They Tried to Kill Swift’s Fridge Car — and Created a Monster Instead

Описание: Gustavus Swift revolutionized American food distribution by developing the refrigerated railroad car in the 1870s-1880s. Facing intense opposition from railroads, local butchers, and established cattle dealers, Swift and engineer Andrew Chase created a practical system for shipping dressed beef from Chicago slaughterhouses to eastern cities. Their innovation used ice-bunker refrigeration, forced-air circulation, and precise temperature control to keep meat fresh during multi-day transport. This breakthrough reduced shipping costs by half, lowered meat prices nationwide, and established the foundation for modern refrigerated food logistics. Swift's success demonstrated that challenging entrenched inefficiencies through engineering and persistence could transform entire industries—his refrigerated car ultimately enabled the national food distribution system that Americans rely on today.

SOURCES:
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