[Transcribed from the P E Island Agriculturalist 15 January 1944]
MODERN NEW CANNING PLANT OF JENKINS BROS., LTD., NOW OPENED IN SUMMERSIDE
Most hearty congratulations are in order to the enterprising firm of Jenkins Bros., Ltd., Summerside, upon the completion of their splendid new canning factory, which opened for business last Monday morning, January 10th.
This building, which has been in course of construction for some months, is a credit alike to the proprietors and to the town of Summerside, for it is acknowledged to be the most up-to-date and modernly equipped canning plant in the Maritime Provinces. It is most conveniently situated abutting the railway tracks at the east side of the town, facing Water Street and along a newly opened street, which has been named Noonan Street.
The building, which is of frame construction, has a length of 100 feet by 30 feet in breadth, with an "L" extension measuring 30x30 feet and two annexes, one for the boilers and the other for the cooking room. The main entrance is from Noonan Street, which bids fair to become quite an important business thoroughfare.
A representative of this paper had the pleasure of being shown through the fine building and we believe it is no exaggeration to state that this plant represents the last word in modern canning factory construction in these provinces.
The ground floor or main packing floor is impressively spacious and this spaciousness seems all the more impressive when the building is lighted up at night by one system of fluorescent lighting, which is coming into general use in all modern business establishments and is the nearest approach in natural daylight yet devised.
The walls here are attractively finished in white Masonite, a waterproof board, which is pleasing to the eye and at the same time conveys the idea of brightness and sanitation.
Immediately to the right on this floor, is the boiler room, which accommodates two 20-horse power boilers. These boilers are so arranged as to take care of all condensed steam from every part of the building. The fact of there not being any exhaust steam eliminates the task of pumping the water back to the boilers as has been customary under the old procedure.
We next come to the cork-insulated refrigerator or freezing room, which is admirably suited to the demands of the plant. Then comes the cooking room, which is sealed throughout in Masonite board, painted in pure white, and having a large ventilator top. This room has a cone-shaped ceiling leading to the ventilator.
This most modern compartment was designed and finished in complete accordance with the plans and specifications approved by the Federal Department of Agriculture. It is equipped with capacious monumental kettles and the processing tables in the same section are of similar metal as per departmental regulations.
At the extreme eastern end of the building is situated the shipping room, measuring 30 feet by 30. It is located most conveniently for car-loading and unloading, where at its opposite end trucks may drive into this compartment to unload their goods. To the immediate right of this section is an escalator, the purpose of which is to convey stock from the ground floor to the floor above and vice versa.
The escalator is operated by means of an electric motor with reverse gear. It was built by the well-known Island firm of Hall & Stavert, Charlottetown. This section of the establishment it may be mentioned is completely closed off from the packing rooms.
In this same section of the building at the southeast end on the ground floor, are the offices, comprising the main business office and others. They are finished in Masonite and yellow birch paneling halfway up the wall, the remainder being finished in cream. The floors here are all finished in tile and the fluorescent lighting sets the interior off to great advantage.
A stairway leads to the men's cloakroom, the ladies cloakroom, the bond room and the office for the representative of the Department of Agriculture, Dr. R. S. MacDonald. There is also a nicely finished lunchroom. For the staff and employees are neatly and modernly fitted showers and lavatories.
All these compartments are finished in Douglas fir and varnished in natural colors.
Over the main building is a large storage room, which has a capacity for six carloads of cans.
It is a notable fact that there are only two pillars in the whole main floor and these are located in the center of the building.
Drainage
The building is properly drained from all compartments in accordance with the rigid requirements of the Federal Department of Agriculture.
The drainage system of the plant is thoroughly up to the minute and all processing of food for the plant is carried out in a manner, which must meet with the general approval of the public and the authorities.
Summerside is fortunate indeed to have such a modernly equipped and up-to-date plant and it is bound to be a source of great benefit to the large number of our people who are engaged in making their livelihood from both the land and the sea.
The immediate work in canning at the new plant will be confined for the most part to the canning of chicken. The Company, it may be mentioned already has some sixty or seventy thousand pounds of this commodity in storage. Jenkins Bros. will be canning fish and meat products. The cannery will operate the year round and it is equipped to operate 24 hours daily if necessary.
The original plans and specifications of the new factory were drawn up by Jenkins Brothers. The general contractors were the M. F. Schurman Co., Ltd., of Summerside who have made an excellent job of the building.
The plumbing and heating contract was awarded to the R. T. Morrison Estate and the work speaks for itself.
A nicely finished and commodious residence for the foreman of the plant, Mr. Fred Brooks, is now nearing completion. It is a two-storey structure situated immediately to the east of the plant and only a few yards away from it. It too, is being constructed by the M. F. Schurman Co., Ltd., from plans prepared by Mr. H. B. Schurman.
The firm of Jenkins Bros. have been in the canning business for 25 years. For 21 years they carried on the industry at Murray River and moved to Summerside four years ago. Their work was the canning of lobsters, beef, chicken and clams. Since coming to Summerside and opening their plant here near the waterfront they have also built a lobster factory at West Point. The firm consists of W. B. Jenkins, the president and J. B. Jenkins, vice-president, brothers. They are men of initiative and enterprise, and are well deserving of success.
The secretary-treasurer of the company is Mr. G. Frank Cameron, a well and favorably known young businessman of Summerside.
All future business of the firm will be conducted at the new plant.
This paper joins with all other progress-loving citizens in wishing the Company a complete measure of success in their new quarters.
