The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-08-04
work for n Thousand. I.

4 hoND lNDlSlhlbS WhltH tlNES WOHk AND
MONEY TO MANY PEoPLE-How FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES ARE PREPARED FOR MARKET
AND FOR CONSUMPTION.
Yesterday was "opeDing-day at Wood.
vile Cannery here. This establishment Is
one Of the enterprises OF John 3. Davis,
Esq. II is named after bis Woodville farm,
which is located about one and bali miles
north OF the city, on the MechaniesyiIle
turnpike, and claims the attention OF every
passer-by on account Of its neat buildings,
charming shade, vines and flower-plots, and
well-cutiyated fields. Originally a market
garden OF less than one hundred acres, IL
has been enlarged by the acquisition OF ad-
iacent lands until now it embraces i,200
acres. Here Mr.. Davis resides, aud here
are produced most Of the tomatoes and SUI
gar-corn used at the Woodyille Cannery.
This cannery is located in Lumpkin's
alley between Mr.. Dayis's Horse Bazaar
and Sales Stables and Shockoe creek. A
few years ago the lot was low, covered With
weeds and trasb, and subject to the incur
si0Ds Of Shockoe creek. II was filed in
| and then leyeled off by Mr.. Davis for
THE BUILDINGS
which now occupy 1t. These buildings are
Of brick. The main one is three stories 10
|
it there Is wing or annex about 100 by 30
feet.
| In the wing the fruits and vegetables are
received in hampers and thoroughly in-
spected by the superintendent, Mr.. c.
DeBow. Whether brought from Wood
| vile or purchased from he farmers Of Hen
rico and Hanoyer-who have here q cash
market for all their surplus products Of the
character required in cahning-they have
TO come up to aD appointed standard. They
must be Of full size, mature, and free from
| bruises and blemishes.
| Having passed the scrutiny OF the inspec-
tor, the goods are prepared for the can.
merry. In the case OF
TOMATOES
they are treated as follows: 1st, placed in
| iron hampers and scqlded ID, placed on a
in the tin cans; Alb, cans are "clpped" F"
! (senled); 5'h, processed" (placed in hot
water until cooked; 6tn, cans are labelled
and put up in wooden boxes. ready for
shipment to the markets OF this country and
Europe.
In the case OF sugar.coTn the Sbuck is first
taken from the ear; then the silk Is re-
moved from the grain then the grain is
cut OF close to the cob; then the grain IS
pissed into he cans and the processing" :"
done. This last requires great experience
and skill.
At WoOdyille tomatoes, corn, peaches,
peas, stringed beans, cultivated blsckber-
res, and Lima beans are canned. For each
special manipulation is required, and care
has TO be observed in maintaining the pro-
per temperature in the processing"
AbOut three hundred
HANDS
are empOyed-men, women, bows, and girls.
These are able TO earn from 81 10 SO per
dav, according to skill. Counting the peO-
pie employed at this cannery, at WOOdville
farm, and upon the lands OF those from
whom purchases OF fruits and vegetables
are made, it is suppose that one thousand
people are now receiving, directly or indi-
rectly, monetary benefits from this one in
dustry.
! A great boiler supplies the steam and
heats the water needed for the establish
ment. There are six kettles, into which il
is possible 10 put at one time, for "proceSs-
ing" three thousand cans. Working at its
fullest capacity, the cannery could put up
forty thousand cans OF peaches or ten or
fifteen thousand cans Of corn per day. The
refuse matter i all gathered up from floors
and tables and carted back to the farm,
where it goes into compost heaps and is re.
turned 10 the sOik
The rules and regulations which have
made Mr.. Davis's Lester Manor brand fs-
nous are also in force here. They require
on the part OF operatives personal clean
illness and abstinence from the use Of to-
bacco in any form while at work. They
insist on excellence Of material, care in ma
nipulation, and thorough
| HONESTY II PACKING.
! II is said that such thing as a hali.fled
can OF LcstOr ManOr or WOodville goods is
unknown. but that OF some other brands
complaint is frequently heard, which, if
| true, goes to show that such Gamers are not
controlled by even so poor principle a
Honesty i the best policy" For all Of
| his goods possible to be manufactured d this
wear Mr.. Davis has orders already filed, and
at prices regarded as satisfactory aud prOfita-
| bic. An admiror OF Mr. Davis recently
suggested his name for Governor. He took
| It a. asgOod- joke, declaring that
| his ambition would be altogether satisfied
in the successful governing" Of his pre-
sent large enterprises.
WOOdyllle Cannery, now in is second
year, has done a great deal in the way OF
giving employment to working classes. As
its patronage ncreasfs its field OF useful
ness extends. For every such enterprise
| Richmond should be unreSCTyedly thankful
The more varied our industries the more
solid and secure our prosperity.
YORKTOWN CHORUs.-The eastern section