The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-16
THE ICE MONOPOLY.
Statement of the Condition OF the Ice Market
Rapid Diminution Of the Crop-Ths YAM
kess and an Ice Ccrner-Popular
Indignation in This City

-, ~ - :. -
The citizens of New York are getting tired OF the
exactions Of the ice monopolsts and in letters to
the HERALD they complain day by day OF the advan-
tage taken by those who have been fortunate enough
to lay IN supply for which they obtain 81 so per
hundredweIghr Yesterday the following was
received and IS only sample OF many:-"It seems
that the unjustlhable exactions Of ice monopolsts
have overtaxed the endurance or their consumers,
who are making arrangements to discontinue all
future dealings with members Of this interruptions
ring and get supplies from other reliable and more
honorable dealers.n 4t5f
In order to bring the subject down TO o close
scrutiny, reporter OF the HERALD called ut the
office of the Washington Ice Company, in Canal
street, found the President just on the eve OF
an important engagement He, however, consented
TO remain few moments. vxsszS
REr0RTER-It is understood. sir, that the price of
Ice has been advanced to two dollars per hundred.
PREsIDENr--That Is not true. sir, as far as this
company Is concerned and the statement Is entirely
wrong. saw 1t in the newspapers, but OF course
knew the mistake.
REP0RTER--How do you account for such an
errorS
PREsIDENT-The newspapers have evidently been
imposed upon. That is the only explanation. This
mains 1t was, one dollar and nrty cents for pri-
vate consumers; that Is. private houses.
REP0RTER-What are the several prices OF ice as
you deliver 1t to different parties2
PREsIDENT-We sell Ice to the independent men''
Mt sixteen dollars ton-that Is, TO the wholesale
dealers. Up 10 this morning 1t was fifteen dollars
ton but we have found I necessary TO make this ad.
vance. as you Will soon see Ice is delivered TO the
hotels at one doliar hundred and, as said before,
the private consumers at dollar and 1fty cents
per hundred. We really make more upon Ice deliv
cred to the hotels than we DO upon that sold to pri
vate houses. Breaking ice into small pieces involves
great loss. The chips become worthless, and the
process OF melting destroys the small fragments.
There is always large waste. This Is why Ice In
small blocks must be sold at one dollar and fifty
cents per hundred.
REpoRrER-Then the only advance you have made
Is In the price to wholesale dealers, from fifteen to
sixteen dollars toni
PRES Precisely; that Is all.
KEP0RTER-iCe Is not plenty now2
PREsIDENT-No's sir; 1t Is very scarce and there Is
no surplus In the city, and here you can see how
much OF monopolists We are; for this whole subject
has been muddled by the newspapers, and the i'm
preston has gone forth that the high price OF ice Is
our fault This Is not 80. Ice has market and the
supply and demand regulates Its price. II is not In
our power TO change 1t In the least People may
believe that we are wantonly making cXorbitant
profits, but such is not the case. Unforeseen
have drained the New YORK market and have
made the commodity scarce. The daily tempera-
tnre and the moderate winter OF lS69-7O have mad
their effect Hence we have to go north. We buy
Ice now On the kennebec at Bangor, Gloucester and
Bodinham. Ice from the kennebec is the best. In
my own mind have no doubt that the newspapers
statements are positively injurious to the public
terests. All the unhealthy excitement has occa-
stoned an alarm which reaches beyond the borders
Of New York, and tells upon the market the Ken
nebec. ll
REPoRTER-In what respectY
PREslDEhT-ln this way, as will show you by an
example. On Friday had concluded a verbal con
tract Tor 1900 tons OF Ice to be sent to New York
Tor the washington Company from the Kennebec
On saturday the papers reported that ice was two
dollars, the price, II was declared having been
raised. The correspondent Of the Kennebec dealers
pals to collect his commissions from the purchasers
1t appears that the dealers III the Kennebec had
been apprsed Of the statements as to an advance.
and wished to make the profit themselves. This
was practically influencing the market and working
injuriously to the interests OF the citizens The ice
men on the Kennebec, OF course, now have large
interests in this city. and these reports carefully
eonslaered thus you see how It operates; and there
Is sr, anoih nr m n point We can no
there is limited. Here is q letter (and the
President exhibited business note from
1000 tons OF Ice at $40 per ton cannot be delivered
This letter Is from house which has branches IN
New Orleans. Mobile and the large Southern cities OF
the United States. Thus even at $40 the supply Is
curtaileo.
REPoRrER-At $40 ton what would 1t cost you to
bring the ice 10 this cltyS
PREsIDEST-Fuly $40 ton. The purchase price
Is $40, and the waste and deterioration would
amount TO 33H per cent, while the transportation
would be 81 ton, and the delivery TO carts 81
more making the total expense TO us SIS SO.
REPoRrER-And you sell now by wholesale at Sloa
REPoRrEE--How is it with transportation from the
Hennebec?
PRESIDENTIAL is about fifty cents more We are
no longer able to purchase ice there for eight DOL
lars ton, as we could formerly. You must remenl-
Der that ice cannot be made to order by u.s. and that
there are not competing markets. and that the I'M
fortunate advances in The commodity are in no wise
due to the operations OF this company in any par.
ticuar.
The reporter then descended from the Offices of
the Washington and visited the quarters OF the
Knckerbocker Company to discover the views Of
this corporation. The Vice President was accord.
ingly interviewed.
KEPORTER-Is it true that the price Of ice has
been advanced by your company
VICE PREsIDENT-No Sir. 1t is false; and was
astonished 70 see the statement In the HERALD.
The Vice President then proceeded to abuse the
newspapers r0undly and TO put an embargo upon
all information, except q nat denial OF the state
ment that ice Is Two dollars hundred. All efforts
to enlarge upon the subject were in vain, and in
paragraphs OF indignation. This was ''the big
thing on tce' at the Knickerbocker Companys
Office.
There is q savage feeling pcrvading the commu-
nifty that citizens victims OF extortoniss In
this commodity. How far this is true can be judged
from the open and explicit conversation OF the
President OF the Washington company. From those
statements, which are above reproach, 1t seems
that the whole market is short; that Boston Will
soon follow New York in "steep" prices and that
the supply for 1870 ls rapidly diminishing The
upon our adversely, and for every iced beverage we
present to our lips we likewise present tariff to the
Maine monopOllSts. popular drink, to the confu-
sion of the Ice men OF the Kennebec, would not be
IN opposition to the Maine Liquor law but 1t would
commemorate a mercenary intemperance, whose
ravages are lelt In every household Of the city
NEW JERSEY RAILROAD MANAGEMENT.
Nrw