The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-06

corn, but in the production of canned tomatoes Indiana, among the Western
 s. has had a most notable rise.
 Maryland. Delaware and NewJer sey are losing their tomato output and fn- diana is gaining almost In proportion, although Ohio is sharing the pene- fit. Illinois's prairie land has been found poor for the production of toma- toes in commercial quantities, but the cleared forest land of Indiana has proved especially fitted to their cul- ture. Consequently tomato canning plants have grown up like mushrooms in the Indiana belt.
 Land and Freight Rates a Reason.
 New York and other Eastern men interested in the industry have made searching inquiry into the conditions which are bringing to the West what promises to develop in few years into one of the richest assets. First of all, they have discovered that rich Western land is more suited to the production of tomatoes than worn lands of Eastern States. which require great expenditure for fertilizer. Added to this. Western farmers have been edu- cated to the point where they are willing to give up part of their large field crops for the more careful grow
 ing of tomatoes. which bring greater
 returns.
 Then. too, freight rates have had
 their effect. For a long time Eastern canners labored under strained conoi- tions The center of demand TOT tneir
 goods kept going gradually Westwaro,
 necessitating the paymena or long haui tariffs. Factories are now reaoJust- ing themselves to conditions of popu-
 lation and avoid high freight rates ny abandoning Eastern plants ana re- ip Western locations.
 Build New Plants in the West. Several hundred new plants have grown up in the West In the last tew years. During the packing season Of 1905 alone eight factories In Delaware:
 ninety-fve in Maryland and several more in New York, which operated III 1904 closed their doors and did no racting When the next season for packing begins in the latter part or | August or September. it Is thought by Western packers that several more Eastern plants will have located In l the West.
 According to figures compiled by New York experts, the taste of American people for the acetic qualities of the | tomato has increased to proportions never measured for it. Indeed, the annetite of inc country for the juicy | red vegetable has grown so large that there is doubt if the supply now m 1 the market will hold out until ne" pack Is made late in the summer
 Explain Shortage In Tomatoes. During 1902. 1903 and 1904 there was an average annual pack of 2Sl'slS' 70 | cans of tomatoes. but during lSoo' pe- cause of bad weather conditions anu | shortage of the crop, the pack was
 only IA. 900 900 cans, or 93,000,000 cans | below the average.
 | Eastern experts who are apprehen , l sive about the supply have estlhialeu | from the consumption in the last tnree
 years that the average American ldiii- | lily uses fifteen cans Of tomatoes year This year the scaling on or tIio l supply has reduo ed the possible aP-
 portionment to nine and one-halt cans | a family. ,ooo
 Rctween the seasons 1901 and l9oz | there was a somewhat similar snort | age when the price of the Vegetdoiv l went up and jobbers were forced to pa' 1 s1. 60 a dozen This degree or string gen cy has not been reached yet thls year ' , l however, for the price at present only S115 to $l30 a dozen cans the season gets older a repetition ot W | tbe rise in nrices which occurred m
 1902 is likely.
 Buys Tomatoes for Soldiers During the spanish American war 1 the national government learned l through the medical men in the army
 service the peculiar medicinal qualities | of the tomato which caused soldiers to prefer il over other canned vegetables Since that time the commissary ae@
 partment has been supplying larger quantities than ever before to army | posts. and the government has become
 one of the largest purchasers Tn tpe
 market Several carloads are distrib- l utpd soldiers ChictARO mOnLn~
 ly .