Daily Yellowstone journal., 1888-06-21
PRESERVING FOOD IN CANS.
Vast Proportions of h industry-The
Housekeeper's Boon.

Vast Proportions of the Industry-The
Housekeeper's Boon.
An industry in this country which has
grown TO enormous proportions is that Of
preserving food products by canning and
bottling. In 1907 NJ. Appert, a distin-
guished French chemist, found that or
ganic substances remained fresh an in
definite time by being kept from contact
with the air. Comparatively little use
was made Of this invention for many
years, except by sailors. About the year
1885, however, asmall local trade sprang
up in this country in canned oysters and
tomatoes. The discovery Of gold in Cal
ifornia gave an impetus TO the trade,
but the first great expansion of 1t was
during the civil war. Since that time
| the canned goods trade has advanced by
leaps and bounds until at present there is
a capital Of Sl1. 900, 600 invested here in
fruit and vegetable canning alone, CIV
ing employment 10 5000 persons, who
carr yearly So, 900, 900, and turn out Of
goods $50, 600, 600, leaving a net profit of
about 90 per cent. TO the investors.
During the war advantage was taken
by the Union commissariat department
of the economy in bulk and the ease in
transportation of canned goods. Canned
meat was found useful for rations in
| forced marches; canned milk was a val.
liable substitute for fresh milk in the
hospitals when the latter could not be
had. and the health Of the army was
largely maintained by canned fruit and
vegetables.
At the end Of the war those engaged
In the manufacture of these goods turned
their attention 10 supplying the European
markets with salmon and lobster. The
lobster export trade had started ten years
previously in the New England states.
Soon after the Canadians began the sal
mon packing industry, but did not meet
with success, But the utilization Of the
enormous run Of salmon up the Columbia
and other rivers on the Pacific coast put
new life into the industry. Some idea Of
how much the trade has grown may be
gathered from the fact that, while in
1866 the pack Of salmon was only 4 1000
cases, during the past four years it has
averaged $500, 900.
The next great era In the trade was
the compression Of corncd beef. Chi
cago, being a great cattle center, at once
embarked heavily in this enterprise.
Foreign governments largely recognized
the value Of this system OF preserving
beef. They ordered large quantities Of
1t for consumption by their war forces,
Much Of this was stored as n reserve In
case Of war, but as the supply was ex'
hausted it has been continually renewed
30 the profit Of the American.
The success Of the Americans in can.
ming goods provoked the English and
French people TO emulation. Unable e
compete with the United States in what
had been already done, they turned theiI
attention 10 the canning OF d~elicacies
This trade was developed 10 a very larg,
extent In Europe, and extended 10 Thu
country. But the importation Of thes'
goods has fallen of In recent years, al
this country has gone into the manufac
ture Of this class OF goods, and produces
a much cheaper article. not at all inferio
10 the imported.
The development Of the canned good
industry has boon great, but the yariet,
OF articles treated in this way has beer
ever greater. Beginning as il did will
ships beef, II has extended until IL EN-
braces nearly all the desirable products
the animal and vegetable kingdom
Lieut.. Greedy. after his famous arctl