The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-03-13
LOCAL CANNING INDUSTRY
1t Has Become an Important Element
in Indianapolis's Prosperity.
February Business of the Factories-Improye-
ments at the Premier Steel Works
Notes from the Shops.

indianapolis and its immediate suburbs
have four large canning establishments; ID
fact there are no other large plants In the
State. In the year 1892 tine tomato pack
of Indiana was 2S2. 1T cans, Maryland
and New Jersey being the only States
which led Indiana. The corn pack of In
diana was but $3.50 cans, several States
leading Indiana in their corn pack. The
canning industry has risen to its present
Importance in the United States and Can
ada wholly within the last fifty years.
The beginning was made in 1913, by q MI.
Harrison w. Crosby. then steward of
Lafay cite College. Easton, Pa. who put up
for the trade a few tomatoes in tin ans.
using an ordinary iron sink for
q bath, and having no other
facilities than afforded by q kitchen.
There are now well-equipped factories In
nearly every State in the Union. and there
Is scarcely q product of land or sea that
is not preserved In alright cans. while.
through Improvement In methods and
machinery, the price of tomatoes has drop.
ped from 90 cents per can, In 1913. to an
average OF Z cents for the past seven years.
The economic value of the industry can
hardly be overestimated. With the rail-
road OF parallel growth and the more re-
ently-invent refrigerator car the preser-
walton of perishable products by canning
is important as eliminating the factor of
distance between the place of production
and consumption. opening ND at once the
resources Of the most remote parts Of the
country, and the markets not alone of this
but of all countries.
The Premier Steel Works.
One of the busiest places In the city 10
the Premier steel works. For some months
they have given employment to four u
dred men. and in manufacturing steel,
beams have ound ready sale for their
product. having filled several large con-
tracts in Chicago and st. Louis. In about
two weeks the company expects to get it's
new Bessemer plant started no. The Pre-
mler steel works Will then be as complete
an establishment of this character as there
Is in the country, With the starting of the
new Bessemer steel plant they will run day
and night, and will increase their present
force by $50 to 300 men. As soon as the now
plant is running smoothly steps will be
taken to utilize the old rail mill. In the
new plant there are thirty-three boilers in
batteries of eight or more. each boiler be-
ing one hundred horse power. The COM
bined power of the engines of the Premier
steel works is eight thousand horse power.
business of Indianapolis Industries
There were shipped from Indiana polls In
February. 4. 1913, 226 pounds of meat in bulk.
9S7, 215 pounds of provisions, 1854 tierces of
lard, $50 barrels of pork, 416.OO pounds of
poultry, 1,5l7.2 6O pounds OF starch. 10000
pounds of hides, 254. 400 pounds of tsllow.
6S, 900 pounds of hair and bristles. 10000
pounds of wool, LOGO, $50 pounds of corn
meal and hominy, 657, 64S pounds of fruits.
1917 carloads of iron. 149 carloads of ma
chineIy, 156 carloads of lumber. 341 car
loads of coal, 18S carloads of coke. 20
carloads of cooperage. 2,522 barrels of &C.
ment, 1858 barrels of spirits and liquors.
6.SsS head of cattle, 1868 head OF hogs. $50
horses. 1876 mules, Al, $50 barrels Of -four. a..
600 bushels of wheat, "a, OC0 bushels of corn.
5000 bushels Of oats. S2S tons Of bran. Not
included In the above items there was
shipped %. SO4, 497 pounds of miscellaneous
freights and 43, S44, 1913 pounds Of merchan.
disc.
To Make . Number of improvements.
The Standard Wheel Company is now
working on the West Side $50 men. and have
under contemplation making some I'M
provements. erecting o large drying house
and putting in o new observation-disclosures.
power engine and several new boilers. The
company is finding no trouble in disposing
of all the wheels 1t can manufacture,
and at better prices than at any time in
some years. and, taken as o whole, the out
look for this industry could hardly be