The Union daily times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1918-current, 1922-06-29

for the settlement of the coal strik ,
might be initiated.
and potatoes. Mr.. Shaver states that
he contracted with 100 farmers to
take care of 400 acres of beans. Other
farmers contracted to funish spin
acb, tomatoes and potatoes. This
means that more than 100 farmers in
Sumter county had cash return from
thelr crops at time when the cotton
crop was dead expense and the re.
turn from this source several months
off. The production of beans ranges
from SO to 200 bushels per acre. The
selling price is $50 per ton, which is
equivalent to 80 cents per bushel. At
the time of my visit the plant was
handling frCm 800 to 1000 bushels
per day and had been working on
beans three weeks.
Tomatoes will follow the bean cror,
according to Mr.. Shaver, who stated
that he had contracted for $50 acres
of tomatoes. With normal weathe.
conditions it is estimated that this will
mean 20 carloads of finished products
The output from the plant has beer
sold and it is likely the capacity will
! Dc enlarged another season. Mr.
Shaver points out one big advantage
South Carolina has over the big can.
nlng section around Baltimore, and
that is the crop will be about 80 days
ahead of the Northern crop.
More than 100000 large cans oH
spinach retailing from 25 to 32 cents
per can, were put out by the piart
this season. This means about 15l
tons of green produce.
Five hundred acres of sweet pota-
toes have been contracted for. The
factory will start work on this crop
about September l. This crop is
bought as it comes from the ground
and all sizes and shapes are taken.
A Trip Through the Plant.
1t is interesting 20 visit~th factory
and watch the process through which
the Beans pass from the farmers
wagons to the car, ready for shipment
TO market. After the beans are weigh
ed and properly checked the baskets
are placed in long rows, where scores
of small boys and negro women are
busily engaged in "stringing" them
When they have completed basket il
is removed and fresh supply placed
before them. The finished basket is
placed on the little elevator and starts
OH its journey. Arriving on the sec
ond floor the contents of the basket
are dumped into a large machine
VIII ch cuts the beans in short lengths
and delivers the "cuts" on to q broad
belt, which is moving toward the big
cooker.
Two women stand by the belt and
closely inspect the beans 70 see that
! all faulty ones are removed. The belt
pours its freight into a very large
metal cylinder which is continually re-
volvnG. This cylinder is charged with
steam. 1t requires three minutes for
the beans to pass through this pro-
cess of cooking or steamIng From
here the bean is dumped into the LARGE
hopper of the Gamer. A continuous
line Of empty cans is automatically
fed into this machine and come out
on the opposite side filed with fr,8,.
cut beans. The can continues on il.
journey and at the next point in the
operation is filed with brine. AS the
| endless chain moves onward the con-
i tents of the can are packed allowing
room for the top, which is clamped Oh
in the next operation and tie can
properly sealed, delivered onto a plat
form, where it is placed into a large
receptacle. This receptacle is lifted
by means OF a crane and placed in
large iron kettles, where the water
is boiling. Here the can remains two
hours and it is then placed on the
floor. From. the floor the cans are
! gathered up and the label pasted on
and then the cans go into the ship
ping cases. AS the cases are filled
and nailed up they are sent direct to
the freight car on the siding by means
empty cans and the car being loaded
with the finished product stand on the
same siding within few feet of each
other. 1t is interesting to follow the
course of an empty "tin" from the
time it is placed on the elevator chain
until it reached the next car filled
with Sumter county beans ready for
! the dinner Of some Pennsylvania OF
Missouri family.
Mr. Bradham Optimistic.
Mr.. Bradham is optimistic regard
ing the outlook and says, II am proud
Of what we have done so far, but feel
we have just started. / expect to see
soups, catsup, jellies, jams, preserves
and other products from Sumter coun-
ty farms put up in marketable shape
1--WE have long been buyers of can
ned stuff put up on the West coast, >
declares Mr.. Bradham, who points out
Fat the people of South Carolina pay
a profit to the manufacturer and pay
freight on the things that can be pro
duced so easily in this state. One OF
the advantages cited by Mr.. Bradhan
is the operating cost. He says, eve
crn operate our plant with cheaper
labor than the canning factory in
Maryland or on the West coast. we
are giving employment to many who
would otherwise be out of employ.
ment. No doubt 80 per cent of the
money we pay out weekly for labor is
in circulation in SO hours"
"The farmer can produce his vege.
table crop in 60 days instead of Il
onths as cotton" said Mr.. Bradham
who added "and one of the big feat.
ures is he will have a steady, sure
market for his crops as he contracts
when his seed is sown. What has beer
done by business men in any Other
section of South Carolina"