Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-06-20
MARVELLOUS RECORD
Extraordinary Leap to Fame
from a Village Store to
Continent.
The True History Of One of the World
Greatest X medies.

L. the experience Of life We come across
men events and enterprises whose record
AM history startle by their hrillancy and
puI Jo shame the efforts Of romance and
fiction. The writer lives in few blocks of
TaSsive structure. which is only an Incl
den in a career of success and achieve
m',tt based upon unquestioned merit, and
GU, readers will be- Interested with its story.
The world i full of advertised frauds,
some of which are fiuatrd for u considerable
time by persistent work. tricks of trade and
mbiushing falsehood. But the ). : :
remedy. manufactured here in Atlanta, i
now universally known for real merit, both
in itself and the character of the men own
ing aud controlling it, who are among OUT
hrst citizens. This fact adds to the interest
of the story, which we shall give in a.
straightforward and simple recital Of facts
Its earliest manufacture. or rather COM
pounding, undoubtedly occurred among the
Greek Indians and first white settlers of
Georgia for its Use can be traced back To-
them. and it came down through families in
-
AdtTid Medicd was nature-rQOlS and
herb furnishing his remedes-and il isl
more than likely that some such scene a.
that in familiar advertisement Whether
ii originated with the whites or Indians the
writer knows not. as he is dealing only
with facts, does not even present an opin-
ion But there is a time when we have
actual facts and positive knowledge. In
Perry, Georgia. a small southeast Georgia
town. lived Mr.. c. T. Swift, one Of the
present company. and a few years after the
war he was keeping store. Obtaining the
formula, he determined to manufacture the
medicine for sale in the immediate vicinity.
This he did in a very limited way.
Mr.. Swift used an ordinary wash pot,
and the necessary manipulations were done
by a negro, the pot being in an office room
in the rear of the store. The connection he
sold at SIS a gallon. II soon gained more
than neghbOrhood nOtoriety, though in a
limited way. from drummeTs who went TO
Perry TO sell goods, and there saw Nr.
Swift's manufacture. As the knowledge OF
it extended, the demand enlarged. The
facilities for making 1t were increased, and
the price vas reduced to S. a bottle, con-
tanning quart, the purpose being 10 Reduce
the price o the lowest figure. that evea the
poorest could avail themselves of the btne-
Mt OF the medicine.
Mr.. Swift moved to Atlanta The medi-
cine. which proved specific for certain
diseases. he now called Swift's Specific. Sol
rapidly did the fame of the remedy spread
that still enlarged facilities became impera-
tive A strong company was organized,
ami the manufacture began on a much more
extensive scale. In the meantime. a. the
demand increased, the retail price was
steadfly reduced-irst 10 S3.50, then to-
:, -. its present figure. Observations de-
velOped the fact that the operating primci-
pie of the remedy was directly upon the
blood. purifying and renoyating it. This
il would reach all diseases arising from an
iIlpure, vitiated or poisoned condition II
t blood. The company at once began
e. laustive tests of its efficacy in this en-
larged field. and the result, though expected. |
was astonishing in its completeness. IRE
fragable testimony from people Of all
classes and walks Of ife-prOfeSsional men. |
merchants mechanics and labOrers-fuT
nished proofs Of cure, covering a great
variety of severe diseases. There was no i
longer any ground for hesitancy. The
medicine was a great panacea, and would |
sbundantly repay the utmost effort to put it |
before the world. This was determined
upon.
About six years ago the present company
was organized. Col. ii. J. Lamar. of the |
wholesale drug houses in Atlanta and
Macon. was made president. and DIR. J. W. |
Rankin, of the same firm, became secretary
and general manager: Mr.. Swift. vice
president The enterprise in all its details |
was enlarged. But the fame and popularits
of the medicine outstripped the expendi |
ture OF effort-an unusual experience even
with meritorious remedies. which generally
require an outlay of fortune in adverti>- |
ing before making any profitable returns. |
and this was, Of course, only another proof
Of its remarkable efficacy. Two years ago i
a large labratOry was built for its manufac-
tiIre which, with its engines, machinery and ]
host of employees. presents a startling con-
trssf to the washpot factory in the rear of /
Mr.. Swiffs store in Perry. Ga. About the |
time the labrstOry was erected the adyer-
tising expenses had arisen to $50. 900 year.
This was phenomenal for a remedy in the
south. but this was but a beginning, as tie !
annual advertising expenses now reach a |
quarter OF million of dollars. The medl- |
cine is ssId in every town and corner in the /
country, and has made its way into Eng
land, France and other transatlantic |
countries to such an extent that Arrange
ments are now making for introducing il !
into foreign counties upon an extensive 4
scale--Atlanta Presbyterian.