The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1903-07-08
PROCESSING AND PACKING PLANT.

PROCESSING AND PACKING PLANT.
Machinery for Such an Industry in Cor.
wallis has arrived
There is at the Southern Pacific
depot here carload of machinery
which is new to this county. being
| the first of the kind to be brought
to this locality. 1t is consigned to
Robert Johnson, who organized the
Benton County Processing and
Prune Packing Company. For the
reception of this and other machin-
| cry to arrive soon, the building of
which the Kaupisch creamery oc-
cupies portion, has been secured.
1t is three story structure conven-
lent to both rail and river transpor-
tation and was originally ware
house. -.
The present shipment of machin-
cry for the processing and packing
plant consists of a grader, a process
sor, elevator for the latter, floor
trucks, wheelbarrows and many
minor articles of equipment for the
plant The main elevator which is
to convey the unprocessed dried
fruit to the third story is yet to ar
rive. A large part of the wood
work of the plant ia to be con-
structed here. Power for oPerat
| ing the machinery is to be provided
by the boiler and engine now in
use at the creamery.
The grader is large one to be
operated by steam power. 1t is
rs feet long. about feet high and
6 or 7 feet wide, is arranged to
separate five grades of Italian
prunes. Each grade issues from
spout. A New Century professor
is another large piece OF machinery
of the plant. It II feet long 4 feet
high, and three feet wide. An ell
evator and automatic feeder places
the fruit in this machine at one end
and a spiral conveyor carries it
through bath of steam and liquid
which thoroughly cleanses the fruit
and otherwise prepares it for pack
ling. The spiral conveyor deposits
the prunes onto a shaker and drain
and when the process is completed
the fruit is deposited in bins and is
ready for boxing while yet warm.
In the meantime the operation of
facing the packing boxes is go
ing on. This consis IS in
working single prunes by hand
into pliable consiste nc y
and carefully placing several over
tapping layers in box. This box
is then placed in a press, filed from
bin, the fruit pressed tightly, af-
ter which the box is covered and
nailed. The packing is done in
manner so that when the top of the
box is removed, the facing is ex-
posed and the fruit presents regz
ular, even and attractive surface.
Box labels to be used heresare the
best and most attractive which can
be procured anywhere, and there is
not the least doubt that the prunes
processed and packed here will !
bring the very highest market
price.
For all grades Of prunes there
is difference of one half cent
per pound in that properly process
sed and packed, and that sold in
sacks from the drier as has been the
custom Of Benton county growers
heretofore The difference in price
in favor of the processed and packed
crop is distributed at home to the
packers, other industries and labor
in communities where such plants
are in operation. Heretofore 9TH
er locations have received this ben
eft from prunes grown and dried !
IN Benton county.
The packing season here will be
about two months and during that |
time several men and perhaps IS
girls and women will be employed
1t will be necessary for the com
pany to employ an expert packer
to teach the employees the business.
The company can pay only 50
much per box for packing and at
first the packers will be able to!
make only very small wages, but
as they become more expert they
can pack more boxes for which !
they will receive corresponding pay.
This company expects to handle
almost or quite all the prunes IN the
county. 1
Prune driers are making prepar-li
atoms for large crop this season.
All indications point to this result
D nd a1tooetIer the o,t1oo11 for 4La