The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1919-07-08
SWIFT & COMPANY'S PART IN
HELPING TO WIN THE WAR.

| or 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 it's
time and energy to the manufacture of
supplies needed not only by the Unit
ed States but the Allies, and few
persons not actively engaged in the
work realize it's 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 al
ready modified for service long be-
| fore the Lusitania was sunk.
The problem of securing an ade-
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 government to do was to deter
mine the requirements and need of
| the army and navy, and notify the
packers, and they delivered the
the goods.
The manner in which the packers
met the emergencies which arose
during the war is we'll illustrated in
the case of Swift & Company who in
one week filled a government order
for 100000 pounds of meat and
fat. This necessitated the dressing
of 1900 cattle and 100000 hogs,
and required 1000 freight cars to
transport
Another instance is found in an
order which was received one Satur-
day afternoon at five o'clock for q
100000 pounds of a special cut of
dry salt meats The war department
wanted this shipment of 43 cars
boxed and on the way by the follow
ing Tuesday noon, less than 70
hours distant. Swift & Co. had the
last car loaded and rolling an hour
, before noon on Tuesday.
In still another case the Govern
ment could get no one to put up fresh
butter in tins for overseas shipment.
Swift & 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
order was completed. y
The tremendous total of $780,
100000 worth of supplies was fur
nished by Swift e Company alone to
the American and Allied Govern
ments during the war. The peak was
the goods furnished totaled $685.
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 if there had been any incli-
anton on the part of the packers to
"profiteer," this would have been out
of the question under the rigid reg
ulations enforced by the Food Ad
ministration. With meat prices Off
cially determined by the government
and with profits limited to a def
mite percentage, possibility of unfair
dealing was removed.
The packing industry required no
federal financial aid and additional
facilities did not have to be con-
structed by the government-sucha as
shipyards for the ship-builders and
additional factory units for munition
manufacturers.
| Over $500 employees of Swift &
Company answered the call to the
colors and served in practically every
branch of the army and navy. They
are returning rapidly to civilian life
and the Company has adopted the
following broad policy with respect
to the unemployment Of these men:
Every returned soldier or sailor will
be given his old position, or one
equally as good, at a salary or wage |
equal to the amount he was receiving |
when he left, or if the rate Of pay for |
his position has been increased in |
the meantime, at the increased rate. |
Swift & Company and it's employees |
subscribed almost $17,000,000 to the
five war loans and the Company do
mated over $1,400,000 to the various
war service organizations. The rec
ord for the largest number of sub
scribers was reached in the Fourth
Loan, when 53,427 employees bought