Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1919-07-17
SWIFT & COMPANY'S PART IN
HELPING TO WIN THE WAR

surface now that the ban Of censor
!, 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 already
modified for service long before 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 prob
lem. All that was necessary for the
government to do was to determine
the requirements and need of the
army and navy, and notify the pack
ers, and they delivered 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 or
der for 32,000,OO pounds of meat and
fat This necessitated the dressing
Of 100000 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 live o'clock for -
100000 pounds OF a special cut OF
dry salt meats. The war department
anted this shipment OF AZ cars box
| ed and on the way by the following
lueSeday noon-leSS Lnan ~ Aouis
ulsIalr. oWuC y Company mad the
| l.4s. .at Iv..ucu aAu IollAlIs ..n 4Aoui
..AvIC nUvn Aueouay.
IA S.lll s.uulne4 case lie GvreIn-
| nlent could get nu one 10 puL up
1reSn uuJLer III Tins Tor oNefst"o
o..l ,JIlenL. swift ~ COMPANY ~cCelo-
Gu an vruer tur oUU,UUU pounds on
May 4th, 1918. 1t was necessary TO
equip three creamelIeS with ma
cnlnery ana supplies, and to Organize
the help to do work entirely new "
unem, but the first car was rolling
eastward in SO days and month
later the centre order was COM
| pleted.
| The tremendous total OF YooO,OoO-
900 worth Of supplies was furnished
by Swift q Company alone to the
| American and Allied Governments
during the war. The peak was
reached in December, 1918, when the
goods furnished totaled $35,OOO,OOO
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 incllna-
ton on the part of the packers to
''profiteer" this would have been
out Of question under the rigid regu-
lations enforced by the Food Admin
istration. With meat prices official
ly 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 construct
ed by the government such as
| shipyards for the shipbuilders, and
additional factory units for munition
manufacturers.
Over $500 employees of Swift 4
| Company answered the call to the
| cOlOrS anu ScIVcu III PAoSeiSoiiJ
every branch of the army and navy.
They are returning rapidly to civil
ian life and the Company has adopt
ed the following broad policy with
respect to the unemployment OF
these men. Every returned soldier
or sailor will be given his old posi-
ton, or one equally as good, at a
salary or wage equal to the amount
he was receiving when he left, or II
the rate of pay for his position has
been increased in the meantime, at
the increased rate.
Swift & Company and it's en-
plovees subscribed almost $17OOO,-
900 to the five war loans and the
Company donated over $1,4OO,OOO to
the various war service organiza-
tons. The record for the largest
number of subscribers was reached
=: +ho Fourth ,Oa.1 when 53,4Z1 en-