The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-02-08
A SUCCESSFUL CANNERY
Now Conducted by Mr.. p. r. Hay in
Orangeburg County.

rier:: Just at the time when our peo
pie are casting about for something tt
take the place of cotton planting as {
money producer, some facts connected
with the practical and successful
operation of small enterprise, avail
able to almost any community Of oul
State, may prove suggestive and help
full to some Of your readers. That the
subject may be presented in as con
crete form as possible shall briefly
sketch the success of Mr.. P. R. Hay,
of Springfield, S. c., in the canning
business, and refer any Of your read
ers for fuller information to him, who,
am assured, will cheerfully give
such information.
Mr.. Hay was running a general
merchandising business at Kings S
Mountain, S. c., when, in 1888, the
suspension Of the Kings Mountain
School practically ruined his business.
While on the lookout for some occu-
patton in which he could earn a sup
port for himself and family his atten-
tion was turned to the cannery then
in operation at Hickory, N. c., and
he began to investigate the subject
with a view to engaging in similar
enterprise. With this in view he
visited and examined the plants at
Hickory and Lexington, N. c., and,
by extended correspondence, familiar
lied himself with all the details of
the business.
Being by nature man of fairly
good mechanical ingenuity, he, at
comparatively small outlay, thoroughly
equipped small plant and began op-
Grafton. His mechanical turn has
been of great assistance to him
to construct and to adopt many of the
necessary appliances at much less
cost than to have purchased them out
right from the manufacturer. His
first year, besides the canning of veg
etables, he canned largely of the ber-
ries and fruits native to that commu-
nifty. The native berries and fruits,
however, have never proven remune-
rative, owing to the fact that they are
not popular goods in the home mar
ket, to which the smallness CT his
plant has generally confined him.
after three years successful opera
tion Of his plant at King Mountain
he removed to his present site IN
Orangeburg County, four miles south
east of Springfield, S. G.
WHAT MR HAY S PLANT'COsT.
As located at present, it was his in
tention to do the neighborhood can
ming of vegetables and fruits. From
year to year he has perfected his plant
and extended his business until he
largely supplies the market Of the
contiguous small towns with the
standard brands OF canned goods. His
plant is equipped almost entirely Of
homemade appliances most admirably
adapted to the work, and consists of a
two-story, 20 by 80 foot, frame build
ing, erected at cost Of not more than
s13O. The first or ground floor is the
factory proper, where all packing and
canning is done. The second floor is
a store room for material and packed
goods and where the labelling is done.
The fixtures consist of two galvanized
iron kettles about three feet in diam
eter, made according to his directions
by a timer of Blackville. These are
set in brick furnace and are supplied
with water by means of piping con-
nected with a small tank at tie we'll.
All water used is fresh from the we'll.
Scaloing of vegetables is done in wire
baskets, made by the local blacksmith,
so constructed as to be readily han
died, lowered and raised from the ket
ties, by means of homemade revol-
wing crane with windlass and pulley.
These baskets are also used for hand
ling the packed cans to and from the
kettles in boiling their contents be-
fore Gaping and scalding. The
draining and pairing tables are home
made according to plan Of Mr.. Hay.
The fruit parers and soldering outfit:
specially adapted to Gaping and seal
ing, are bought patents. The above
are the main features of Mr.. Hay S
equipment, aud are estimated to have
csot about $50.
ONE THOUSAND CANS PER DAY.
With this plant Mr.. Hay calculates
his capacity at about one thousand
cans per day, requiring the employ
ment of from ten to twelve hands.
He, however, running, as he does
only at odd times, has never worked
ND to his full capacity. Before last