The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1917-06-09
SUBSTITUTES FOR TIN CANS.

HbAfNtANH mas ioAb bccu EARNESTLY
striving to increase the output OF tin
cans for food containers. To this end
IL has endeayored 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 20
facilitate the supply and movement
OF machinery for producing cans.
The Department desires in every
practical way TO promote the present
and permanent prosperity OF the tin
can industry. There Is no possible
doubt OF the steady and growing de-
mand for it's products.
Tin plate is 9S per cent steel and
? per cent tin. Steel is the backbone
OF war, and the mills have not been
able to keep all their customers sup
piled at all times. Moreover abnor-
NAL freight demands have made
prompt deliveries uncertain. There
have also been decreased imports OF
pig tin. due to decreased production
and reduced shipping facilities. II Is
not surprising, therefore, that the
tin-plate makers can not provide the
can manufacturers with sufficient
plate 10 enable them TO meet the i'm
crease in the demand for cans, which
Is % 10 40 per cent greater than it
was last year
IL 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 wherever practi-
cable. Such containers should be
cheaper than tin, so that the ultim-
ate benefit from lower costs may aff-
set the initial expense OF the substi-
tuition
The price OF glass has steadily ris-
en- and has reached a point at which
any large extension Of its ne for food
containers is impracticable. Al;
present fibre or paper containers OF
good quality are being produced IN
considerable and increasing quaint
ties, and for many purposes are sup
planting glass and tin plate. The
price OF fibre containers depends up
on the size, the quality of the paper
pulp material, the number OF treat
ments with paraffin, and the amount
of printed matter on the outside. The
commoner types may be obtained Ut
l25 To is cents for the half-pint
size, LIS to 1.6 cents for the pint
size, and is to 1.65 cents for the
quart size.
Fiber containers are made in var
! ious shapes and sizes and adapted "a
different purposes and may or may
not be coated with paraffin, which Il
chemically inert and is sometimes
baked into the paper material. Somf
OF these containers are claimed to be
air-tight, proof against leakage, and
protected from contamination by thC
paraffin. Some containers appear tC
be more nearly air-tight than Others
OF the same style, probably because
of better fitting covers. These con
tainers are light in weight, pacE
readily for shipment, are easily
opened. and are used but once.
The demand for "ready-to-eat
foods, such as baked pork and beans
spaghetti. etc, with the simple di
rection cheat and serve" represent
the largest factor in the increased
use OF tin cans. These foods mus
be processed In the containers at o.
above the temperature Of boiling wa
ter. and no substitute for tin ha
been found that satisfactorily meet
these conditions. However, a grea
economy in tin can be effected b.
home cooking Of such products dur
ing the present shortage.
Fiber containers are recommends
for the distribution by the retailer
many foodstuffs, including milk
cream, buttermilk, ice cream, oysters
sirups. marshmallow creams, drie
fruits. preserves. jellies, vinegar, DIR
and prepared mustard, soda water
salads. sauerkraut, and olives.
1t Is claimed that dry food product
such as coffee, tea, alum, bakin
powder, spices. raisins, and prune
NAV be successfully packed by pre-
ducers and manufacturers in pape
or fiber containers. For some
those products, bags lined with TIN
foil have been in successful use 10
10 years or more and they form a
attractive package that is said to !
moisture proof
Other commodities usually paeke
In tin could be marketed as well