right to use the pro-
cess. 1t is an advantage to have the
factory in the neighborhood of the or
chards, as the transportation and con-
sequent injury of the fruit is thereby
avoided.
The Alden products, though only of
recent introduction, have reached a
high standard as articles of commerce,
and the demand for them is rapidly
increasing in this country and in
Europe. The fifty factories which
have been in operation in the Eastern
States, during the past season, have
been unable to supply the demand,
and number of carloads of these
products were sent East this winter,
upon orders, by Messrs. Littlefield,
Webb & Co., the agents in this city,
who are constantly receiving orders
for more from CHICAGO, England, and
the islands of the Pacific Ocean, which
cannot be filled, the supply having
been exhausted. There seems to be
no danger of overstOcking the market,
and several new factories will be put
in operation in California, this Spring.
The Alden process promises to be of
incalculable value to our State, as it
will open new field for our fruit
growers, and enable them to utilize
every pound of their fruit, even to the
cores and skins.
The produe. may be shipped to any
portion of the world, and ere long
California fruits may become as popu-
lar in foreign markets as her wheat
now is. The substitution of fruit for
wheat would do much to preserve the
richness of the soil, which wheat rap
idly impoverishes. California raisins
have not, as yet, acquired a very high
reputation, but these prepared by this
process are among the best, while the
cost and time of curing are greatly
less. The raisin has the real grape
flavor, and is perfectly clean. AS
grape-growing for the manufacture of
wine has not proved profitable in CAL
ifornia, it is probable that the raisin
business will in a measure take the
place of this branch of industry in our
State. Mr.. Harwood, of Santa Clara
county, and other large grape growers,
have recently paid much attention to
the cultivation of the raisin grape.
and in some cases whole vineyards OF
the wine grape have been grated with
a variety suitable for raisins, which,
as well as Zante currants, prunes,
plums, and apricots, have market
value the world over, and do not need
the advertising and pushing necessary
to establish q new brand of wines.
The Alden process is equally valua-
blefor preparing vegetables, such as to-
matoes, potatoes, onions, beets, string
beans, corn, etc.; also, tobacco, hops,
chiccory, medicinal herbs, etc. The
vegetables prepared by this process
are used in large quantities by our
army and navy, and are now being in
PRODUCED into the armies and navies of
other governments, and there seems
to be no room to doubt that these pro-
ducts will, ere long, take the place of
the canned goods, being better, sweeter,
and cheaper. 1t would probably be
profitable for the people Of California
to resusicate their neglected orchards
and vineyards and plant raisin grapes,
Zante currants, prunes, plums, and
apricots-fruits which cannot be sue
cessfully raised east of the Rocky
Mountains.-[Bu