Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1901-03-01
THE cANNERY QUESTION.
Some Interesting Facts in Regard to the
One Proposed to be Erected Here.
Editor Spectator :

Some Interesting Facts in Regard to the
One Proposed to be Erected Here.
Editor Spectator:
The general interest manifested in
this and adjacent counties, concerning
the growing of fruits and vegetables
for cannery near Staunton, is an as
surance that one is to be built. Al
ready some four or five hundred acres
are under contract, by nearby parties,
and when those farther distant. on
lines of railway and back from the
railway, consider the matter in its true
relation to their crops. it is clear, that
the requisite acreage for large plant
Will be had-otherwlse it is better
not to erect one-fOr the day of small
canneries has past. The business has
passed the experimental stage, and
small canneries are neither profitable
for the manufacturer or farmer. The
recent failure of Robinson & Co..
who had some hundred or more can
neries in Maryland and Delaware, is a
lesson that the growers of vegetables
should heed as much as the owner of
cannerieS. For, unless the manufac-
turer can have the best of machinery
and appliances, and employ skillful
chemists, professors, etc., he cannot
compete with others in cost or quality
OF goods, nor can he afford to pay fer
the raw material a reasonable prices.
Mr.. Spies, who has some small can
neries in BOtetOurt county, where fifty
or sixty small canneries are, has found
this out; and will doub tless close the
smaller plants, although he can buy
the raw material 10 to Is per cent
less than he will probably pay here.
In Maryland and Delaware, we under
stand IA to Is cents per bushel is some
times paid for tomatoes; in Botetourt
II cents is paid, while we understand
70 cents is to be paid here.
The cost of manufacturing the
goods In large plant, fitted up with
the best OF appliances to produce goods
OF superior quality is about half that
of small plant, for the wastes can be
| utilized, and chemist and process or
will be paid to test the goods to see
that they are OF uniform quality.
The cost of getting the raw material
on the railways, fifty miles distant, ii
but nominal sum when compared
with the salvage made by producing
goods on large scale. If the railways
should charge twice what they obtain
from the average haul of freight pei
ton per mile, it will cost (say on toma
toes) less than one cent per bushel
while the cannery can better afford to
pay 20 cents per bushel for tomatoes
at large plant than 16 cents per BUSH
ell at small plant.
We think no section affords enough
acreage, in vicinity of the plant, tc
make it success; at least half must
come over railways. Probably three
to FIVE thousand acres will be required
to produce the best of goods at the
least cost.
The Tub tanneries have gone out
of existence. The small slaughter
houses are rapidly disappearing
! Over a hundred articles are now pro
duced from what was formerly wasted
in slaughterhOuses, and these give
more profit than the original five quar-
ters of the animal formerly slaughter
ed. In fact all lines of manufacture
have passed, Or are passing through
this evolution, to the advantage of the
producer as we'll as the consumer
when there is no trust or combination
which practices eXtOrt1on. We believe
the canning industry will eventually
be of great benefit to the farmer. ir
the way of intense thorough cultiva
tiOn, in ascertaining the value anC
amount of plant food he has in his land
as well as in the value of the fertilizer
he needs and the amount required fol-
the different crops be groWs-for it il
to the interest of the cannery to moi
only have chemical knowledge of tht
material it buys and uses, but that th,
farmers should produce the best an6
largest crops at the least cost, and tt
do this, the chemist be employs during
the canning season cannot be better
employed than in analysing the soils
ETC., which the farmer has.
I The present Congress has appropri
ated large sum mot one tenth what
1t should) for the analyses of soils fol
the farmers. When farmers make
their work scientific by constantly
reading up and putting in practice
what is proven by skillful chemists
and Investigators, farming becomes M
longer distasteful or laborious, but .
pleasure, which the entire family will
participate in. Already the practica
farmer is be who keeps in touch with
the Agricultural Department and tests
it's recommendations. Farmers are
learning that the value of the land
they own or cultivate, depends on the
depth of the humus, or available soil
and whether it is sub-lrrigated, fol
one acre Of sub irrigated land with
two foot of humus is worth a hundred
acres of land with but few inches OF
humus, liable at any time to be washed
away and the victim of every few days
of dry weather. 1t is within the power
of every farmer to add humus con-
stantly to his soils, even if be cannot
buy his neighbors land.
What most concerns the farmers
concerning the proposed cannery, is
1st-That it has ample capital to do a
large business; 2nd-That it will EN-.
ploy the most skilful chemist and pro
cessors, with the best Of machinery
and appliances; 3rd-That the railway
freights are reasonable. These being
secured, the farmer will realize full
prices, far more than to haye a small
tub" cannery at his own door.
o. K. LAPHAM.
NEW ADVERTISEMENTS,
M Yy~YY 0--r,~