Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-07-25
A PRACTICAL MANS EXPERIENCE.
The Fruit Canning and Evaporating In
dustry Will Do Well in This City.

The NEW MEXICAN has several times
alluded to the presence in Santa Fe OF
Mr.. F. j. Gleason, of Michigan, who has
been induced to come here by the Fruit
Company in order that they may have
the benefit of his experience and advice.
Mr.. Gleason is a thoroughly practical
man, who talks straight facts without
any fiourishes, and yesterday a represen-
tatiye of the New MEXICAN interviewed
him in order to present some matters OF
large local Importance to the people OF
this vicinity. In answer to a. question
Mr.. Gleason said:
81 have had considerable experience
in these fruit matters, having been en-
gagged in the business for 10 years at
| Ovid, Clinton county, Mich. My father
and myself commenced in a moderate
way on a farm, with an evapOrator and
a cider mill; then after three years we
moved into the town, adjoining the rail-
road track so as to have facilities for
TRANSPORTATION, and there we erected a
building about 5Ox1OO, two stories high,
added three new e%vaporators and larger
press, and we ran with those till 1892.
We then put In two of the largest
presses that are made, each having a
capacity of about 2 200 bushels a day, and
added five more e%vaporators and enlarged
the building generally. Among other i'm
provements we erected an apple house
eox4O feet for the storage of cider apples;
built a cider mill 60x75 feet in size, put
up new boilers and engine and added a
cooper shop, in which 20 men are reg
ularly employed. We now ship about
two carloads of cider a day during the
whole season of four months, and our
experience is that there is no difficulty
in finding a ready sale for a good article
at all times.
"We are now running nine evapor-
ators and use up about 1,4OO bushels OF
fruit a day in that way. In 1896 we
handled $50, 900 bushels of apples and
other fruits in evaporating n the
manufacture of cider. In all our ex-
perience we have always taken all the
fruit offered and have never had any
difficulty in finding a market.
1--WE employ about $50 hands in the
business. The business has built itself
up entirely. we StarJeu WltnouC cap
ital, and all engagements and improve
ments have been paid for out OF the
profits.
''From my observation since have
been here, and l have occupied myself
in examining into the climate and fruit
product carefully, l see 10 reason why
a business Of this character should not
be very successful here 1t would ma
turallv commence in u moderate way
and be increased from year to year; and
there is no doubt that the business will
take care of itself here, and pay for all
engagements and improvements exactly
as it has done with us. What you need
is first rate modern appliances, and ia
manufacture a first-class article. Then
you have no trouble in finding a market.
Care and energy are sure to bring sue.
cess. have recommended to the Fruit
Company that they mmence with one
Williams, evaporator and a modern
cider plant, and with your fine fruit
and near by market, they cannot fail
to do well, If the business is properly
attended to. We ship part of our prod.
uct to Denver, over 1000 miles, and
you can get yours there much more
eaSily."