Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-11-28
In the Interest of a Cannery in
Lexington

Lexington
A meeting was held at the Court.
house last Thursday for the pur-
pose of considering the proposition
to establish a canning factory in
Lexington. The meeting was at
tended by some of the representa-
tive business men OF the commun-
ity as we'll as by few farmer OF
Rock bridge. The press of farm
work at this time prevented 9
larger attendance. Colonel j. oh,
Ross was made chairman of the
meeting, and several addresses were
made explaining the proposition.
The first speaker was Mr.. r. H
Pollock of the r. II. Pollock Pack.
ing Company of Baltimore, who
outlined the plan of organization
and operation, which plan con-
templates stock subscriptions to
the amount of $l5, 900, with which
to erect a modern canning estab-
lisbment to cost something like
$12, 800, with a working fund OF
So, 500. The purpose is to place
as many shares as possible among
the farmers surrounding Lexing-
ton, so as to guarantee q sufflcien,
amount OF produce to be canned.
The maximum Of stock to any one
subcriber is limited to five shar es
of 800 each. The stockholders,
when organized, will have exclc-
sive control Of the construction of
the plant, which is to be awarded
to the Southern Construction Com
pany of Baltimore. This company
has erected a number of these
plants and is in position to build
at a very close margin, which they
claim to be 10 per cent. above
actual cost. No payments on stock
are expected until the completion
Of the plart and it's acceptance by
the stockholders.
Mr.. Louis Stllwell of Shenan-
doah, a practical operator, ex-
planned in detail the workings Of
the plant. The system operated
is what is known az the toll sys-
TEN, whereby the fruits and vege-
tables are supplied by the farmers,
preferably the stockholders, and
these are canned and sold by the
company. One-half cent a can is
set aside as toll to form a fund out
of which a dividend is divided
among the shareholders. The
farmers get the highest market
price for their fruits and vegetab-
les, and any profile over and above
the expenses Of conducting the
seasons operations are divided
among stockholders, the farmer
who has furnished products COM
ing in for his share.
Mr.. w. S. Long of Shenandoah,
secretary and treasurer of the
canning establishment in that
place, made a practical talk on the
operation CT the system as has
come under his observation. The
stockholders OF his plant are entire
~ satisfied with the results. He
quoted some of the prices obtained
for vegetables. An acre of toma-
toes at 80 cents a bushel brought
BIS or $50, withstanding the
lnfavorable season; an acre OF
snap beans, which sold from rs
cents to S1.25 a bushel, brought
S165; an acre of corn yielded $40.
1t was further brought out in
The meeting that a splendid home
market is afforded for many fruits
and vegetables now going to loss.
are also afforded for
to many persons in the
community who otherwise would
ind difficulty In securing work,
'uch as boye and girls. And the
season is during the sum-
ner when these persons would
otherwise be idle.
Mr.. Stilwell spent a week In
lexington soliciting subscriptions
o stock. and he secured provision
lily about %, 900. On account of
he busy season at this time he de-
,ided to cease solicitations for the
resent but will return to LICKING
on within the next week or two
nd take up the work where ne
eft of. In the meantime it is
oped that the matter will not be
flowed to decline in interest, but
hat many OF our business men
yill apoourrA fha on tarnrica