Durango semi-weekly herald., 1904-04-11
AZTEC cANNERY.

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In an Interview with Mrs Emma =.
| McAlpine the Herald learned much
about the canning factory which that
lady is going to build at Aztec.
The building will be "a two-story
structure, 52xs2 feet 1t will be
equipped with 40-horse power en-
| gine, and the latest and most improy-
ed machinery. The location is at Az
tee near the lower bridge that leads
to Pennington. Bids for building
have been advertised for and will be
opened April 10. when the contract
will be let. The factory when com
pleted will represent an expenditure
by Mrs. McAlpine OF about $4,000, and
this. together with the donations made
by citizens will represent property to
rhe amount ot $4,000 About 80 peo-
pie are to be employed this summer
10 OF whom viii be women.
Mrs. McAlpine estimates the output
for the present season will be 25.00O
ona-gallon cans and 1900 2h-pound
cans OF truit. This viii include
peaches. apples, pears, piums. apri-
cots and all the great variety of fruits
Tor which San Juan county is famous.
special attention will be given to Ell
hsrta peaches. and since The canning
factory has become an assured fact.
several OF the fruit growers have tax
en steps TO increase their peach or
charus. one man alone setting Out 500
more trees oil the Elherta variety.
Canning Is expected to commence
the Isl OF july. In the fall modern
ste1In cider press is To be Installed
ana iirst-clnss grade OF elder Is TO he
turned out and introduced In all the
nolghboring towns.
DR.. George, newcomer who has
gone into the cucumber business on
extensive scale. having planted 1000
acres principally ior raising seeds to
sell. is negotiating with Mrs Meal
pine Tor furnishing her factory with
ene small cucumbers for pickles.
William Johnson. a man OF wide ex-
perience in the canning business. has
been employed as superintendent. Mr..
Johnson was connected with the Del
IA cannery from the time 1t was start
ed and the great success of that plant
during its four years existence is a
high recommendation OF those man
aging 1t. Mr.. Johnson Is now busy
looking after the purchase of machin-
cry some oi which is already on the
road
Mrs. McAlpne has had no expcr-
ience herself in this business, but she
is a Yankee and has been a business
woman all her life and is not blind
to such opportunities as this Industry
seemed to afford. People have been
talking fOr years about canning fac
tory Tor this section. but 1t has re-
m2ined for woman to Invade the
field.
Last year Mrs McAlpine was inter
ested in the sawmill business ON Pine
river When she sold out there she
decided, after studying the matter
over thoroughly that canning factory
in San Juan county would be a sure
winner So she went to Aztec. and
no sooner was her purpose known than
mass meeting OF citizens was called,
and without any soliciting they mag
nanimously offered to donate a build
ing site and haul all her building ma
terlal and machinery free of charge.
Just look around and pick out the
place you want, and II is yours" they
told her. She looked around and Sc
eCted what she considered the most
picturesque spot in or around the
inwn. II WAS one acre on the farm
Of l.. Current. and the citizens prompt.
| y bought the site Of Mr. Current and
had the deed executed to Mrs. Meal
cine, There was no quIbbllug about
he matter. The philosophical ciu-
IONS saw that here was an opportun-
ty they had long been waiting for,
and they very literally met the lady
half way. Money was subscribed to
pay for all the hauling and Mr.
Graves, who keeps the toll bridge at
Cedar HIN announced that all team
sters hauling for the plant would be
charged only half price. In addition
to the acre donated Mrs McAlpine
viii buy two acres adjoining
She was elated at the generosity of
The Aztec people She then went to
Delta and put in some time studying
The business and methods and while
there employed her superintendent.
Mrs McAlpine says she viii can on
IS superior grade Of goods and that
AL fruit will be canned in syrup. No
water goes
She expects it Will be necessary to
| Increase the capacity OF the Plant next
year. as by turning ont superior pro
duct 1t may reasonably be expected
that the home goods will replace to a
very large extent all California and
other outside goods Mrs McAlpine
believes n railroad through Aztec to
the south Is only matter of a short
time. when a great market in New
Mexico Will be opened up as well as
In Colorado.
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TELEoRApHlc NEWS.