The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-12-14
The Egis and Intelligencer
Bel Air, Md, December IA, 1888.
GAMERS IN COUNCIL.
Insurance, the Warehouse system AND
other Topics Discussed.
COMMITTEES APPOINTED AND A FAIR
START MADE.

COMMITTEES APPOINTED AND A FAli
START MADE.
A convention of packers and others interested
in the manufacturer and sale of canned goods
was held in Bel AR, last Saturday, december Sth
The Gamers of Hartford county, who number
nearly 500, were not as largely represented as J,
leading men in the business were present, among
whom were Johns II. Janney, Geo. Il. Silver, DR.
Ru ledge. W. Scott whiteford, President, and
Andrew Boyle Vice President of the Northern
a Hsrf9rd paekhs oS aher tfed
Scarborough, 2. p. Hopper, ugh Bay. d. A. Bay,
Samuel Wilson. DIR. Geo. Andrews, Edward H
Cunningham, Daniel Lynch, Geo. W. McComas,
}. Nelson Demoss, ID. II. Archer, Ambrose Cooley,
re aa tn s p Ha aGa
Michael.
None of the packers of Baltimore city were
persent, but among the commission merchants,
Mcssrs. Geo. X. McGaw, of MeGaw s. Emmart
g. a. Getty, OF Bay g. Getty; Louis Geise. John
D. f. Orr, editor of the Gamer and Grocer.
From Philadelphia were Messrs; v. a. Flanagan
of Comfy Il Flanagan, and j. w. Collins. MAJOR
a. NJ. Hancock, of Churchville, Thurber Cos.
agent in Hartford, was an interested but silent
spectator, and Mr.. James Osborn, broker, of
havre de Grace, appeared to take considerable
interest in the proceedings.
There was a good deal of desutory talk before
the meeting got under way, in the afternoon, but
no one appeared to have any definite plan of ac-
tIon to propose. All agreed, however, that prices
of canned goods are below the cost Of production.
aud that the city packers are suffering with thea
country brethren.
Mr.. Murray Vandiver, President of the meet
ing ut Havre de Grace which authorized this con-
ve.nton, called the body to order.
Messrs. Geo: L; Silver, j !. Crew, pr. Charles
A. Rutledge +. ii. Hall and Jas. s. Chenworth,
who were made committee on permanent orga-
niz,lion, reported for officers the following :
John H. ftutedge and Edward H, Hall; secre-
taries, Johns n. Janney and W. s, McCombs.
THE INSURANCE QUESTION.
Insurance of canning house property was the
first question discussed.
Mr.. Johns II. Janney said he would not insure
his farm buildings in any company that would
not insure his canning house.
MIR. George f. Silver thought there was an I'M
reasonable scare among insurance companies, and
that the Hartford company deserved little re- e.
no greater in many eases than on ordinary farm
buildings. although the number of canning house
fires had increased since the season closed. Thus
the opinion prevails that the risk is greater and
companies won't insure. They should charge
higher rates during the canning season and after
pany ought to do that. Fires had occurred in
buildings used for canning but since occupied
partly as stables and barns.
DIR. Charles A. Rutledge said Gamers should
insure all their properly in other companies If
house risks. The Baltimore county company had
not lost cent on canning houses, the Secretary
had informed him, and would continue to insure
them.
On motion, Il committee of three was named to
take up the question and report at the
Charles A. Rutledge and Samuel Wilson.
WAREHOUSES; IN HARTFORD.
The President stated that the next question
fordiscusson was the construction of warehouses
in Hartford county, the storage of goods and the
protection of Gamers in general.
Mr. Janney thought that low prices were caus-
ed by forcing so many goods on the marke after
canning season is over, thereby breaking it, He
favored the organization of a stock company,
which will erect warehouses, in which canned
IA OF of rntnS
Gamers would receive receipts, the same as at the
grain elevators or in storing cotton. w it'll these
receipts as collateral Gamers could raise two
thirds of the value of their goods or keep them
on storage until the market improves A ware
house company with half a million dollars capital
could do two or three million dollars worth
OF business year. He expected aid in this way
from Baltimore capitalists.
Mr.. w. S. Judge, of Baltimore, said it was not
over production, but forced sales of weak parIes
which mad affected the market. Good tomatoes
costs 80 cents dozen for three-pound cans to the
producer, yet they are selling at 80 cents. He
thought 1t would be best to organize syndicate to
take up the weak goods, sell them Mt trade sales,
and then steady the market The advance in
prices would compensate for all the losses from
carrying weak holders. Old and we'll established
packers must take this business into hand or let
the tomato packing go to the wall.
MIR. Janney said he could not see how it would
be possible TO do anything this season, and bad
one Il has BEEN too With warehouse company
for Maryland, goods will be distributed naturally
through the year. This company can easily be
On motion Of John hn'f T. Rutledge, commit
tee was appointed to consider. and report
upon the warehouse question. as follows:
George e. Silver, James s. Chenworth, p. L. Hop.
per, A. +: Brown, James A. Cunningham, Hon.
John II. Price and Louis Cahen.
COOPERATION OF CITY AND COUNTRY PACKERS.
The President said the Baltimore city packers
tend should have been extended to all having any
interest in the packing business.
Mr. Silver regarded the absence Of Baltimore
city packers rs an unfaVOrable sign.
Mr.. James $. Chenworth said he expected Balti-
more city would have money enough here to buy
up oil the cheap goods. What we want is capital
to build warehouses and buy canned goods.
Mr. g. a. Getty said that Baltimore city did not
call the meeting, and he had only learned of it
through the public prints. Being interested in
the business he had attended. He was not con-
presented the Hartford county packers. lie
thoroughly endorsed the action taken with re-
ference to building warehouses. 1t is the only
salvation of the trade. He attributed the low
prices to over-production and the packing of in
ferior goods. The consumption had fallen Off
from the latter cause. The warehouse system
and packing better goods is the only help outside
of reduced production.
Mr.. Janney did not think there was over-pro-
ducton, but the whole trouble was from forced
sales. No syndicate could regulate this, because
they can not buy up all the goods in the country.
Mr.. w. a. Flanagan believed the trouble arose
from over-supply. There is not demand sutfl-
cient TO take away all the goods. New Jersey
packers have packed this year more than ever be-
fore, and more have been packed in the West. AL
though the Hartford pack was short of that last
year, there have been more goods packed than
before and large number were carried over
The demand is less because goods of poor quail
ty were packed last year.
Geo X. McGaw thought prices would even
tually correct themselves in accordance with the
law of supply and demand There is no other
remedy than the warehouse system, except cur
failing the pack. He was not in favor of syndi-
cate. The warehouses ought to be managed by
the railroads, so that no one could take any adj
vantage of II. Goods will go where they can be
handled to the best advantage. With the ware
house system merchants will vie with each other
in Offering the best inducements to packers.
Mr.. Andrew Boyle, of the Northern Hartford
Packing Association, said the convention was
working over the same ground as the Red Seal
Association did two years ago and he wished
those interested success
On motion of Mr.. Janney the Secretaries were
requested to invite all sections interested in the
canning business to send delegates to the next
meeting to be held in Bel Air, January 18th, 1884
at IL NJ.
The Warehouse committee met after the con-
committee for next Saturday, 18th instant, at
Cfurchville, at o'clock, p. M.
MIR. s. N. HYDEs OPINION.
Mr.. S. N Fl yde, of Hydes Station, Baltimore
county, formerly of Boothby Hill, in conversa-
ton said he was of the opinion that the remedy
for low prices could be applied by individual
products in the best possible manner and proper
iy grade them. If this were done, he thought
prices would regulate themselves according to
the law of supply and demand. Mr.. Hyde said
the prevailing low prices we're the result of over
production of inferior goods. A great deal OF
canned corn is too hard to use when IL is packed
buying. laboring man. for instance, would
rather buy ten cents worth of hominy than pay
that amount for can of corn fit only to feed tC
chickens or pigs. Personally the low prices did
Egyptian corn, trophy and Maryland Wonder to
matoes at his own prices, and was 5000 case:
short.
WHAT A CAN MAKER SAYS.
Mr.. John o. Ferrall, can maker, of baltimore