The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-09-16

The ICE DUESTloS-lah aOhtoS We NAS
GAGE t. Co. SUsTAISED-A LIBERAL OFFER
FROM THE FIRM-It will be remembered that,
a short time since, the proprletors Oh tue
Charleston Ice-House advanced the price OF
ice from one to two cents per pound, on the
stated ground that they wished to reduce the
consumption of Ice, and make the STOCK on
hand last until more could be procured Many
of our citizens considered the increased price
exorbitant, and one or two published letters
demanding that the executors OF the trustees
of the Charleston Ice-House Company enforce
the covenant between the trustees and Messrs.
Gage & Co., by which the latter bound them
selves to furnish ice Ito the inhabitants OF
Charleston, in sufficient quantities, and at
price not to exceed one cent per pound"
It appears from the following correspon-
dence that Messrs Porter Conner, Presley,
Lord & Inglesby, Rutledge & Young, solicitors
for the trustees OF the late Charleston Ice Com
uany. moved for the protection of the commu-
nifty against the alleged breach OF the cove
nant; whereupon Messrs. Gage & Co. wrote 10
them. giving the most satisfactory reasons for
the advance in price, and showing that they
sold their ice at prices from one to four hun
dred per cent. lower than the prices current
throughout the country-New York and Bos-
ton not excepted Notwithstanding the high
price for getting it here, and the wastage BY
melting and loss in selling it In small quantl'
ties. The letter of the firm is subjoined:
CHARLESTON, September l3.
.Msssrs. Porter d Conner, FressIey, LORD d n
olesbu, Raaledge q Young, Solicitors .fol' Me
Trustees Of the late Charleston Ice Com
GESTIEMES-while we caunot but praise
the commendable spirit which induced you TO
move for the protection of this community
aoainst what you supposed an imposition, we
nTopose to show that our motive In increasing
The price was not an unworthy one IL Is wen
known that the zee crop Of last winter was tue
smallest ever gathered. THIS almiteu supply at
once caused 1t to appreciate 400 to 500 per cent.
Anticinating q warm summer, and heavy de-
mand regardless of this great increase, our
imnortation for the first seven months OF
1910 was six hundred tons IN excess OF
the whole year of 1869. UP 10 tne OH VI
September last we continued retailing az enc
cent per pound being 100 to 4oO per cent UtrE ,Ume
Nf1: York and Boston not excepted. AZ tnat
date we were most Unexpectedly informed
that the stock of tie Meeting street Ice douse
was nearly exhausted, (now outl-the SaFan-
nah dealers refusing country trade anu direct
inc It to US. With q limited supply, anu TINS
increased business, we had to chose be.Ween
one of two evils, to raise the price ana tnere9!
reduce consumption, or to close our doors. we
selected the former, feeling that II any INJURY
ssas done II could be repaired; the latter would
have been remediless. In proof tnae gam was
NOT the motive, we now propose 70 ascertain
the amount made by such increase oy comPar,
inc the corresponding sales OF the same perlou
last year. The amount in excess thls year we
a,e willing to turn over to any cnarltaoie so-
ciety or societies you may select
Former rates will be resumed on the arrlSa
of the iarre schooner Montana now on the
way. .c.u-u,
ALvA GAGE l. Co.
tn this letter the solicitors responded as fol-
lows. completely exoneratins the firm from
the charges made against it:
OFFICE OF PORTER & CONNER.
ru,p1psToS. s. c., September 10, 1870.
Alva Gage, Esq. /: -.
np,n S1R-Your letter.is received, anu We we
are instructed by the trustees 10 say @ia' the the
reasons given by you for tns iactea ,sss feel ths
g.nSs U,i hest discharge their duty IN protectln:
the .ey heye"mm,,nity by declining to proceed at ID"
fnr fue the alleged breach Of the covenant: Goo
ioa mav Sn ra,iest us 20 say that they 90 noC zee
...s,vaa dnss at liberty to indicate the caarlue'
tpeMS;eh, Tho exo,.ss In price should be given
NV, 70 urTa nrefer TO leave the selection to you.
Lucy Yours. very respectfully, ,,
Ao"'' PRESLEY, LORD 4 INGLEssf,
RUrLlpGE i YouNa,
PORTER i CONNER