The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1884-02-08
The Egis and Intelligencer.
Bel Air, Md, February 8, 1854.
A SUGGESTION TO CANNERs.

Aslhc time is near at hand for farmers aud
cnurrs to determine what they intend TO do The
cumins season ,wuuid IL not be Scli 10 have SCnc
definite understanding that will enable us tn com
m.urr our labor under more favorable cirrHm
stances than we did The past seasouf That can
MIN. was u failure the past year all VIII admit
and that business of such proportions, aii'i of
80 much interest tn the people of this county anl
state should angulsh anl have To bn Abandoned
would he u disgrace IL the county. IL would
show To the world that we have not Sufficient
lainess intelligence to conduct SO great an enter
prise We have the best of soil and climate for
the growth of fruits and vegetables, and Gs class
the farmers of Hartford county have as much in-
tclligrnCe aud business enterprise as any set OF
men ia the world If any doubt the truth of my
assertion let them but compare the farmers of
the county as thy were in 1874 win the farmers
Of 1881, and they must come TO me conclusion
that in none of the States ON the Atlantic slope
can so marked an Improvement beshown. Then
if we have been successful as farmers we can be
,,rnlly successful in any enterprise that is so
nearly allied to farming as is the canning indus
try. We may call conventions, pass resolutions,
ie: of any amount of buncombe aNd yet we are
no nearer Il practical solution OF the diniculty
than when we began. Nor do we want to fawn
or cringe to capitalists and ask them To take us
to their bosoms and shield us during the storm.
In the past we have plodded on, through storm
aud sunshine. We can do II again III we be true
To our manhood. The people OF Hartford county
are noted for hospitality, Independence OF Char
meter and enterprise, Ihen why not snow 10 ,he
intend To transmit to our posterity these proud
distinctions Ills true we have many difficulties
Ia contend with supposed and read but are they
to deter us from course marked cut, or will
we grapple with hands of iron and meet every
obstacle with n determination to conquer and
never say die. When it is seen that we intend TO
take care of ourselves we Will have plenty of
help without asking. But, my dear reader You
wili usk, how is all this To he doneH ay,reduce
,ur expenses to the lowest minimum. The past
year we paid as much and in many cases more
i,lr Iuhor than the same could command when
all that goes to make up living cost at least %
l,,.r cent. more than il does ut this time. AT no
time since 1850 have we been able 10 Duy as much
tor 81 MS we can this day. There Is not farmer
III the county that can afford to pay the same
rate of wages for labor performed M the packers
have been paying. | well know that am advanc-
ing an unpopular theory, but 1t must be met, and
the sooner the better for tho employer and en-
p"yee. The fact stares us in the face, reduce
expenses, or quit the business. If we quit, labor
must go begging. The fact Is patent to all that
W, arc passing through period of great business
Depression and the fear is that the worst is not
yci upon us. This being the case, then, reduc-
ton Of wages and the continuance OF the bust
ness is to the ADVANTAGE OF the abo i elaf IS,
out of the difficulty, reduction from ~ TO- 70 per
cent. must be made on everything connected with
the business, cans and cases alone excepted, and
the prices of these must be sealed down to the
lowest possible point. Cans should he bought
fuI canncr has had TO pay for the losses of the
unsuccessful Fruit should be packed uomntoes)
TO be sold to the consumer at scans Tor - cts
Then il Is within the reach of all classes, but put
il " for ~ cents and it becomes Il luxury, To nc
used by the wealthy only.
We must meet the issue 0.GD put up good fruit,
10 that II can be within the reach of all classes
. nd thus increase the consumption.
Oilr notes for cans and cases should not mature
before December or January. This would give
Ils time to close our pack, and prepare 1t FOR the
market under far more favorable circumstances
than we have been doing, many OF tho notes
falling due bcfere the pack was closed.
hope the packers of the county Will consider
the matter earnestly, and give through the
columns of the county papers their views, that
we may be enabled to act in concert. More can
lac accomplished in this way than by meetings
that are attended by but Il minority. We want
to reach the general public. and the press is the
only medium through which can do it cilec
lunlly. PACKER.
UiJha Et6. 4, 1891.