Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-04-05
CAPITOL PACKING COMPANY.

CAPITOL PACKING COMPANY.
Sacramento as a Fruit and Vegetable
center-What Has Been Done and viii
Be Done In Canning in this City.
Sacramento and vicinity has long been
known as a fruit and vegetable center. For
years past the markets Of the cities on the
Bay have to large extent been supplied
from this valley with these products. The
bottom lands along the Sacramento and
American rivers have OF recent years been
utilized in the production Of vegetables. Not
only the soil but the climate has been found
to be the best ia the world Tor raising vegs.
tables. When fruits and vegetables ere
ahipped from hers TO the Bay, whether by
bost or by rail, they have not their
natural freshness when they arrive there.
Large quantities of California fresh fruits
| haVe been shipped TO Eastern markets for
years p3sf, and mora from Sacramento than
from any other single shipping point in the
State. This has been largely instrumental IN
/ the East in tbs introduction Of California
canned fruits. The superior quality of the
| fruit from this region raised strife for it
among the packers Of fruits at the Bay.
J TheincTeasing demand for California canned
goods, and the well-known superior quality
of Sacramento fruits, together with g knowl-
edge Of the SUCCESS Of csnneries at other
places in ths State caused the idea to be coz
caived to start
CANNING FACTORY
In this city. Accordingly J. 81. Carroll, r.
Hickmott and d. Esshby formed company,
known ss the Capitol Packing Company, and
on January 1, 1882, preparations were begun
TO pack portion Of last years crop. The
company secured building on Front street
and fitted it up for the purpose Of canning
fruit, vegetables and salmon. From the mo-
ment the place was opened the undertaking
was q success. Some idea Of the extent of
the business may be obtained from the fact
that over $50, 900 cans of goods were shipped
from the factory last year.
Some time sgo the company purchased the
steamer Maggie, formerly owned by the United
States Government and fitted it up for the
purpose OF bringing salmon to this factory.
Now the stesme- makes daily trip as far
down the Sacramento river as Courtland, and
frequently goes beyond that place. A steam
chain machine fer Gaping salmon cans was
bought in tie East, snd now the quantity of
salmon which viii be canned there is only
LIMITED BY THE SUPPLY.
This capping machine would be q source of
wonder TO the good housewife who thinks it q
good half days work to seal, with rosin seal
ing wax, two dozen cans. for it will solder on
the caps or lids at the rate Of 81, 900 per day.
The company this year expects to put up
not less than l, 100000 cans Of goods. With
this end in view, of course it was necessary
to increase the room and the capacity Of the
concern. The building at 1109 Front street.
which is % by 40 feet in size, was leased,
L., -. IL
This gives them frontage on Front street of
s. feet, with depth of $50 feet. A new
brick front was put in ia the second story of
the entire building, which adds much to the
appearance, as well as being much more sub.
stantial. The building is two.story and base.
ment, and is utilized throughout. An ele-
vator, with steam power, runs from the base
ment to the top.
The basement is used for the purposes of
storing and for packing some kinds of goods
in cases. The room on the first floor, used
exclusively for handling salmon. is 20 by 100
feet in size. In this men are employed
almost exclusively.
THE TIN SHOP
Is in large room in the second story. Here
the tin is taken in sheets and worked intos
cans. When working at its full capacity
twenty-seven men are employed, and $4,000
6dlLlO4 GALS CdEi DS AnhuO III u6 WOTh
of making cans WAS begun in November last,
and besides what have been used they have
over 400. coo salmon and 100000 other kinds
Of cans on hand.
In another room on the second story honey
is canned. being put up in all kinds of shape,
style and quality. In the same room are
seven 500 gallon tanks, which, in the fruit
canning season, are used for preparing syrups
for the fruits. There are no kinds OF jelly
known to California manufacturers that are
not put up at this place. A press with
power Of twenty tons is used in the jelly
room. This is so simple that boy of twelve
years can handle it and apply the pressure.
Fruits are canned in all kinds and in all
sizes known to the trade. Besides this and
jsllies, honey and salmon, jams, preserves,
pickles and vegetables Of ell kinds are put up
for the market. In the line Of vegetables this
company makes q
SPECIALLY OF ASPARAGUS,
And claim TO be the only packers Of This veg
etable on the Pacific coast. 1t is well known
throughout the State that the best asparagus
in the world is grown in the vicinity
of Sacramento, and lately il has
become large industry, and large
tracts are now under cultivation. In the
neighborhooi of East Park there are some
large fields, there being in one alone over
6I8Llb 6CrCHs ASPARAGUS II QS1ls6ESQ at G10
factory every morning, and when it arrives
there is yet wet with the dew. For packing
they use only white grass. Within short
time they have begun the canning of the
:" tips o1ly. and when it is heated and
opened it is ready for table use, and does
away with the "debris," which attends tae
consumption of that vegetable when prepared
for the table in the old way. This idea is
original with the Capitol Packing Company.
The company have recently leased the lot,
SO by 80 feet, in the rear Of their factory,
and extending through to Second street.
About May LIST they will begin the erection
ON this lot of q one-story iron building. which
viii be used as q packing room, to cover
nearly the entire lot.
For some time time the firm has been ad-
vertising for
GIRLS, WOMEN AND BOYS
For the coming fruit season. There is
great deal of light work, such as pick
ing over the fruit preparatory to heat
iug, labelling cans, ETC., that can be
done by women and girls. When the
factory gets to working at its full capacity
employment will be given to go women and
girls, II that number can be obtained. 1t is
the intention to employ only white labor If it
can be procured, Which viii give employment
TO between 300 and 400 persons in the factory
aiOnS, w Gay AOlAtuS VI buc uuLuDeIS
will be engaged in raising the fruits and veg
etables. II is expected to use all the fruit
this season that can be obtained in this Vi
cinity.
Every department d The establishment is
in charge Of skilled men, and the working
members OF the firm have been almost brought
up in the canning business There are ship
ping facilities by beth rail and water, and
with these advantages, and the quality and
freshness Of the goods used in packing, the
"Capitol" brand has in single year OBJ.
tanned almost world. wide reputation. They
have shipped and are shipping goods to all
parts of the United States, Australian, Eu-
ropsan and even Chinese markets.
The firm has an Office at 213 and 215
Market street, San Francisco, but the princi-
pal business is transacted at the Office at the
factory.
There are some other improvements in the
way of carpentering, whitening, painting,
etc, to be made, after which it is the inten.
ton to throw open SIS much of their room as
practicable and invite their friends in this
city and elsewhere to "sprssd," and all
who wish viii be shown the workings Of this.
to Sacramento, comparatively new industry.