Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1880-04-03

Dly nave from TWO 10 lHIee Huuuicu
acres of corn raised for me by the farm
ers of this vicinity, but as general
thing l prefer cultivating all the corn l
pack, as can regulate it myself.
In what manner do you ailude to
regulating" il.
He replied: l can send the hands and
teams, have it plucked in proper condi-
ton, and just the quantity | require for
each days work; and having such large
quantities, it enables me in busy season
to have four-horse wagon load deliv
cred at the factory every ten minutes
during the day, by which means l am
enabled to have it husked, cut from the
cob and placed in the cans for hermeti-
cally sealing, in one hour from the time
it leaves the field.
When you are busy, how many
hands do you employ in the field!
About sixty (6O) hands plucking and
twenty-five (25) four-horse wagons
hauling to the factory.
Would not this be very large a
mount to pack? He answered no, that
his facilities were amply sufficient to
pack one hundred thousand QOO,OOO)
cars per day.
How many cans do you expect to
pack this coming season?
He replied: From two million, five
hundred thousand (2,500,000) to three
million (3,OO0,O00) 2lb cans, and few
3lb and gallon cans, according to the
season. Should the season be very ia
vorable it may overrun that amount.
DO You pack any other line of goods?
Yes, lima beans, succotash, tomatoes,
cherries, peaches and pears, in small
quantities. My Baltimore Factory
pack oysters, pine apple, peaches, toma-
toes and other fruits in large quantities.
What kind of packages do you put
them in? He replied, wooden cases.
each containing two dozen cans, and
that amount of cans would make from
one hundred thousand 100000 to oue
hundred and twenty-five thousand
Q25,000) eases.
We remarked that that must be a
very large amount to sell during the
season. He replied, yes but my great
facilities enable me to offer it at low
prices and small profit, aud thus put 1t
into general consumption of the labor
ing classes as well as the epicures of
the country.
What DO you call low price He
answered: The high price tin lead, lum-
Der, nails and other articles, appertain-
ing to the packing Of corn, would, at
present, prevent my naming price for
the coming season. would probably
Get little advance over last season,
when | obtained one dollarand ten cents
(Sl 1O) per dozen delivered in Balti-
more, Philadelphia, New York and other
cities, at about corresponding rates OF
freight, which would enable me to put
1t in the hands of every one who would
like to enjoy can of corn in the winter
season, and / could dispose of my large
crop without difficulty.
Are you making any preparation for
packing? lie invited US to walk to the
Can Factory, where we were met by
Mr. Patton, the foreman, and politely
shown through.
We inquired how many men he had
at work-he answered he had twenty
five (25) men, making cans, and a suf
ticient number Of press boys to attend
them.
How many cans DO you turn out per
day? He said from twelve I2,O0O) to
fifteen Q5,0O0) thousand per day or
eighty $4,000 to ninety (9O,0O0)
thousand per week.
How long have you been working in
this way? He said, since the middle Of
December. How much tin do you use
per month? He replied, we cut up a
bout one thousand $1,000 boxes per
month.
After viewing the Can Factory and
fiuding it in perfect working order, we
returned to the Office of Mr.. McMur
ray We asked him iftin was not very
high at present? lie answered yes, but
said, he had provided sufficient tin, earl
ier in the season, at much lower figures,
to make up a large portion Of bis cans
What else are you manufacturing?
lie answered, boxes, and invited us to
accompany him to the box factory, where
we met Mr.. Hafer, foreman of that fac
tory, who politely accompanied us
through. We examined the different
kinds OF rip and circular saws, also
planning machines used, and were much
pleased with the operations. The fore
man remarked he was making boxes for
the coming season. We generally man
ufacture them before the busy season
for planting and cultivating corn comes
on
What amount Of flumber do you use?
To which Mr.. McMurray replied that be
had contracted for five hundred thOus
and 900, ,OOO) feet TO make boxes for
the coming season.
After going over some calculations
we find that Mr.. McMurray has twenty
one hundred (21OO) acres in cultivation,
aud this with the addition of three hun
dred (3OO) acres raised by the farmers,
would make twenty -four hundred (240O)
acres, which at fifteen hundred $500
cans per acre, would amount to three
million, six hundred thousand $500,
00O) cans. Allowing 400 cases per car,
it would require 375 cars, with 10 loco
motives to move his crop TO market.
These cars in one train, would reach
3 l.2 or miles in length.
For the benefit of our readers at a
distance, we will state that Frederick
City, where Mr.. MeMurrays factories
are situated, is by road, forty-five (45)
miles from Washington, the capital of
opr conntrv and the same distance from