Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-08-03
PACKING CONCERN AND LEAD
ING INDUSTRY OF CITY TO-
WIND UP BUSINESS.
LAST RUN OF HOGS
KILLED WEDNESDAY
Business Started in 1882, and Has
Been Conducted Continuously Since
illness Of President Boyd Given
as Cause-Will Try to Sell Plant
Without Sacrifice.

What probably was the last slaugh-
ter of hogs at the packing house OF
Britain & Co. under its present man
agoment took place at the plant We'd
nesday. The plant is on the market
and will be sold if possible. 1t will be
closed down as soon as the present
stock is cleaned up.
Whether the plant will reach the
| hands of some Of the larger packers
| and operated or closed permanently
i is matter of pure speculation. AL
any rate it appears today as tho BRIT
| tain & Co, under its present manage
ment, will not operate the plant again
| Trying to Sell For Two Years,
J That Britain & Co. have been try
ing to sell their Marshalltown holdings
| for two years has been generally
| known. over year ago an option OF
sale was given to promoters who were
trying to organize a farmers cooper
alive packing company. This deal fell
thru when the promoters failed to ex-
ercise their option. and the winding
up of the affairs Of the cooperative
company is still in court.
Claim Boyd's illness Responsible.
John l. Bell who Tuesday was elect
ed vice president Of the company to
succeed T. l.. Boyd, Of London. was very
| conservative In his statement OF the
plans of the company. When asked if
| Britain K Co. were going out of busi-
ness he answered that we will know
later on" Asked about closing down,
Mr.. Bell said that the plant would be
| iv, h,,t
| that the plant had been closed before.
Upon being asked rs to the cause
of the shut down, Mr.. Bell said that
the illness of T. L. Boyd. president Of
Boyd, Lunham & Co, was responsible.
| Mr.. Boyd is the heaviest stockholder
in Britain & Co. and has beer acting
nominally as vice president of the COM
pany. Mr. Boyd is a very sick man
said Mr.. Bell, and he wants to clean
| up and see how much he is worth"
Mr. Boyd has been in poor health
six or seven years. He is. now at San
Reno, Italy. His son. T. K. Boyd, Of
| Chicago. is president Of Britain & Co
The meeting Of the directors was held
in this city Tuesday, and Mr.. Bells
! election as vice president was made
in order that he might supervise the
work Of disposng of the companys
stock. Mr. Bell was vice president Ct
| the company prior to his "etirement
| from active business few years ago.
Will Not Sacrifice Plant.
Mr.. Bell said that the company's
| plant would nor be sacrificed IF we
get a chance to dispose of the plant
we will do So" said Mr.. Bell. I'VE
| have a large stock on hand, and this
| will be jobbed out in the course Of our
regular business"
| Continue to Buy Hogs.
Altho the company will kill no more
| hogs it will continue to buy farmers
offerings. as usual These triIi be dis
| posed Of on the Chicago market AL
| tho he did not state positively that
Britain & Co. would never kill any
more hogs. Mr.. Bell said that the kill
| ing Wednesday would be the last for
a while E. A. Lunham. secretary and
treasurer of the company, remains as
superintendent of the business until
it is wound up.
| Organized in 1882.
The packing plant Of Brittain &, Co.
is one of the very oldest business in
situations in the city. 1t was organized
| in 1882 by Benjamin and Joseph Brit
tain, Of Bowmanville, Ont. They were
Joined shortly afterward by Richard
Read. Of the same place. John Bell
and A. G. Click became associated with
the company in the early days Of the
organizati ton.
During the first year OF the COM
pany's business the slaughter of hogs
amounted only to 1900 head During
the closing months of the business the
killing has numbered about 1000 head
per week.
Britain & Co. for many years have
/ done a successful business. In their
earlier years their business was large
~ an export one and, in fact, during
the company's entire career, export
trade has been a big factor in it's bust
ness.
Cooper & Brandon, of Liverpool,
were the company's English represen
tatives. and took a very large percent
age of the manufactured product in
the earlier years of the life of Britain
&, Co. In 1891 the company suffered a
900 loss by fire. Later Mr.. Brandon
died, and the reorganizat ton Of Cooper
& Brandon cut off some of the export
trade. Not discouraged by the dismal
outlook. Britain & Co. rebuilt their
1 plant, and reorganized their selling
II lOTCe III OTucT u more
i domestic trade. For many years the
company has had several statesmen on
the road. Up to the present time the
company has employed force Of
about 125 people.
The companys leading brand which
| has become widely known thruout it's
sales territory, is the Anchor Brand"
| hams, bacons and lard. For several
years the company has done a beef
| killing business, but this has never as
| sumed any great proportions. and was
| done more &c accommodate local trade
than anything else.
Local business interests will regret
| exceedingly to lose Britain & Co. from
among the city's institutions. It is to
be hoped that, in the event that the
| company does not sell to advantage to
some concern which will operate the
| plant, a reorganization Of the present
| company may be effected, and the
name Britain & Co. continue as one
| Of the leading Marshalltown industries
Eiqht Over Ball Game.