Evening journal., 1918-06-15
Peoples Column
PACKERS AND THE WAN

To the Editor OF THE EVENING JOUR-
NAL:
sir-"ht least one hog out OF four
raised in America this summer Is be-
ing sent TO the Allies. The shipments
OF meat are made up OF beef, mutton,
pork and the various products put UP
by the packers Never before In the
history OF the world has an orgsnlza-
tion been built up quietly that handled
supplies on such a colossal scale. The
detail involved is enormous. The pub
lie in general has little conception OF
the prodigious nature OF the tasks
handled by the grain and meat diyis-
ions OF the Food Administration"
SO said Charles Mccarthy. represen-
tatlve Of Herbert Hoover in a statement
appearing In the Chicago Tribune Of
June. In anutshell. II is the story OF
the one industry that has measured
up fully TO war requirements. Pack
ing and distributing the FOOD which Is
destined 10 win the war Is the one
problem which has caused no worry al
Washington because the enlcieni or
ganizations known as the American
Packers have met every demand upon
them and delivered the goods" at the
place specified and 90 the minute
In view OF the columns that have
been written regarding the failure OF
various industries 20 come through
properly on war supplies. it is inter-
esting to know that the most essen
tial OF all army requirements-food-
Is being delivered In exact accord with
the wishes OF the government.
Mr.. Mccarthy speaks truly when he
says the public has little conception
OF the colossal scale on which food
supplies are being handled Ship
I-ents OF meat are going to the Allies
and to our expedltionary forces at the
rate OF 1900 pounds a minute during
the ten-hour work day at eastern
ports. That means 100000 pounds a
day.
shipments, OF course, are not so well
distributed as the above daily average
might indicate. They are regulated by
available ships. The ship movements
are irregular and there are times when
numbers Of them put into port together
and want cargOes Immediately. II Is
in meeting such sudden demands that
the packing industry has distinguished
itself from other industries.
For example one day not many weeks
ago, shipping space for a considerable
quantity Of food became available on
few hours notice. The government
authorities In Washington wired 90
Chicago packing concerns to begin
shipping meat 10 seabOard at the rate
Of 200 cars a day. Such an order had
never been dreamed OF before. But the
packers delivered the goods and kept
it up llll the government wired the
stop order.
On several occasions the government
buying agents have summoned repre-
sentatlves OF the big packers into CON
ference and then told them that bacon
was wanted in untold amounts. "How
much can you supply" was the query
directed az each packer representative
and some prodigious orders have been
given on that basis.
Last month the British government
ordered 25OOOO,O0O pounds OF meat 20
be delivered in three weeks. The final
shipments have just been made-well
within the time limit.
Not alone in meats, but In other
things that the industry and It's allied
branches supply, has the packer efflci-
emily been apparent. For instance. the
Armour Sandpsper Works received an
order by wire for an enormous amount
Of its pr0duct-"at the earliest posi-
bic moment" The factory 5uckled
down 10 the task, ran of IS miles Of
sandpaper q yard wide, dried Il, cut 10
up, packed IL and shipped Il before the
following morning.
These are merely a few instances OF