Rocky Ford enterprise., 1893-09-28
ROCKY FORD CANNING co
Now in Full Blast on the Large
Bean Crop.

The hermetical sealing of fruit and
!, vegetables for domestic purposes is of
comparative recent origin. Yet in few
years this industry has grown to man.
moth proportions. The market for can
ned goods is worldwide, and the con-
sumption is constantly increasing. Last
year ambitious and enterprising Rocky
Ford built and put in operation an ex-
tensive canning plant. fully up to the
development Of this new but rapidly de-
veloping region. The season of 1892 was
busy and prosperous one, and the plant
is now having its facilities fully utilized
in canning the great bean crop which
surrounds Rocky Ford.
When tho beans are received from the
ranchmen they are first weighed and
then taken to the long tables where the
work Of preparation is begun by girls.
Two varieties of string beans are used,
the Golden Wax and Refugee. The
girls cut off each end and remove the
strings, after which the beans are cut in
three pieces. They are then taken to
another table where they are put in cans
by hand. The cans are then put in
racks containing one dozen, and ten
racks are then fastened together and
placed in the Exhaust" large tank OF
water heated by steam. They remain
there for three minutes, after which they
are takeu to another table and placed in
long racks for the reception of the lids
and sol5 5e-ing. Tho tops of the cans are
washed clean and the lids put on. The
lids have been prepared by having solder
previously placed on the edges, and tho
sealing process is completed by large
circular soldering iron which is rotated
on the depression in which the lid fits.
The small hole in the lid, which has been
left for the purpose of allowing steam to
escape during the soldering process, is
now closed by another operative who
passes along with a small strip of solder
and an ordinary soldering iron. The
cans are then washed and taken to the
'retorts." These arc immense steam
chests, each of the two in use capable OF
holding 500 cans. The beans remain here
for thirty minutes, where by the circula-
ton and constant renewing of the steam,
they are thoroughly and uniformly
cooked, only needing to be warmed for
the table.
From the retort they are taken to the
warehouse, where handsome Autographed
labels are attached, and when packed in
cases holding two dozen cans they are
ready for shipment to the commission
broker or jobber.
The process of canning tomatoes, which
was not in operation the day OF our call
is somewhat more intricate than that for
beans. After the scalding in great wire
baskets and The removal OF tho skins, the
tomatoes are taken to machine for fill
ing the cans. This is kind OF force
pump, which at each revolution forces
the tomatoes into the can in as near
whole condition as possible.
Later i'll the season the canning of
pumpkin will be commenced. This lusc-
ious raw material for Thanksgiving pies
is first thoroughly cooked and then placed
in large rotary sieve through which the
cooked mass is forced before being placed
in cans.
In seperate building are the tanks
for pickles, three in number, each hold
ing thirty-fve barrels. Last year ITO
barrels of cucumber pickles were made
and sold. Thus far this season 5000
pounds have been received and placed in
brine. When wiuter arrives the pickles
will be assorted into three sizes, known
as "girkins," "small" and medium"
placed in vinegar and packed into kegs
and barrels holding from five to forty
gallons each.
A large boiler and engine OF sufficient
size supply the steam and power needed
to operate the works. The second story
is devoted to storing caus until used. A
carload OF cans contains 10000, and the
works have capacity Of 100000 cans for
the season.
The canning factory now employs
about thirty people, a portion Of whom
work by the day, but the most of the
labor is paid for by the piece. The
prices paid for beans and cucumbers are
the same per 100 pounds, i. e., $1.25.
The Rocky Ford canning factory is one
of the institutions OF the town, and one
which promises much for the gardening
interests of this section. The produce
offered for sale this year has demon
strated the fact that an enlargement Of
the works will be necessary for the sea-
son Of 1894.
Hon. J. 81. Crowley was made the
presiding officer at the Populist Judicial
convention at Pueblo last Saturday. II
reports the convention unanimously and
enthusiastically for Judge Voorhees,.
H. G. Krake, general freight agent,
Missouri Pacific railroad, residing at st.
Louis, was here few days since arrang-
ing to plant in fruit trees the valuable
sixty acres which he owns adjoining
Rocky Ford. The fruit trees are to be
planted next spriug.
jaime Cave has placed on the editor
ial table sample of his late winter ap-
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