Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-10-24
THE PACKING BUSINESS.

Forty-five years ago the south produced
and furnished 20 the trade OF this country
about one-third Of all the cattle. hogs and
sheen required for consumption in the
United States and for export 70 other
countries. Since that time we have grad
ualIy lost in their livestock industry. sur
rounding il to other sections Of the union.
ually lost in the livestock industry. sur
. largely dependent upon outside sources
for all classes OF food products. This
was done too. in face Of the fact that no
other portion OF the United States pos
sesssd superior advantages for raising
cattle and hogs. Within the past few
years the farmers OF the south have been
v-3rtrz I'D 10 the position OF affairs and
are now ENGAGED n effecting change for
tAe better which IL persistently adhered
70. viii at least place the south within
the next decade or two upon self-sus-
tanning basis.
The greatest incentive TO the develop
ment OF any farm product is a good mar
ket at uome. That Is the attractive feat
ure in the production OF cotton. A bale
OF cotton can be carried on the streets OF
any town In Georgia and sold In nve
minutes for the cash. and for about as
good prices IN one place as another. We
have no such markets for cattle and
hogs there being no extensive packing
houses at different points in the state,
which forces the seller Of cattle 10 ship
a long way OF and depend upon a distant
market which is always unsatisfactory
AS the business OF cattle and hog raising
grows and brOadens out however. there
can be no doubt Us TO the location Of
packing houses in our midst and the
development OF other needed facilities for
the better handling OF this line Of bust
ness.
A Chicago Industry.
During my recent trip through the
northwest. L stopped over at Chicago for
a couple OF days and took advantage Of
the opportunity 10 Inspect the big cattle
yards there and to make a personal in
spection OF the Immense packing estab-
lishment Of Swift a. Co. The stockyards,
located in close proximity TO the packing
or slaughter houses. cover many acres OF
land. wherein are constructed hundreds OF
pens or lots which hold the hundreds OF
thousands OF head Of cattle, hogs and
sheep shipped into Chicago for sale by
the producers. Immense barns are erected
for holdinE the sheep. as they are not
allowed 10 remain outside and take the
weather ike the cattle and hogs. Hogs
have been recently selling at cents per
pound on foot delivered at Chicago and
cattle and sheep in proportion IL the
prices OF beef. mutton. PORK and lard have
been advanced 20 quite high figures dur
ing the past few months the western farm
ers have fully enjoyed gOOdly portion
Of the advance Hogs selling in the stock
yards az Z cents per pound gross must Of
necessity come high 20 tho consumer after
passing through the hands OF the packer.
the fooher, the railroads and the retail
merchant. each Of whom must have a
commission above the cost OF handling
Swift x Co. extended TO me every cour-
tesy and facility for the inspection Of the
various departments OF their mamGoth
establishment I went first through their
slaughter department. where / saw a large
force Of men engaged in butchering and
cleaning 30 steers every hour during the
day week In and week out visited their
establishment on Saturday afternoon. and
the close Of the weeks work showed that
aside from the average Of go steers butch
cred Der hour. making a total Of nearly
1900 for the week. Swift & Co. had also
slaughtered during the six days just
passed $500 head Of sheep and 4soo head
OF hogs This is an enormous business to
be done under one roof within the short
spac. Of a week. particularly when we
consider that every particle OF these an
finals is utilized in one way or another
from hoof 10 Tip Of horns. was informed
that the only part about a hog which
they failed 10 utilize was the dying squeal
OF the pig as he swung along over the
butchers head With one OF Edison's
Photographs this. too. might be preserved
and used TO entertain listening ears in
future generations Swift & Co. did S170.-
0oo.000 worth OF business at this packing
establishment during the past ~ months,
which is more money than man could
count IN a thousand years IL he could
keep az IL regularly every hour in the
day during that time. The ONCE force
alone. which looks after the correspond
ence Of the business. numbers more than
20 young men, all engaged on one floor
81 the building
In order that no time shall be lost going
out % meals the firm keeps up a splendid
restaurant under the same roof where
these thousands OF employees are at work.
where a first-class breakfast or dinner
can be had for Is cents A long lunch
counter Is also adjacent where coffee and
sandwiches can be served at a lesser
price
Storage Departments.
In the large cold storage departments I
found in the first one the carcasses OF
1000 steers. cut in halves and swung up.
Steers that would dress from 100 TO ZOO
pounds each. the finest, best beef IN the
world In other cold storage apartments
I noticed thousands Of mutton and hogs