The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-05-31
ASTOCANNERIES IN TEXAS.
An Expert from Missouri Talks Inter.
estingIy Of The Matter.
FIGURES CONCERNING COST AND PROFIT
Thinks that Factories, Properly Con-
Quoted. Would Greatly Benefit the
State--May Locate Here.

Despite the great rush following the
oil discovery. Mr. sam II. Dixon. the immi
grafton agent Of the Houston. East and
West Texas railway, reports that he is
steadily working up interest in the fruit
vegetable and canning business rs COM
merelal proposition. He was Ia consulta,
ton Yesterday with some fruit and vege,
taole growers, among whom was MIR. Nc
'alium of the Bethany, Missouri Canning
company. Mr.. McCuliom has been engaged
tor the past ten years In the personal man
agement OF his factory at Bethany and Is
therefore a practical operator
In speaking OF his work Mr. McCulom
said Il have been engaged in the canning
business at Bethany for the past ten years
ana | desire to enlarge my operations. |
"dNe gwen good deal ot attention to the
Possibiiities OF this Industry in Texas aud
nm mere now 70 consider some PROPOSE
llohS nAue me by Texas people to eater
INTO business relation with some cumpap.
YES soon To be organized under the Law au-
thulzlns the incorporation of fruit and
NeSetable companies. am fully convinced
from what 1 nave seen that the time is
tlpe Tor the establishment OF canning fac
torres. a canuery " ouid he OF great nenc-
At to the community in which il is loca-
leu Tor tle reason lhat market would he
assured Tor all surplus rruit and veee-
Iaoies AFTER shipping demnnus have been
met To illustrate; A-fTCtory putting up
lo'ouu cans OF tomatoes per day would
pay to the farmers producing the tomatoes
rom $40 to 800 per day ami tj-{he opera
tuls IRON $40 to 500 per day, About sixty
hands would be required To operate a rae
tory or TINS capacity, the mdjority being
Women ANA children. The large part or
t ,it5 mohey for wages would 60 TO p,eopie
VINO would otherwise he unemployed.
What about the proft?" was asked.
me profit in this business of course,
Is greater In some instances than in 9th.
eIs, replied Mr. McCulom. Taking every-
thlhg INTO consideration, however, | do
not know Of any venture that VIII bring a
better return for the money invested Very
nuch depends upon good management as
other business does The average net
To 30 cents for each case of two dozen
two.pound cans packed, The volume Of
profits denends upon the output of yonu
factory and the character of the product.
iTlieve that all kinds Of fruits aud
vegetables raised In this country could he
packed here at a pront. hut for leaders
! wonld adopt peaches, pears and tomatoes
for canning and ngs for preserving Other
FRUITS and vegetables could be used for
JellieS. preserving and canning as the snp-
ply and prices would Justify.
what character Of plant wonld | sug
geSJ? WE'LL local conditions should lnrgely
control that A city like Houston, Dallns
or san Antonio can easily sustain n fnc-
tory for a hundred thousand can capacity
But as general proposition would moi
advise the establishment of n factory oi
such capacity for the reason that plant
can easily he enlarged ms the circumstance
require. Tho manufacturing capacity can
he enlarged at pleasure with very lttlr
additional expense
"Onthts Of moderate capacity vary in
cost as the capacity varies. For Instance
n plant Of 5O0-can daily capacity VII cost
aho" $50 and give employment to foul
bonds. plant Of 2000. can cnpacity Will
give pmnlO % siNtppu hoVarC n