The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1906-04-29
Vegetable Business Large.

Especially in the production of canned
peas, corn. and tomatoes has there been
a big change in the standing of the
States. New York. Maryland. New Jer-
sey, Delaware, and other Eastern States
have seen their business decrease and
90 to Indiana. Wisconsin. Ohio ILL
nois, Iowa. Nebraska. and other Western
States Indiana especially has come to
the front in recent years. With Wis
consin. Indiana has taken great por-
ton of the canned pea production from
Maryland and New York
Indiana. Illinois, and Iowa now lead
the list in the production of canned corn,
but in the production of canned toma-
toes Indiana, among the Western States,
has had a most notable rise.
Maryland. Delaware. and New Jersey
are losing their tomato output and In
diana is gaining almost in proportion,
although Ohio is sharing the benefit.
Illinois prairie land has been found poor
for the production of tomatoes in COM
mercial quantities, but the cleared forest
land of Indiana has proved especially
fitted TO their culture. Consequently
tomato canning plants have grown up
like mushrooms in the Indiana belt.
Rates Reason.
New York and other Eastern men In
terested in the industry have made
searching inquiry into the conditions
which are bringing 20 the West what
promises to develop in few years into
one of its 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 educated 70 the point
where they are willing to give up Tart
of their large field crops for the more
careful growing of tomatoes, which
bring greater returns.
Then, too, freight rates have had their
effect For a long time Eastern Gamers
Iabored under stained conditions. The
center OF demand for their goods kept
going gradually Westward. necessitat-
ing the payment of long haul tariffs.
Factories are now readtusting them
selves to conditions of population and
avoid high freight rates by abandoning
Eastern plants and rebuilding in West
ern locations.
New Plants in West.
Several hundred new plants have
grown up in the West in the last few
years. IuilllE AAAE pdNhAAk oNeNoRAi "a
1905 alone eight factories in Delaware.
ninety-five in Maryland. and several
more in New York. which operated in
1904, closed their doors, and did no pack
ing. When the next season for packing
begins In the latter part of August or
September. It is thought by Western
packers that several more Eastern
plants will have located in the West
According 70 figures compiled by New
York experts, the taste of American
PEOPLE for the acetic qualities of the
tomato has increased to the proportions
never measured for IL. Indeed, the appe-
tite Of the country for the juicy'red vege-
table has grown so large that there is
doubt If the supply now on the market
will hold out until a new pack is made
late in the summer.
Shortage in Tomatoes.
During 1902. 1903. and 1901 there was an
average annual pack Of 231. 9I3, rs cans of
tomatoes, but during 1905. because of
bad weather conditions and a shortage
of the crop, the pack was only 144,OO0, 900
cans or 81, 600. 900 cans below tae average
Eastern experts who are apprehensive
about the supply have estimated from
the consumption I'm the last three years
fifteen cans of tomatoes a year. This
year the sealing off of the supply has
reduced the possible airport comment to
nine and one-haIf cans a :, mily.
Between the seasons 1901 and 1902 there
was a somewhat similar shortage, when
the price OF the vegetable went Up and
jobbers were forced to pay $1.60 a dozen.
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