Swift was awarded the bid to construct Manila's light, power and electric railway service.

He was contracted by the United States' Philippine Commission and municipal board of Manila to purchase the city's old tramway.

In March 1903, articles of incorporation were filed in the State of New Jersey by the Manila Railways and Light Co. with a capital of $1,000,000.

[4] Other railroads in the Philippines that he was involved with building include, the Manila Suburban Railways Company extending the system to Fort McKinley and Pasig.

[5] This franchise merged with the Manila Electric, Rail, and Light Company in 1919, when it was then shortened to the familiar branding, Meralco.

[10] In 1929, Swift became ill and withdrew all his money from the stock market in order to set up family trusts.

[4] On June 21, he died on his yacht at Lake Champlain before the Wall Street crash of 1929, thus inadvertently saving his fortune from that financial disaster.