The Republican journal., 1910-09-22

BELFAST, MAINE.
THE LIBERTY CORN CANNING PLANT
The Corn Canning Plant is now running full
blast. There is an extra large crop of extra
fine corn and "every prospect pl ases." We
are informed by the superintendent that the
poorest lot of corn brought in this year excel
led the best of last years crop. and whereas
$4,000 cans were the amount of last years
output, the prospects are that this year it will
reach 100000. Perhaps that my observation
while visiting that institution will not be I'M
interesting to the readers of The Journal and
perhaps be an incentive to those who did not
plant corn this year to do next, and to those
who do not eat it for fear of it's uncleanliness
to do so, for nothing can excel this plant in
cleanliness and tidiness.
/ will begin with the huskers. 1t is pleas
ant sight to see the numerous huskers, most
ly boys and girls, marching to the husking
yard in the early morning. some of them sing
ing the chorus of the old husking song which
is as follows:
"We're going to the shocking.
We're going to the shocking.
We're going to the shocking
OF the corn, Of the corn.
We're going to the shocking
of the corn"
In the husking yard there are two long build
ings on either side which are simply rooted
over, where the corn is dumped from the
teams ready for the huskers. This corn is
scattered along the space allotted for it, the
entire width of the building if the load is big
enough, and it is highly interesting to see the
huskers come up to the corn like chickens,
boo k,,-1 Al-,,
there are baskets of corn. 1t is also inter-
esting to see the scramble for the baskets
and position at the corn pile. 1t is good
place to study human nature and the differ
ent dispositions of persons. 1t is here as in
all things else, the selfish pusher gets there
while the timid and unselfish get left. The
yard master is Arthur Norton, who is the
right man in the right place, and he is ably as
sisted by L. N. Hurd. Cleanliness is observed
here. Everything in the shape of filth is in
stantly removed. No profane, indecent or
boisterous language is permitted and no untidy
person is allowed among the huskers. Indeed
it is like well ordered picnic, where they all
enjoy themselves hugely. On entering the
building where the corn is manipulated one is
struck with the cleanliness and the prompt
ness with which the work is carried on under
the supervision of the argus eyed overseer,
Howard A. Staples, who seems to have his
eyes on every part of the machinery at the
Is
is there in an instant. He is ably assisted by
the machinist, Mr.. Fred Wescott of Gorham.
If l should make an attempt at describing this
wonderful machinery, which can do most any
thing but talk, should make miserable fail
ure. All that can do is to express the opin-
ion-that he, who never visits corn canning
plant in full operation, dies fool. Visitors are
allowed in any part of the building but not
permitted to talk with the operatives, and if
he be careless tobacco chewer he is at once
told that this is no place for him. The opera
tives have to work at their full capacity when
the machinery is in motion and seeing them
perform their several parts SO quickly reminds
me of that old nursery song
"How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour
There are not as many operatives from abroad
as there were last year. The local hands seem to
have caught or, as it were, and all doing their
several parts in very satisfactory manner.
They are as follows: superintendent, Howard
A. Staples; clerk, Mrs. 0. w. Ripley; machnist,
Fred Wescott; cutters, Mrs. H. A. Staples and
Mrs. A. H. Norton; corn dropper, Artie M.
johnson, assistant, Rose Ryan; machine tenders,
Clayborn Wellington, Bernard Newhall; feed
screen, Ernest Rayon; washer, Edwin Ryan;
screen washer, H. Moody; weigher, Alice Low
ell; mixer, o. w. Ripley. We have watched
He mixes the water and the sugar all right
but lemon and the one thing needful does not
appear to be in evidence. But the Democrats
are in and who can tell what a year may bring
forth, SO cheer up 0. W., we may be happy yet.
Holster, H. Harding; cookers, Harold Linscott
and Andrew Rokes; cappers. Miss Jessie Mr.
ton, Cyrus Barton of Casco; tippers, Arthur
Haskell of Poland and Charles Knowlton; can
inspector, Mrs. Sylvester; hot can mender,
Clifford j. Eastman of Casco; N. S. Inspector
Harry Bollang of Halifax, N. S.; retorter,
Walter Young; assistants and helpers, Sam
Bagley. Walter Beaulieu. Harry Moody and
Jessie Hills; case packer, Seweli Colby; fire.
man, J. B. Taylor of Freedom; field man,
Herbert Grant of Leeds. 1t is the duty
of the field man to visit the various fields of
corn and order it in when fit. The full capacity
of this plant is eighty cans per minute with
five cutters. One afternoon last week, Mis-.
Staples and Mrs. Norton, with but two cutters,
put through seventy-two cans per minute and
Artie May johnson dropped two at time,
fifteen thousand cans, in four and half hours,
not one going into the hole bottom up which
was going some.
There are nine retorts for cooking the corn
after canning. Each retort has capacity of
about five hundred and fifty cans. With $50
degrees of heat it takes one hour and five
minutes to cook each one. Each retort is
marked showing the hour that it received its
cargo, and the retorter has it so timed that
one is taken out every ten minutes. SO that in
round numbers they cook about 1000 cans each
hour when running at full speed and there are
no breaks.
The Monmouth Canning Company is running
eight canning plants this year and they are
located at different points in the State, viz:
Union, Liberty, Gardiner, Monmouth, Casco,
Baldwin, Otis, and the other one l did not
learn where located. Mr.. Greene, the general
manager, can almost visit them daily in his
auto. Mr.. Milliken and Mr.. Soule, president
and treasurer, both visited this plant last week
and expressed themselves as highly satisfied
with its workings.
Capt. John Otis of Searsmont arrived in the |
city Thursday for a short stay before going on
his way southwark. He expects to visit few
days in q number of places on the way, arriv-
ing at Pensacola, where he has fine winter
home, about three days before Thanksgiving |
-Rockland Courier-G Gazette.