The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-13
substitutes for Tin Cans.

Tho department of commerce in
cooperation with the department of
agriculture has long been earnestly
striving to increase the output of tin
cans for food containers. TO this end
II has endeavored to increase the sup
ply of tin, to secure the continuous
movement of the materials entering
into tin cans from the place of pro-
duction to the place Of use, and to fa-
ciiitate the supply and movement Of
machinery for producing cans. The
department desires in every prac-
ticable way to promote tho present
and permanent prosperity of the tin
can industry. There Is no possible
doubt Of the steady and growing de-
mand for its products.
Tin plate is SO per cent. steel and
2 per cent. tin. Steel is the backbone
OF war. and the mills have not been
able to keep all their customers full
ly supplied at all times. Moreover, alb
normal freight demands have made
prompt deliveries uncertain. There
have also been decreased imports of
pig tin. due to decreased production
and reduced shipping facilities. 1t is
not surprising. therefore, that the
tin-plate makers can not provide the
can manufacturers with suffic.e mt
plate to enable them to meet the IN
crease In the demand for cans, which
Ia rs to 40 per cent. greater than 1t
was last year.
1t Is therefore imperative that the
available supply Of cans be utilized,
In SO far as possible. for packing
products that can be preserved only
In tin, and that substitutes be used for
other products whenever practicable.
Such containers should be cheaper
than tin. SO that the ultimate benefit
from lower costs may Offset the initial
expense Of the substitution.
Cost and Description of Fiber Con.
tainers.
The price Of glass has steadily risen
and has reached a point at which any
large extension of it's use for food
containers is impract'ca BILE. At pres
ent fiber or paper containers of good
quality are being produced in consid-
erable and increasing quantities. and
for many purposes are supplanting
glass and tin plate. The price of
the fiber containers depends upon the
size. the quality OF the paper-pulp
material. the number of treatments
with parafIin. and the amount of
printed matter on the outside. The
commoner types may be obtained at
l.25 to LIS cents for the half-p pint size,
Las to 1.6 cents for the pint size, and
1.5 to i.65 cents for the quart size.
Fiber containers are made in va
rious shapes and sizes adapted to diff
ferent purposes and may or may not
be coated with paraffin. which is
chemically inert and is sometimes
baked into the paper material. Some
Of these containers are claimed to be
Iair-tight. proof against leakage, and
protected from contamination by the
para nm. Some containers appear to
be more nearly air-tight than others
of the same style, probably because
Of better fitting covers. These con-
tainers are light In weight. pack
readily for shipment. are easily obtain
cd. and are used but once.
FIBER Containers for Delivering Foods
to Consumer.
The demand for "ready-to- eat''
foods. such as baked pork and beans,
spaghetti. etc., with the simple direc-
tion Heat and serve" represents the
largest factor in the increased use of
tin cans. These foods must be pro.
cessed In the containers at or above
the temperature Of boiling water, and
no substitute for tin has been found
that satisfactorily meets these con-
ditions. However. great economy in
tin can be effected by home cooking
of such products during the present
shortage.
Fiber containers are recommended
for the distribution by the retailer
of many foodstuffs. including milk,
cream. buttermilk. ice cream, oysters,
syrups, marshmallow creams, dried
fruits. preserves, jellies. mincemeat,
horseradish. relishes. pickles, deviled
ham and chicken. vinegar, dry ant
prepared mustard. soda water, salads,
sauerkraut. and olives.
Fiber Containers For Packing and