The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-09-19
Location Wanted for
A Big Cannery

in this comfy to devote from 5000
to 5. 200 acres OF suitable land tc
the cultivation of peas and beans.
ii prices insurinR a fair profit are
guaranteed? If such contracts car
be made it is possible to secure the
establishment of big vegetable and
fruit cannery here which would en-
ploy from 800 to 400 persons during
several months of the year. No sec
tion of the state produces finer peas
than this county. Fruit is abundant.
climatic conditions are ideal and
dockage and shipping facilities are
first class. An interesting letter on
the subject was received a few days
ago from a gentleman in San Fran
cisco. in which he says:
l am representing parties who are
looking for good location IN North.
wetsern Washington for large can
merry, to can vegetables and fruits.
We want to locate where we can con.
tract with farmers to put in from
5000 to 5000 acres in peas. beans,
etc.. and also where we can secure
plenty of fruit.
While l have never been on your
islands the thought has occurred to
me that possibly you might have
just the location where we could
raise peas very successfully. which
would be the main line we would put
up Peas require good sandy loan
where there is sufficient moisture
and not too hot seasons. In fact they
require cool nights. the cooler the
better.
The location would have to be
accessible to where we could contract
up to 5000 acres of good cultivated
land. If your people are interested
in an industry of this kind we shall
be pleased to Investigate the location
and you can aid US by giving US what
information you can on the subject.
How many acres of cultivated land
can be contracted for within radius
of siv miles from your town?
Would farmers in general be will
ing to contract with factory to
raise peas etc?
Is there much fruit raised in your
locality and what are the principal
kinds? Do you raise many cherries?
Gould a good factory site be had
where we could have good docka9e?
What is the nature of the soil with
in radius of six miles of your town
and what is the approximate percent
age in area of cultivated land?
How much labor could be secured
there, both women and men. during the
canning season, which would last
from about June 1st to Nov. 1st. As
we would employ from 800 to 400
men and women during packing
season we would expect to have to
import most of our help. but would
use all the local help we could obtain.
Can you grow peas ard other veg
etables on the island? Have you any
area of low muck soil where aspara-
gus can be grown?
It might be of interest to your
farmers who have never raised peas
for canning to learn that they are
planted thick. drilled in like ,whea
and when ready for the cannery they
are moved down like hay and loaded
onto hay racks and brought to the
factory, where they are put through
viner, or thresher. that shells all
the peas and the farmer is paid for
the shelled peas. II the farmer wishes
the straw. which makes fine hay.
when cured. for cattle. he draws it
back to his farm.
I shall be p leased to hear from
you and anything of interest you can
give me on the matter will be greatly
appreciated. /" Yours truly.
S. FL. Paxton.