Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-02-11
CANNING FACTORY.
It's AdUantages and lie Need Of
one IN Htc 170lfs. Cites.
Contributed

the successful cultivation of the staple
products, used in canning, viz: peas,
beans, corn, and tomssoes. Second,
unlimited pure water. Third, the
necessary resident help And fourth,
convenient accessibility to transporta-
ton That Grand Rapids possesses
these requirements admits of no ques-
ton.
Our cranberry interests and their
utility for canning purposes, as well as
the profits to be derived therefrom, has
already been clearly presented to your
readers by Mr. A. {. Bennett.
The extraordinary growth and de-
velopment of the canning industry
within recent years, demonstrates con-
clusively the enormous demand that
exists for canned food. Your CORE
spondent is reliably informed, that,
Notwithstanding the multiplication of
canning institutions throughout the
country and notably in the western
states, during the last decade, yet at
no time during that period has the
business been so profitable, as was the
case last year.
The introduction of labor-saving de-
vices, and better processes in the details
of packing, resulted in placing Oh the
market canned goods at such exceed
ingly low prices, and of such superior
n~nn11nnna 70 IrrnofIy- nj thni,.
consumption by all classes. The conse-
quence was, that the opening of the
canning season last year was attended
by market virtually bare of old stock,
a condition that had been unknown for
several years.
Present indications are decidedly in
favor of repetition the coming season
of last years experience. 1893 will
witness the opening of the Worlds
Fair. Throngs OF foreign visitors will
have to be supplied with food. The
greatly increased demand for fresh
fruits and vegetables, at that season of
the year, must necessarily raise prices.
At those points where canning interests
are heavily concentrated, like Balti-
more, for instance, the shipments of
the products ordinarily used for canning
will operate to render the business
improbable. This, of course, will tend
to greatly reduce the aggregate amount
of goods canned during that year.
Thus we are almost assured of two, and
probably three summers of unusual
prosperity in this branch of business.
There is still another, and no less i'm
portant reason, why this is an especially
propitious time for the organization of
a canning company. The improved ap-
pliances already alluded to, are the
results of years of experimenting, as
well as the expenditure of good deal
of money, not to speak of the losses
consequent upon the employment of
crude and inferior methods, and
mechanical devices. \ new firm is
enabled to save itself from such dis
agreeable experiences by using proper
care in its purchase of factory equip
ment, which is now reduced almost to
perfection.
AS to actual profits, my information
is that at present prices of materials,
produce etc, and the market quotations
on canned goods, there is from Is to 25
per cent. margin on the various kinds,
peas standing at the head of the list.
With a capital stock of $4,000 factory
could be built and thoroughly equipped,
having capacity for handling 200 acres
of peas, which, on an average yield,
would pack 10000 cases, , doz. per case.
The season for packing peas COM
mences about June 18th, and ends
about Aug. 1st. This would make it
possible to dispose of the entire pack,
and realize on same, in ample time to
| take care Of the cranberries by Sept.
18th with the money thus obtained.
The advantages that would follow the
location in this city, of a canning
business are easily apparent The
farmer would be assured a strictly
''Home Market Whereintprices would
not be affected either by foreign rates
or the manipulation of dealers in
options, and would be known to him
even before planting his crop. Besides
the necessary male required, heathful
and fairly remunerative employment,
would be furnished TO considerable
number of women and children. The
money thus brought into active circula-
ton, by both classes referred to, would, 3,
as matter of course, rebound greatly
to the benefit of the merchants and
other business men. The proprietors
would reap satisfactory returns on their
investment, and at the same time con-
tribute greatly to the prosperity of the
city. The city itself would receive a
large amount of advertising in busi-
ness way.
Wisconsin contains a very limited
number of canning factories, and so far
as the writer is aware, none that are
doing more than moderate business,
1t is doubtless fair TO assume that tho
residents of the Badger" State con-
sumo their full per capita share of
canned food Allowing this assumption
TO be correct, it necessarily follows that
the bulk of the goods consumed here
are shipped in from abroad. Why
should not Grand Rapids compete fo1
at least some slight portion of this
lucrative trade?