The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-25
SWEETS FOR THE SWEET.
A Topeka Firm That Makes Good
Things to Eat.
A RISING INDUSTRY OF "OURS.

a EA3ce WHere tine sweet and sour
MingIe Daily.
Near the north end of the Rock Is
land bridge is located cluster of build
ings and yardage which big sign de-
clares to be the "Topeka Vinegar and
Picking Works." This is perhaps the
largest industry of North Topeka and is
the result of the shrewd business tact
and management of AIr. Otto kuehne.
Few people are aware that this modest
firm employees fifty men and girls, but
such is the fact. Ten men are on the
road travelling and as a result large
orders come to the house from Texas,
Arkansas and many adjoining states.
Mr.. Kuehne does wonderful bust
ness at his preserving works. but as was
told JOURNAL representative, a very
small proportion of his products are sold
in Topeka.
The building contains a cider room,
shipping room, generator room, genera
tor and fermenting room, bottling room,
preserving rooms, office and picking
room.
Every firm has some special product
that they push forward, and this one is
no exception. Their special pride is the
Silver Leaf tomato catsup. This brand
ia absolutely pure, and has a reputation
five hundred bushels of tomatoes were
purchased Of Shawnee county farmers
last summer to fill the orders OF the firm,
and Mr.. kuehne is not sure but what he
may be 'rshort" His orders go out in
barrel, keg and bottle lots.
In the corner of the enclosure are
seven large watts, each holding thirty five
barrels of cucumbers, that were also pur-
chased of the farmers of Shawnee.
Dir nr y10o Ia Inv -
pure, and vast number of barrels are
stored away ready for shipment, as the
trade demands.
The most interesting room is the pre-
serving room. Here are made jams, jel-
lies, syrups, preserves, etc.
And the capacity is great One day
Mr.. Kuehne received an order for 600
pals of jelly. Three men were put to
| work and by midnight the pals were
filed, labeled, headed and ready to de-
liver.
The machinery for all of this work is
of the latest and most improved order,
and does the work required in thorough
| manner.
An appetizing sight is the mince meat
| department. Great tubs of apples,
| peeled and cored, stand near chopper
that ''eats" them up in the twinkling of
! an eye, as does other machinery raisins
meat, ETC. Afterwards a vast tank sur.
rounded by steam does the rest.
Every part of the work is clean and
the production is just like our New Eng
! land grandmothers used to make.
Steam is used throughout the building
for heating and cooking.
All the boxes, barrels, etc., are made
at the plant, aud the crockery and glass
ware shipped in by the car load
The bottling room is where sixteen
| girls are busy ten hours in the day la
| Boiling, packing in boxes, etc.
Altogether the building presents a
busy scene, when 500 gallons of syrup,
| $40 pounds of jam, 80 barrels of pickles,
| 1000 pounds OF jelly. and various other
| combinations, can be turned out in a day.
| The firm is a prosperous one. paying
much money to the farmers and giving
steady employment to many hands. Be-
sides, they furnish the people of Topeka
with pure jellies. jams. pickles, and the
! only "silver leaf' catsup.
The length of time required for the
cucumber to become a genuine pickle, is
! about three days after being taken from
the vat where they have been stored
away in composition of brine since the
days that they were picked from the
vine and left their "native heath" One
of the careful features is the cuIling of
the pickle. There are large cucumbers,
medium, little and midgets and each
goes in separate bottles. kegs or barrels
and they are indeed a perfect relish
| when consigned to their various ''homes'
About the prettiest display of the
products in the establishment is in the
| office where long shelves are filed with
bottles of preserves, jams, jellies, mixed
| pickles, mince meat, and all the good
things that the American public demand
| and clamor for. AS one of the employees
| remarked. That's good enough for
! Grover, now" with an emphasis on the
now.
Holiday Rates.
The Missouri Pacific will sell tickets
| on Dec oath, 25th, 31st and Jan. LIST at
| rate of one and one-third fares for the
| round trip between all stations within 200
| w,iIl ta lfu,ifo5