The record-union., 1891-08-13
SACRAMENTO'S FRUIT PACK.
Some Very Busy Scenes at the Two
Local Canneries.
Employment Given to Hundreds o.
Men, Women and Children How
They are Paid-Etc.

a visit to either or both of the large
canneries will reveal a picture of indus
try that is exceedingly refreshing. Over
700 men, women and children are given
employment, and a glimpse at their
happy faces, the sound of their merry
voices are convincing arguments that
they are content with their lots. They
all make fairly good wages, from the
smallest children up to the Oldest and
most experienced hands-all depending
upon the amount of work they can ac-
complish.
a BUSY SCENE.
A RECoRD-UNIoN reporter dropped
into the main workroom of the Sacra-
mento Packing Company, at Sixth and G
streets, yesterday, and was an interested
spectator for over an hour The place is
large, light and airy, but its main feature
was its cleanliness. There was none of
the slime and peelings on the floor so
common in large cannerleS, where the
management is careless.
And such a busy scene!
Three hundred or more men, women,
girls and boys fitted about here and
there, some carrying trays of freshly
pared and pitted peaches and plums,
others were gathering up the refuse and
depositing it in large barrels, others were
arrayed beside long tables pairing and
cleaning the luscious fruits with patent
''dO-it-quick'' devices still others were
carefully placing the prepared fruit in
cans and these were passed on to the men
who soldered and steamed the cans, and
then stacked them up mountain high,
ready for the labels.
How much do these people earn ?"
asked the reporter Of MIR. Bentley, the
company's efficient manager.
HWpll that all daupudS uDOn their own
efforts" was the reply. You see, all of
the women, girls and boys who are par
ing fruit are paid for what they do. Each
morning when they go to work they are
provided with tickets and box of fruit.
Now when that box is disposed Of they
report to the foreman and he
PUNCHES THEIR TICKET,
Which signifies that they have earned
the price Of one box. At the end of the
day these punches are counted up and we
know exactly what each one has earned.
Their earnings vary so much that it
would be hard to strike an average. Now,
here is the time-book. 1t shows what
each employe earned last week. You see
some Of the women have earned as high
as SIS during the week, but then they are
old and experienced hands. The girls
earn less. a good average l should think
would be from 81 to $40 per week. Those
who are not employed in pairing and
wages depending on the kind of work
they do. We have few Chinese and
Japanese for the rougher work, and the
balance of the weellly-paId employees are
white men,
What are you packing now, princi-
pally?"
well, peaches, pears and plums. We
have finished with apricOts and cherries.
We started in on cherries about the lst OF
June, and got through about the middle
OF that month, putting up in that time
about $4,000 cans. We commenced on
apricots on the 10th of June and finished
about month later, packing about 270,
600 cans. We expect very heavy pack
of peaches and plums, but it would
hardly be possible now TO estimate what
1t viii be. When we are through with
these we Will pack grapes, ounces and
tomatoes. The packing season
WILL NOT CLOSE
Until about the lst Of acknowledgements
bly, a week or two sooner. Then we lay
off until May of next year when we
open up with goOseberries. Yes, we have
to work our hands at night once in q
while when the fruit comes in too
fast, but then it is only for two or three
hours. The cannery is well lighted
with electricity and the extra work is as
rule acceptable 10 the employees, as it
increases their earnings. AS a general
thing we have very little trouble with
our employees. They all appear to be
contented and happy, and if they are in
dustrious, earn good wages.''
In answer to further inquiries Mana
ger Bentley informed the reporter that
most of the fruit packed at his establish
ment was exported to various parts OF
the United States, and great deal to
foreign countries. About 10000 cases
would probably be shipped TO England.
Something like 1000 cases would be re-
tanned for the Pacific Coast trade.
Taken altogether Mr.. Bentley con-
slders this year very prosperous one
The fruit as rule had been good, and
although there was great quantity OF it.
the growers had obtained fair prices.
ANOTHER BEEHIVE
The reporter next visited the big estab-
lishment of the Capitol Packing Com.
pauy which is located at Eleventh and B
streets, and beheld another animated
scene. Here were over three hundred
and fifty men, women and children, sing
ing and chatting as they removed the
Jackets" of the peaches and pears with
their nimble fingers. 1t was a pretty
sight-a veritable beehive. The reporter
was informed that late Crawford and
Clingstone peaches, pears and plums
were being packed, the cherries, apricots
asparagus. Strawberries and gooseber-
ries having been finished up last month.
As at the Sacramento Cannery, the en-
Ihem-worked by the piece.
''In liking our scale Of wages" said
Mr.. Carroll, the affable manager of the
institution, I'VE endeavor TO encourage
everybody TO work fast and at the same
time DO their work well. There is many G
laboring man, engaged in other vocations
who does not earn as much money as our
women and girls here, but these women
and girls have to work hard. Our women
and girls can earn from 81 80 to 81 25 pei
day if they want to, and that is pretty
good money. OF course there are many
who earn less, hut then they are slow,
and do not work steadily. The children
we employ get IS cents q day.
TO FOREIGN MARKETS.
In answer to queries as to where the
goods packed by the company went to
Mr. Carroll said that the majority 0.
them Syent East and 20 foreign markets
The Eastern market referred to was east
of Colorado. \ great deal was shipped
TO England, Australia, China, Japan and
India.
80 far this season." continued the
manager, 1--WE have packed about sec, 90.
cans, and when we get through the
amount viii be double that. Oh, we are
industrious, / will admit, and are
making hay while the sun shines
We are running up to our fullest capacity
now, and will continue to do so until the
season closes. We can sell all of oul
goods as we are putting up nothing bat
the best
''How do you find the fruit this year.
as regards quality?n asked the reporter.
well, now, I'm glad you asked me
that said Mr. Carroll. Pm sort ol
crank on that subject. I have lectured
the fruit-growers Of nay acquaintance
The quality Of fruit this year is the same
as other years-lt is mixed. We have