The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1895-02-08

With spot tomatoes at So cents free on
board and corn 40 to so cents and heavy
stocks in packers hands, the Hartford farmers
and Gamers are in Il dilemma. Never in the
history of the canning industry have such per-
picking conditions surrounded them as now.
They are in doubt what to do. 1t has never
been the case before that first hands were in
possession of as much goods at the beginning
of the year. Nor has it been SO that futures in
tomatoes could not be placed in considerable
quantities at price which would allow tine
Fuckers Il very fair profit. But just now fu-
lures are not in it, nor can spot" tomatoes be
moved at the cost OF production. 1t has been
customary with Il large proportion of packers
to book early in the year, for future delivery.
Il good part of their prospective pack at d
figure that would yield them profit. In this
way they would have comparatively little risk,
although in the majority of cases IL higher
price could have been gotten by waiting. The
policy of u large number of packers whose
means are limited has been to rely on a GER
tainty in preference to an uncertainty. Now
that futures won't go; and with the other exist
ing circumstances harassing them it is not to be
wondered that they are undecided.
The pack of tomatoes was largely increased
in Hartford last year on account of the high
prices of '93, and also by the corn packers in
many cases turning their attention to tomato
packing on account of the slump in corn,
which still exists. A good many people who
are not regularly in the business also enter ed
the field. The result was an increase in the
pack of Maryland tomatoes of about half a
million cases. At the same time there was an
increase ut all other points, making the aggre-
1893 1898. ''''''n anu " 4""'' ~ ''0io IMAM -
Added to this overproductiou Is the financial
depression, which has so greatly lowered the
purchasing power OF the people, who are large
| ly the consumers of this class of goods. The
packing industry has developed in Hartford
county within the past twenty years from a
half dozen canning-houses to considerably
over one hundred, with u pack last year of
100000 dozen cans of tomatoes, besides a
vast quantity of corn. This vast business may
| justly be recognized as the leading industry of
Hartford county, and the conditions W hich now
| all other interests The canning business on
| the whole however has been profitable, but at
the same time only few of the most progress
sive packers have acquired means enough to
| withstand successfully the slump in the market
and have the backbone to proceed rs usual
| this season, taking the chances of favorable
| reaction. With the present conditions continu-
| ed or further depress sion, the result must be
| disastrous in greater or less degree.
The subject of u local or State organization
of the packers is being agitated, with the view
OF restricting the pack. In other words, 1t is
ization much can be done to alleviate present
| conditions. Maryland, if well organized, it is
| thought, would WELD great influence in this
| industry. The interest is certainly very large
| Of the total pack of 1S94-n the United States
| of 3, 1876 900 cases-of tomatoes, Maryland
| produced 2,OOOO 900 cases. There is yet in the
| hands of some of the packers of Hartford the
| greater part of the corn pack of two seasons
Orders for tins are usually placed about the
| first of the year. The Hartford local tin-can
| factories have not had sufficient encourage.
ment yet in the way of orders to put their
| when this industry will start up. When in
| full operation 100000 tin cans are made here
| a day, giving employment to 80 or more
! workmen.-Ba baltimore Sun.