The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-07-06
ABOUT CANNING FACTO-
RIES.
The Cost Of Starting and Operat-
ing Them, &c---An Erroneous
IMPRESSION.

Impression.
Some weeks ago tie GOLD LEAF
copied an article written for the Balti-
more Manufacturers Record on the
subject of canning factories, the cost OF
establishing and operating them and
the margin of profits, sc. The article
in question came under the notice of
Mr.. r. F. Evans, manager of the
Bloomington Canning Company, and
he replies to it as follows in commu-
nication published in the last issue Of
the Chenoa, Illinois, Gazette:
BLOOMINGTON, ILL, June 10, 1898.
EDITOR GAZETTE.-A cOmmunica-
ton recently published in the Hender-
son, n. c., GOLD LEAF, prompts me
to say that the conclusions drawn by
its writer are by no means correct OF,
to say the least, are misleading. The
writer's figures as to cost Of production
are in the main correct, viz: s1.oO per
case, with an additional 20c per case
to cover fuel, hauling, insurance,
interest, etc., making $3.50 per case
or 75c per dozen, as the cost of the
goods ready for shipment. The mis-
leading part Of the statement is III
quoting the selling price at $3.50 per
case, and computing the packers profit
on that basis for reasons that may not
occur again. Tomatoes are high ust
now and sales are made even in excess
of the 1920 per case quoted; but that
is an abnormal figure and bears no
relation to the packers price, which
even now under these conditions is soc
for Maryland and IS to 9Oc per dozen
for western pack, or SLIGO, and sl.7O
to 81 80 per case for next tall's delivery,
after this seasons pack, leaving
margin between cost and selling price
of from 10 to soc a case, from which
generally has to be taken the cost of
delivery in car lots.
The very best we have been able to
do has been to get margin Of 2Oc a
case, and we have sold many at less
margin than that. Whoever goes into
the business on the basis of A. X.
Rodin & Co.'S figures will get badly
left. and we suspect they are in the
business of furnishing machinery, or in
other words, canning factory pro-
motors'' Our friends who have taken
stock in creamery plants will under
stand what that means. While on this
subject allow me to say that the busi-
ness of corn. packing has been greatly
exaggerated and that not all who are
engaged in it are making a succ ess.
Those who are engaged in it largely
and who at large outlay and heavy
expense have established trade and
gained a reputation are making i, a
paying business, just the same as men
are doing in other we'll established
lines of trade. The field is we'll occu-
pied, however, and every year sees
numberless failures of canneries that
were promoted by parties who had no
other interest than to sell the machin-
cry with which they were fitted out,
and who were shrewd enough to make
the investors think that their particular
location was the greatest spot on earth
for cannery, and that their particular
cannery would, as quick as it was
completed, meet a long felt want.
Verify, this is a world of humbug, the
promoter is getting in his work this
year, and the result will probably be
plenty of canneries for sale, as there
are creameries now-at 25 cents on the
dollar.
If / had a word of advice to offer to
parties contemplating going into the
business, it would be, to get their
information entirely from sources out
side of the shrewd presentation Of the
cannery promoter. r. F. EVANS,
Manager Bloomington Canning Co.