The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-06


kVt were sent TO the State of Indiana
last year. which shows that the
lk4Hf demand is increasing. OF these
~~ 10000 punches were consumed in
this city. and this proves that there is hard
ly any fruit as popular as the banana. 1t
is a fruit that we have all the year round.
and when there is great scarcity of other
tropical fruits the bananas can be de-
pended During last year about 5O.OOoO0O
punches were imported TO the United States,
and now there is hardly a country town or
village that does not buy its supply by
the carload. Only few years ago a bunch
or two year suficed to supply the trade
OF these smaller towns, and in many in
stances there was no demand for this fruit
in places OF 5000 or 10000 inhabitants.
All Of the bananas that come 10 In
dianapoIis from New Orleans. but there
is what may be called clearing house on
the way. Chicago and all the towns and
cities east and west from Omaha. Neb., to
Cleveland, o.. get this tropical fruit from
the little town of Mounds. a suburb of
Cairo. The traffic amounts to $4,000
punches. or go carloads a week.
The system employed in handling the
banana. while on the road to market, is in
teresting. and the following description of
II was recently given by q writer In the
Chicago Record-HeraId:
The headquarters OF the Southern divi-
sion of the banana trust, otherwise known
the Fruit Dispatch Line, IS at New Or
leans. When the fruit comes in by steamer
II is Immediately placed in refrigerator cars.
These are never iced, but the fruit is thor
oughiy packed in straw 10 keep il dry, as
dampness is it's greatest enemy. AS soon as
the train is loaded the cars are started
north. Their destinatio is determined later
Speed is the thing 10 be desired, so they are
hustled through to Mounds. taking prece-
dence over all other trains except through
passengers. While in transit the clerical
force al New Orleans bills the different
cars to their ultimate destinations, and the
orders are wired TO Mounds so that when
the cars arrive the bills of lading are wait
ing them. At Mounds. each car is carefully
inspected, to that the fruit has not suf-
fered on its trip of over five hundred miles
For this purpose a huge building was
erected four years ago. The building, or
shed. is so feet wide by 500 feet long. and
contains four tracks. each of which will
accommodate twenty thirty-fve-foot cars.
This building is heated. and an average
temperature. of 90 to 90 degrees is main
tanned
TEMPERATURE TESTED
when the banana train reaches Mounds
Il is run into the shed and each car is
opened The first thing done is to observe
the temperature thermometer had been
placed i'm each car before it left New Or
leans. and if it registers anywhere from 60
10 s. degrees all is well. But if it shows
temperature as low as SO degrees the fruit
Is 10 break one of the bananas green (for
they are shipped green as possible). and
If it bleeds' or drops juice it is in good
condition. If the entire train passes inspec-
ton it is sent on to its destination accom-
panied by one or more messengers. who go
along TO care for the fruit while en- route
But If the car has been chilled, then warm,
dry air is blown into it. and after suffi-
cient drying-out process the test is made
again. and if it is all right the car is started
on the next train. The fruit is graded into
skies. sevens, Fights and mines. which
means that the punches are six, seven,
eight and nine hands high
There is a busy time in Commission row
when the trains bearing the fruit begin to
arrive in Indianapolis. In this city
about six hundred cars of bananas
arrive every year, which makes them
come TO the local market at the rate of
twelve or fourteen cars n week When
banana shipment is made TO this city a train
load is sent at one time. This train,
which is composed of refrigerator cars. has
the same right as a passenger train and
runs very fast. Often with these fruit
trains the time that - made in getting over
the road is remarkable only a few hours
being required TO transport the fruit from
New Orleans TO this city.
Bananas are at the height of their pop
ularity now, for more of them are con-
sumed during March. April May and June
than any other time OF the year. While
they are always eaten to a greater or less
extent all the year round, at this particular
season they are used extensively because
all other fruit is extremely scarce. The
large majority of buyers OF bananas about
the cities, so commission men say, are Ital-
fans and Greeks. In many instances these
people are street fruit-venders, and some
OF them handle bananas as wholesalers.
They know better how 10 treat their fruit
than most others. seeming TO have natural
knack in preserving it.
The Overripe bananas that are received are
bought by the street fruit vendors, or, as
they are called. the push-cart men. The
police officers watch the sale of overripe
fruit, however, 10 such an extent that II Is
impossible TO sell any that is the least
spoiled, and the only reason that overripe
bananas are not bought by the grocers is
that they have to keep bunch too long
before il is sold out. The push-cart men
can get load Of this overri2e fruit and by