The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1919-07-12
4 MEAT PACKERS IN THE WAR.
Swift & company's Part in Helping
to Win the Great Struggle.

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Some of the great accomplishments
of American business during the war
are just beginning to creep to the
surface now that the ban of censor
ship has been removed. Every in
dustry devoted great part of its
time and energy to the manufacture
Of supplies needed not only by the
United States but by the Allies, and
few persons not actively engaged in
the work realize its extent.
The preparation and handling of
meat food products was, of course,
one of the great necessary industries,
and it was fortunate for the country
that the packing industry was all
ready modified for service long be-
fore the Lusitania was sunk.
The problem Of securing an ade-z
quate supply of meat for the army
and navy caused the government less
worry than any other major problem.
All that was necessary for the govern
ment to do was to determine the re-
quirements and need of the army and
navy, and notify the packers, and
they delivered the goods.
The manner in which the packers
met the emergencies which arose dur
ing the war is we'll illustrated in the
case Of Swift and Company who in
one week filled government order
for 32,000,000 pounds of meat and
fat. This necessitated the dressing of
$4,000 cattle and 100000 hogs, and
required 1000 freight cars to trans
port.
Another instance is found in an or
der which was received one Saturday
afternoon at five o'clock for 2,000,-
900 pounds Of q special cut of dry
salt meats. The War Department
wanted this shipment of 43 cars boxed
and on the way by the following Tues
day noon-less than 70 hours distant.
Swift and Company had the last car
loaded and rolling before noon on
Tuesday
In still another case the Govern
ment could get no one to put up fresh
butter in tins for overseas ship
ment. Swift and Company accepted
an order for 100000 pounds on May
4 1918. 1t was necessary to equip
three creameries with machinery and
supplies, and to organize the help to
do work entirely new to them, but the
first car was rolling eastward in 33
days and month later the entire or
der was completed.
The tremendous total of $3.50, 000,-
900 worth of supplies was furnished
by Swift and Company alone to the
American and Allied governments
during the war. The peak was
reached in December, 1918, when the
goods furnished totaled $35 100000
in this one month.
Meats naturally formed the bulk
of sales, but considerable quantities
of wool were furnished the United
States government, while the Allies
purchased large amounts of lard and
lard products.
Even il there had been any in
clination on the part of the packers
to "profiteer," this would have been
out of the question under the rigid
regulations enforced by the Food Adj
ministration. With neat prices off
icialy determined by the government
and with profits limited to definite
percentage, possibility of unfair deal
ing was removed.
The packing industry required no
financial aid and additional facilities
did not have to be constructed by the
governmentsuch as shipyards for
the ship-builders, and additional fac
tory units for munition manufactur-
ers.