The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1888-06-23
THs CANNsp-0ooos TRADE.
An Industry That tla. Grown To Vast PRO =
portions in This CIuhtrN.

that OF preserving food products by
canning AMI bottling. In 1897 NJ
Appcri. distinguished Fronch chem
ist. found that organic substances rc.
manned frosh an Indefinite tins by be-
ing kept from contact with the air
Comparatively little usa was made of
this inveniion for many years except
10y sailors About the year 1888 how
ever, a small local trado sprang mp in
this country in canned oysters and
tomatoes Tho discovery of gold in
California gave a impetus TO the
trade, but the FIRST great expansion Of
it was during the civil war; Since
that time the canncd.gopds trade has
advanced 10y leaps aud bounds until
at present there Is capital O., Sll 600.
600 inv eslcd here IN fruit aud vcgota-
bic canning alone giving empl oymcnt
To 80 600 persons who earn yearly
50 600 600. and lurn out Of goods 500
600. 600, leaving a not roiit of about
- per cent 10 the investors.
Duing the w'r advantage was taken
by the Uiion CImuissariat ID cpart-
mcnt ot the olumy In bulk aud tho
ease IN ira sportation of canned goods.
Canned meat was found rs ,ful for
raliols in forced marches; canned
milk wa; n valuable substitute for
fresh milk In the hospitals when the
latter could not Ia had, and the health
of the army was largely maintained
by canned fruit ana vegetable.
A, the end of the war those engaged
in the manufac uro Of these goods
turned their attention to supplying
the T. ropcan markets wi IA salmon
and lobster Tho lobster export trade
had started ten years previously in the
New England : at,s. Soon after the
Canadians began the salmon-p cking
indus ry. but did not meet with sue
cess. But the utilization of tha
enormous run of salmon mp the
Columbia and other rivor' on the Pa
c'iic coast pui new life into the In
dustry. Souc idea OF how much the
tralc has grown may lc gathered
from the fac, that, whilc In Sij the
pack of salmon wai only { O)D cases.
during the past four year' it has aver
aged 3 800 030
Tho next great era in the ira lc was
the compression OF corncd b,,f Chi
cago. being great cattle center at
once embarked heavily In this ontcr-
prise. Foreign governments largely
recognized the valu, Of this system of
preserving beef 1h'y ordered larg5
quantities Of IL for consumption by
their war fprcil Much of this was
stored as n reserve in cas-, of war. but
as the supply was exhausted it has
been continually renewed, 10 tho profit
Of the American.
Tho success Of 'hc Americans In
canning goods provoked ia T. lglish
and Frcnci people to emulation.
u able 10 compc with the United
States in what had been already done.
they turned thcir attention To the can
nfng Of dclicac,cs. This trade was
developed 10 very largo extent in
Europe, and extended 10 this country.
But the importation Of these goods
has falcn of i'm recent year,, ~ this
country has gone into tie manufacture
of this class of goods. and produces n
much cheaper article. not at al in
ferior 10 the imported,
The development Of tho canned
goods industry has been great. but the
variety Of articles treated in this way
has been even greater B ginning ~
as it did with ships beef. it has cx-
tended until it embraces nearly nll
the desirabla food products Of tho
animal and vegetable Kingdoms.
Lieutenant Greedy, after his famous
Arctic expedition. said tIat canned
apples peaches pears, rhubarb, grocn
peas, green corn, onions. potatoes
aud tomatoes were all subjected 10 the
temperature f sixty degrees below
zHrO. They were solid for many
months at umc, the second Summer
they thawcd, aud the following winter
they were from solid again. When
these articles were catcl they pre-
scnlcd the same appearance - though
freshly cnncd. aud their flavor was
as good when the last can WV, opened
as during the first month.
Canned goods have proved a great
boon 10 the hOusakccpcr J cities. at
any rate. the goods preserved arc
cheaper than II bought in the fresh
condition. This arises from the fact
that they are alway3 packed whore the
material Is chcape t and most abund-
ant 4 great economy is exercised.
loD by the Wholesale preparation Of
meat and nsh
The popular idea that canned goo Is
nre injurious TO health j. n mistake.
Tin. which forms The coating 81 the
Thin iron p atcs of which the cans ar
made. Is not aa,cl on 1T MI by any
ordinary acid. or by the gases Of de-
composition. Certain firms in this
city have followed up every case Of
alleged poisoning from canned goods
without hnding o single one III thOm
authentic. 1u. ordinary precautions
of taste and smell rs applir 10 fresh
co,ds arc nicient protection
against danger boo similar goods when
camel. anil Judging by The progress.
of the pas decade IN This method oi
food preservation. 10 seems likely e.
have .ull larger future before IT, -
" T. SIM