Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1917-02-17
CATTLE INCREASE
LESS THAN HOGS
Swift & 90. Annual Report
Shows Decline in Prosper.
ity is Expected.
LARGER DEMAND FOR MEAT

The half-billion -dollar.mark in dis
tributive sales Of packed goods for
Swift & Co. plants during the year
1916 was passed by better than $75,-
100000, according to the statement of
L. F. Swift, president of the packing
plants of that name in this country, in
the annual year book just issued. Live
cattle purchases of the corporation
amounted to $3O0,OO0,0O0, or an in
crease of more than $50,OOO,0OO over
1915 or 1914.
A two-page detailed statement by
Mr.. Swift gives forth in concise man
ner the ways and means by which this
enormous increase in business was
accomplished. The increased receipts
at the nine markets where Swift pack
ing plants are situated amounted to
more than 100000 head of cattle and
100000 head Of hogs. Sheep receipts
were somewhat less than the year
before.
Least Increase in B@f.
This year has seen unusual condi-
tons in all fields Of business activity"
President Swift stated in his report,
especially in industries doing an ex-
port business. Prices for nearly all
commodities have been relatively
higher, beef probably having shown
the least advance of anything.
THE average price paid for all cat
tie was only little higher than in
1915, but for native fat cattle reached
the highest average on record. Range
cattle were about the same price as
in 1915. The greatly increased re-
ceipts of these commoner cattle made.
a eongested beef market for this grade
Of meat.
THE practically stationary prices
for range cattle this fall were occa-
stoned by the very large increase in;
! the supply-receipts were from rs to
40 per cent heavier, week to week,
in the season, than the year before
Decline in Last Year.
"The price obtained for beef in May
and June, 1916, is the highest on
record and was accompanied by high
prices for cattle. Since then there
has been a decline in the price of
beef and cattle"
The big packer predicted a decline
in the general prosperity and fore
warned consumers to watch for
change. Values will not, however,
continued to rise indefinitely" he said,
and this is the time when the pru-
dent individual should conserve his
resources against the reaction which
is bound to follow. The farmer,
through the higher prices that he has
obtained for crops, the wage Garner
employed full time at high rates, and
the business man, making larger
profits, have all enjoyed larger in
comes than in the past. The effect
of this has been larger demand for
all commodities"
g. Increased Pay Roll.
The certified domestic profit on cat
tie and beef was announced at l2H
cents per hundredweight on live cat
tie and less than rs cents per hun
dredweight on dressed beef. The lat
ter compilation included net results
on beef, hides and by-products. The
announced net profit in lump figures
was $2,342,702.
An increase in the pay roll of the
nine plants was approximately $5,OOO,-
600 per annum and was general, ex-
tending among all employees Of what
ever rank. Over one million dollars
was paid to members and families of
the Employees Benefit association re-
Gently organized. The official report
shows a grand total Of $2,202O60.55
expended, accounting for 1888 cases
Of sickness, 1856 cases of accident
and 1.0l6 cases of death.