New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1916-08-19
CANNING FACTORY,

On Monday last sc editor was
invited by Mayor Sealy TO ac-
company party of citizens to
Avery Island. to induce. if posi-
bic. Hon. +. A.. McIIhenny to
bniId branch to his mammoth
canning factory in New IBERIA.
In the party were Mayor Sealy,
Police Juror Y. j. Erath, Commits
sioner Nillcrmin. Sheriff Landry,
VIM. b. Kramer, f. II. Bui1inton,
Chas. l.. Provost, Robert Perry,
Frank j. Dautcrive, JOS. \. Blu
quor, \. Daigre, Letchcr Grant,
Alfred Lewald and others. | pom
arriving at the Island, we discov-
cred one of the busiest places in
the Parish of Iberia. if not in the
State. There were upwards Of
one hundred and fifty people busy
in this successful canning factory
which is turning out about one
hundred cans Of Creole dinners a
minute. Fully sixty of the EN-.
ployees were women and young
girls, and all were cutting up
okra, sweet peppers and onions
which 20 to make up that palat-
able dish. of which this factory
cannot now supply the demand.
Mr.. E. A. McIlhenny, the genial
manager of the modern and san
itarv factory, did what he could
to make the visitors welcome
while they were there, after
which the committee repaired to
one of the Offices of the Company
to talk business. We were given
assurance by Mr.. McIlhenny that
he was anxious to establish a
branch in New Iberia, but it
would not be done until he was
guaranteed a certain amount of
raw products to justify the outlay.
It will be remembered some two
years ago, upon a suggestion of
DR.. w. F. Carstens, Hon. Edward
Estorge, Mr.. A. c.. Bernard and
others brought this matter to Mr..
BIcTlhenny's attention and the
gentleman was then given assur-
ance that not less than twenty
Ave acres Of sweet peppers, toma-
/, toes and other truck would be
grown here by our small farmers
O. an inducement to Mr.. Nell
benny, and when the time came
for the shipment Of the truck
nothing was sent to him. The
truth Of the matter was the farm
ers after planting the tomatoes,
permitted them to mildew and
the entire crop was lost, not
enough was obtained to pay for
the seed that Mr.. McIlhenny
furnished some Of the farmers for
this experiment. Sheriff Landry
expressed a desire to plant a
large number Of acres into truck
next year if he could get the
proper help to justify the cx-
penditure for seed, etc. and it.
begins to look like Mr.. Nell
benny will get such truck as he
needs from farmers hereabouts.
That will be the only way that !
we can hope to have factory IN
New iberia and it behooves thosel
Interested in the development Of
our lands and City to interest
themselves in the matter at once. /
Mr.. Mcllhennv said that he was
shipping car loads Of tomatoes
from the East and North, which
he was more than willing to pur-
chase at home. and that they
could be raised profitably had,
been shown conclusively on his
own farms. Thus far this season
the factory had purchased $35, 900
worth of okra from nearby farm
ers. and over $4,000 worth of
figs His last words to the CON-
mittee were: "Induce your
farmers to plant few acres each
see that they get the proper seed
and with the proper cultivation !,
they will succeed" He assured
the committee that he would take
all the farmers offered.