Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1908-01-02

= ottunwa candies have repu-
y tation that extends over all the
y middle west.
~ a%a+ +~ss h*s
The candy industry of the city has
gradually grown from an infans indus
try of 25 years ago, until now it has
reached the rank Of the larger manu-
factories Of this busy city. While the
greater volume of the business Is.
done by the two larger factories, yet
the candy business is carried on by
seven manufacturers and the number
employed will reach about 200.
A very large per cent of those en-
gagged in making candy are girls. who
do the dipping Of the chocolates and
finishing the finer candies. There are
a large number supported by the can
dy industry and the payroll will ap.
proximate $64,000, all of which is dis
tributed through the channels Of
trade in .Ottumwa. The value Of this
years output will approximate $780,
900.
Business Has Grown Locally.
Twenty-Five or thirty years ago the
principal candies were stick candy,
common cheap mixtures, lemon drops,
jackson balls with only ono kind OF
chocolate creams, which were hard,
grainy cream coated with thin bitter
coating and then covered over with
a bright glaze to insure safe shipping
and in order to keep for reasonable
time. The chocolate manufacturers
after time improved on their pro-
duct SO it could be put on the drop Of
cream candy thick enough SO that 1t
would do nicely without the glaze;
then came the sweetening Of the choc-
olate and dipping by hand, or. in 9TH
er words. each chocolate drop has to
be handled separately, and the choco-
.Elate spread over with care so as to get
/ all the cream covered and at the same
time look neat and attractive While
the chocolate drop in those days was
a comparatively small proportion OF
the candy business, it has outstripped
the ratio of growth of many other
1 branches of the business. until today
in number Of factories 1t occupies
an important place; this is particular
ly true of the local factories. as the
4 fame of their chocolates have, made
them known all over the middle west.
There is also an evolution, going on
In the manner Of getting the, goods
into the hands Of the consumer. One
remembers the time when in some
stores storekeepers handed out candy
done up in cheap brown paper, rolled
into cone shape and twisted and
tucked at the top then came paper
h bags which were not so we'll made as
today but they kept improving from
time to time and peoples tastes Wers
constantly becoming educated to more
attractive packages, until the "a.
and 2 pound boxes made their appear
ance. and then began the improve
ment of the box. which made rapit
strides, until today a small fortune
can soon be tied UP In that depart
ment alone
Many Tons of Nuts.
Nut meats are large consumed II
candies, the local factories using man.
, tons each year. They have an artihc
; tally cooled chocolate dipping room
the temperature being kept regula
: and even by the aid Of All alnmonl
. plant which makes delightful plac
!. for the operators to work In summer
large steam boiler capacity to ful
nish steam for the engine and also 7
: insure plenty OF steam for the coof
$ ers and boiling kettles for making car
e dy. Their pay roll is large, constltul
e ing q big share Of the money paid 70
a labor by the factories OF the city
i candy makers that are expect and asphe
r nomenal in obtaining results III thei
9 departments. get good wages.
t The past years output is three mi
o lion pounds 1t has grown to be cn
f tom to pack great many dircrei
|, kinds of candy in pals. there bein
h enough pals used in one Year by loct
g factories, that If nut side by SD
/, would reach 80 miles. or. to express
s differently. from Ottumwa 10 l'ecl
l. with, Rubio, Slgourney Or Foster
l. Observation-Disclosures
T.