New-York tribune., 1903-04-19

nS - -. .as been printed as TO whether he
fol.a-,ss success o. not The fact that Mr..
-, Ta,-o~ire sayings and maxims nearly ell
f-=sss excellent rules for the mere making OF
- Id many critics OF his career TO philoso-
- - ,o.-realy On the generally admitted fact that
fo,-,-lulstion OF wealth is not the only nor the
>. hind Of success BY some, indeed, Mr. Swift
-. senernced mere money grubber, whose
--5e was not ct al worthy OF emulation by
=. ~outh of the land There is another aspect OF
sss however. which IS worth consideration.
=, hardly be denied that for any man TO work
- -. best that is il him IS success and the best
g. vas in 1Ir. Swift. many OF those who knew
= --,s- intimately in this city declare, q
-. genius for conducting the butcher bust
The facts that he began as a barefoot boy
,-t for retail butcher az 81 week: that
- Green years cid he established retail
- business Of his own; that at the age Of
sA.--r-six he 'butted'' into the wholesale branch
trade IN Chicago in the face of such powerful
- already well established competitors Ar
80 Morris. Hammond and Cudahy; that he
IND the transportation facilities for fresh
5.,.urhtered meat in an extremely crude state
- zas largely instrumental in developing those
,.s1,ties 70 their present wonderful degree of
-.--;or al 20 TO show that Mr.. Swift did
...ssve success Il Il be granted that success lies
:, svs-v nan working out the best that is in him.
-ns name OF Gustavus F Swift is known
.,-oYehout the business world that OF a leader
: the gigantic bee: and pork packing industry
hs,b has grown up in the city OF Chicago in the
- ,ue-rer Of q century. which has extended its
-,,eca-ions throughout the West and the South
- and added wonderfully TO the material
.r-h and commercial Importance Of the nation
p TIE immediate community in which he made his
.,-a since 1870, however. Mr.. Swift is perhaps
-,o-e frequently thought Of a wise and large
,ss--e5 rhiauthropist the sterling courageous
ana never failing friend OF those who have had the
mod fortune 10 be associated with him have
.,-,e in contact with him in any of the varied
p Soefe1 and commercial
cheerful hope. unfaltering courage and indomi-
.sh5e perseverance seem 10 have been the most
.-fking characteristics Of this honest and rugged
ran since the day when as q barefoot boy he Ell
Ksred 70 work tor butcher n his native town Of
sandzich. Cape Cod. Mass. at z weekly salary OF
z Thrown upon his resources at the age Of
s1urreen. he thus seized the first humble oppor-
t,rv u earn an honest living, and after year Of
ri and observation he conceived the idea Of be
coming q butcher himself. Young Swift started
put % compete with his employer He bought
rov and butchered her himself. pedding the meat
r s cart through his native village whose people
admired him Tor his industry and pluck. Realizing
ro from MS first venture. he purchased another
ccE AID then q hog. OF which he disposed in
similar manner His success led him 10 extend MS
Purchases and while still mere boy he became
tnowr II the vicinity Of Boston and far west as
Albany as g sh-ewd buyer and honest vender Of
ractle and meat products
He was married in 1861 at the age Of twenty-five
Barrstable Mass. removing soon after TO Brighton,
where he became acquainted with an agent OF J.
4 Hathaway, then engaged in the dressed beef in
drstrv at Boston IN a small way Hathaway's
agent secured the services OF young Swift and be
fore long his employer recognized his work as q
tuver and made him member Of his firm
II 1872 q partnership was formed under the title
Ct Hathaway & Swift and the business removed
70 Albany. Afte-ward Chicago was made the
head1uarters Of the firm. and they engaged in
shipping cattle and hogs 10 the Eastern markets
Il IS Nj swift had removed to Chicago with his
family. and recognizing the facilities afforded by
TIE river the lake and the railroads at this point,
he resolved 10 enter the field as an independent
competitor Ct those ALREADY established in the
packing industry. He announced his determination
to his partner, and although offered salary Of
sGOe : year as buyer he severed his connection
with M-. Hathaway and began business for him
Belt
NJ. Swift was then thirty-six years old and a
roor man but ne seemed to foresee the future Of
the packing industry and. although such powerful
corrperirlrs as ?. .. Armour. Nelson Morris, G. H
Hammond and Michael Cudahy were already firmly
established in the field, resolved 10 carve OUT a
place for himself their midst The wisdom OF his
forecast and determination well the strength
q character which nerved him TO enter the strug-
gle e. such tine and under such apparent dis
advantages, were sbundantly justified and reward
e b his rapid success and rise 10 foremost posi-
tion among the powerful and wealthy coterie OF
packers who preceded him
Re AZ onoe bought 2 small slaughter house from
Billy" Moore al the stockyards and began TO
XII E small scale. His first year was proflaDIe'
and with one euploye he sold, IN the year si0'
g59 worth of beef products. II was curing MS
frs winter n Chicago that he shipped his first car
los5 O. fresh meat 70 the East. The refrigerator
Car was then unknown, and il was not possible 10
taip IN the summer. Mr. Swift IN the winter o.
.s75-'7s chartered e common freight car enc mica
4 u with a stove Filling the car With dressed
haeF ra had ksE lied at
house he started for Boston. where he realized q
handsome profit. The experiment was repeated
several times during the same winter win goo0
results the purchases of cattle being made after
each tip.
Some idea o. the rapid growth Of Mr.. Swift s
b1Einess may be formed when IL Is known thal
1-orl the humble beginning in 1s55' when ne sola
s1so worth OF meats and products Win lhe a4u U
sttagie enaploye. il has Increased 70 s.ch eli % i
Proportions that IN the year 1902 swift q Co en-
plnve5 no loss than 1900 men and disposed o.
30 o. coo worth OF products
Il 1855 Swift & Co. was Incorporated Win a ZAP ZAP
tRl O. :slee0 while thirteen years later' IL -Sss
the Capitalization was 2o000ooo. with not a sihsle
talar o. watered stock. IN January w. a iN 49,
hrrease was made to SIS 0co,Vs5
Ny spsrt was ever a man 0; ideas and OF ac'.oi- ~
az the development % his company keP' pa 49,
Is r,oz+ -,roeressive competitors when il dd not
psrt +,e vvev IN 1850 the whole business OF DeeI
sackinE received q new impetus by the appea1
G. ihe REFRIGERATOR car and since taal biHe ''-'
A:ustry has been revoluuonized NJ. 9"4N
larves, i,e+r-,rnertaI N developing the means py
which meat is preserved and transported n a. ~
climates and 10 any distances and Iala Gown III
Perfect condition for the consumers use.
TIE business OF the Chicago plant Of swift q o.
hsd crown "a such dimensions IN 1885 that II was
sou-6 necessary 10 establish branch at kansas
City Others followed in quick succession a. I-ae
following rfsces. Omaha 1880 ST. Louis lssZ; St-
Joseph 1886: St Paul. 1897. and Fort "oE'i-' ieN
81
Fron +ba aoor space of q butchers cart. in Vhicn
- - 49, - hal