268 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



room in which the cased goods is stored may also be conveniently 

 located along the side track. 



Water /Supply. — An abundant supply of pure water is constantly 

 needed during canning operations. Materials must be washed or 

 scalded, utensils and machinery kept clean, and in the processing 

 so much steam is used up that the boiler requires frequent replenish- 

 ing with water. 



Lciborers. — It is also well to consider the matter of securing the 

 necessary help to carry on the operations of canning to the fullest ca- 

 pacity of the factory. If the factory can be located where the com- 

 munity can suppl,y sufficient hands, men and women, to successfully 

 operate it the difficulties that attend the employment of noa-residents 

 will not be met with. The great bulk of canned fruits and vegeta- 

 bles is put up within three months and during that time the perish- 

 able goods are brought to the factories in immense quantities. At 

 such a time a single day's idleness or insufficient help, will entail a 

 great loss to the business. About 10 hands (unskilled), will be 

 needed to run a factory of 2,000 cans per day capacity. 



CAPITAL REQUIRED. 



The amount of capital necessary to properly conduct a canning 

 business may be much or little, according to the capacity of the 

 factory and the variety of goods to be canned. There have been 

 remarkable financial successes in this business, but equally remark- 

 able failures also, and the latter have frequently been attributed 

 to insufficient capital forcing the sale of the entire stock of goods 

 when the market price is low. With sufficient capital to carry the 

 larger part of the stock until there is a real demand for it, a fair 

 profit will be realized and dividends may be declared. For instance, 

 a small factory for canning tomatoes, with a capacity of 2,000 cans 

 per day may put up 80.000 cans by operating 40 days. It will have 

 a building and outfit of machinery and tools costing about |700. 

 The cans will cost 11,000, the tomatoes |1,000 and the skilled and un- 

 skilled labor for forty days will cost .|650, sundry items of expense 

 $50, making in all a total of |1,000. If such a concern is capitalized 

 at |2,000 with the expectation of making quick sales to pay for ma- 

 terials consumed, it may be forced to sell the entire pack at almost 

 cost to meet its obligations and then find no profit in the investment, 

 but with a capital of |3,000 or better, $4,000, labor may be promptly 

 paid, the farmer will be made happy with his cash and all materials 

 will be paid for at cash prices. The canner is then independent with 

 his pack and can wait for a market that will pay him a profit of 10, 

 15 or even 20 cents per dozen cans of his tomatoes and he has 

 realized from 20 to 30 per cent, upon his investment and owns his 

 factory clear of debt. 



