The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-05-27
CANNERY NOW
In OPERATION
HUNDRED GIRLS NEEDED AT PLANT
New Machinery Installed Makes Local In
StitutiOn Convenient Fruit Bought
Direct from Growers

The Hood River Canning Co. began
packing Hood River strawberries Tues.
day of last week. With new machin-
cry installed and with the plant made
one of the most conveniently arranged
in the northwest, hundreds of crates of
luscious Clark Seedlings are now going
into cans for distribution TO discrimnat-
ing trade in all parts of the country.
The name of the canning company,
which is a corporation, was recently
changed from Cloud-Newton Co. to the
Hood River Canning Co. The author
lied capital stock was increased from
$4,000 to S25, 200. With E. b. Cloud,
who began the business with John r.
Newton last year, his brother, w. H.
Cloud and II. II. Larkin are now asso-
ciated. All have had years of expert
ences in the business. They all believe
in the success of the Hood River valley
fruit industry, and are endeavoring
to assist the growers, while they build
up profitable business for themselves.
MIR. Larkin came here from Greedy,
Colo, where he was engaged in the
canning business. 81 have spent all
my life in the canning business" he
says. In fact, ] have devoted about Sc
years to the work. About II years ago
Mr.. Cluod and | were engaged in bust
ness together in New Jersey. In all
my experience have never seen finer
product from Gamers viewpoint than
that grown in Hood River"
When the factory begins to operate
full time at least 100 girls, women and
men will be needed to pick and wash
the fruit and prepare it for the pro-
cesses through which it passes. Last
year about 65 girls and women were
employed at the cannery.
Since last season number of i'm
provements have been made at the
cannery. A new receiving platform
has been built. Two new double
seamers, the machines that apply the
caps and seal the cans, have been in
stalled. All the shelves and work
tables have been rearranged, making
the big work room far more convenient.
New cooking tanks have been built.
A crate of berries never stops now
on being delivered at the receiving
platform. Ii is weighed. Then t
passes to the girls, who pick off the
stems and place the fruit in standard
grades. An inspector is all the time
observing the picking tables to see
that rigid grading rules are enforced.
A man then gathers up the filed
trays and places them on shelves. the
different grades segregated. The ber-
ries are then thoroughly washed and
placedEin cans that are fresh from the
sterilizer. Thex ans are filled, sugared
and weighed, after which they are
placed in steamers. They then are
taken by boys to the double seamers.
From the seamers the cans of fruit,
in trays, are passed to the cooking
troughs. The trays are attached to
slow moving sprocket chains. lncines
that fit in the troughs are so arranged
that they may be slid backward and
forward. They may be set 30 that the
fruit may be emerged in the steaming
water any length of time desired. The
sprocket chain draws them through
the cooking trough over a division into
cooling water. They are then packed
in boxes awaiting the process by which
the cans are lacquered to prevent rust
ing. Each can bears a rubber STAMP
imprint, denoting the date of canning,
the grade and contents. After the lac
quering has been finished, the fruit !.
stored away to await orders. When i
is ready for shipment 1t is properly la
/, : beled.
I'VE invite all growers to come il
and look over our plant" says MIR
Cloud. I'VE will be delighted to hav,
:, them call at any time and make tour
J of inspection"
The canning company is purchasing
: fruit direct from growers, and anyon'
with berries to sell should call 3422
! The cannery will.handle, in addition t.
J Strawberries, cherries, pears and ap
pies. No vegetables will be handle'
. this season. However, MIR. LarkiI
u states that he thinks climatic condi
: tions should make the Hood River val
I ley q suitable place for the production
: Of excellent canning vegetables.
: I'VE would like to get as many cher
{ ries as possible frcm the valley, say
; Mr.. Cloud. at must be remembered b.
the growers that II the cherries are al
+ lowed to remain on the trees and reacl
that condition most suitable for can
, Ders, they will add much weight owe
AAe fruit that is picked earlier TO
,shypent. "
The esnnery will not receive an.
! fruit aftes ~ O'Clock, noon, on Satur