Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1896-09-04
The Canned Goods Industry.
(Erom Ameriean Grocer. Dug. q

The disturbance of normal com
mercial conditions by change of the
National Administration, which gave
the country new tariff, an unset
tied currency and other ills, is re-
sponsible for the deplorable condi-
ton of the canned goods industry
The depression in trade and prevail
ing low prices cannot be charged to
overproduction. but rather to under
consumption due to the reduced pur-
chasing power of wage earners
Stocks are light and yet there is
neither life nor confidence in the
market. Goods are sold at ruinous
concessions and below the cost Of
production.
Failures among the packers are
numerous and many have suffered
enormous shrinkage in their assets.
Others are forced to keep their can
neries in operation at loss,in order
TO protect their trade and maintain
the position of their brands. These
remerks apply with greater force to
tue packers of staple articles thsn
to the packers of specialties Ofthe
latter there are n few who have been
doing a growing and prosperous bus
mess throughout the past three years,
but they are the exception to the
rule. They are those who believe
id quality: in a free expenditure for
printers ink. who push continually
and who have been in business for
many years and whose brands have
a national reputation and universal
demand.
There has been no speculative
buying for several years, and this
has forced packers to carry their
stocks, a burden which has been too
heavy for many
The introduction of machinery has
stimulated the expansion OF the in
dustry enormously reduced the cost
of production in field and factory and
so lowered prices as to greatly en-
large cOnsumptive requirements l
Take peas as an exam e,and we find 1
that few years ago Baltimore had 1
a monopoly 0. the packing of peas. /
Int now New York State and the /
Western States put up over half a
million cases, largely the result ofthe
of machinery in the
field and the factory. The factory
that has failed to keep up with :he
times, ignored the most modern
methods, is fighting a losing battle
and must 90 to the wall,and they are
going every day.
The extension of the industry has
changed the character and centers
Of distribution, reducing the area
by the great jobbing cen
.ers. 1t is not many years ago that :
New York City was the great dis
point for salmon, but now {
San Francisco and Chicago outrank I
New York. which must be content to
upply local territory.
A few years since there was not +
canning factory west of the Ale /
-leny Mountains. aud now they dot :
he prairies and plantations of the
mississippi basin and keep on ex-
ending.
In spite of the change in condi-
ions there has been a steady in
rease in the demand for canned u
Gods. The consumption has been d
Enormously increased By low cost v
.hich has placed within reach of the q
oorest a long list of fruits and veg Y
tables at the retail cost of nickel 3
r a dime. a
If we compare the prices in 1873, IP
he year silver was demonetized and v
rices in 1892, the year of greatest a
rosperity,with those now ruling we g
i'll realize the great shrinkage in T
)st and the cheapness Of preserved ii
.od The following list covers the IL
aiding staples d