Thesis (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 154-157). Also available via the Internet.

Peeled or whole-pack tomatoes, herring roe and oysters are processed at a Virginia Cannery. Wastewater from each food processing effluent was characterized. Treatment alternatives were investigated for tomato and herring roe wastewaters. For herring roe processing wastewater, the discharge requirement for BOD was nearly met through plain settling, while the TSS limitation was easily achieved by settling out the roe particles" Oyster processing wastewater was found to meet effluent guidelines without treatment. Bench-scale treatability studies were performed using sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) to treat the segregated wastewater from the caustic tomato peeling operation. This isolated 98% of sodium present in the wastewater. Previously, all wastewater was land applied and the high sodium content damaged soil structure. Sodium levels in monitoring wells below the irrigation field have risen, approaching regulated values. Results indicated that SBRs can be effective in reducing BOD and TSS to discharge requirements. BOD and TSS removals were well in excess of 90%. Initial values for BOD and TSS were 21,400 mg/l and 14,000 mg/l, respectively. Although conventional food to microorganism ratios were used, relatively long hydraulic retention times of 8 to 20 days were required to accomplish adequate BOD removal. Screening was found to be an effective form of pretreatment to remove large quantities of TSS. It appears practical to treat the tomato peeling wastewater by means of sludge drying beds. Approximately 0.5 acre of land would be required for bed construction. Final disposal costs associated with landfilling the dried sludge may govern whether sludge drying beds or an SBR should be used. In an effort to eliminate wastewater problems associated with the caustic peeling operation, an enzyme peeling study was performed using pectinase. Peeling ability of the enzyme was not as good as that of caustic, however, further investigation into alternative peeling operations is warranted due to the adverse effects of caustic materials on wastewater treatment alternatives. / Master of Science

The personnel and selected patrons of the seven school community canneries in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, provided the information for this study. The data provided served as the basis p for the summary, conclusions, and recommendations. / Master of Science

This study builds upon the notion of a Wobbly 'sensibility' established by Salvatore Salemo and relates it to John Townsend's analysis of conflict between that group's adherents and western Progressives. The latter scholar, by concentrating on middle-class economic anxiety, failed to deal with the virtual unanimity of opposition to the IWW in western towns. Salerno's assertion that a 'sensibility' within the IWW was more binding than ideology raises the possibility that individuals and organizations of varying beliefs could be similarly united within a single cultural sphere with a directed purpose. Such an analysis can apply to factions of Progressivism and radical labor alike. The first chapter begins with a brief account of the historical context, origins, and organizational history of the IWW. This second section discusses the internal dynamic of the IWW, particularly the relationship between the leadership and rank-and-file. The third section briefly explicates the purpose of the thesis. The second chapter recounts important episodes of IWW activity that occurred on the West Coast concurrently with the strike in order to set the regional context of the conflict. The third chapter begins with a section discussing the development of Progressivism and urbanization in a national context and emphasizes cultural conflict. The second section is a brief survey of Progressive era Portland, Oregon. The third and fourth sections discuss the cultural repercussions of women entering industrial life on a mass scale. The chapter concludes with a brief demographic survey of cannery women. The fourth chapter is a chronological narrative of the strike, and is followed by a concluding fifth chapter of analysis. The first section suggests a Progressive 'sensibility' arrayed specifically against radical labor, while the next section discusses a radical 'sensibility' hostile to varying aspects of the cultural norms of Progressivism. The final section asserts the importance of analysis of cultural values, above even notions of class, in addition to economic analysis in order to obtain a more useful synthesis of Wobbly conflict than now exists.