The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1878-07-19
THE ICE QUESTION.
NEW ORLEANS. July Is. 1873.

lew ORLEANS July 10, 1915.
Editor Democrat - Your editorial of this
morning on the subject of ice, while giving
but cold comfort to the thousands who are
the victims, has given the poor oppressed Peo-
DJe some light as to the extent to which they
are victimized, but hardly goes far enough in
this, that 1t fails to show them why they have
thus become an easy prey,
About ten years ago number OF gentle
men OF this city organized the Louisiana
Ice Manufacturing Company" Many OF them
subscribed to its stock simply because 1t was
home institution. Its capital stock was
proper machinery obtained and very soon the
company was making ice. The product OF
the company met with the utmost msrepre--
sentation and opposition on the part
of the Northern companies; 1T was said that
the chemicals used in the manufacture OF the
ice came in contact with it, and that 1t would
produce sickness; that it melted sooner than
''Boston ice;' in fact, there was nothing that
could be said or done that was not tried to
| break down the company; yet it went on, sold
ice at o low figure undertaking all
the Northern companies. and keeping
down their prices; in fact, there has
| been no cry of exOrbitant prices asked
for Ice since the company began its work I'M
til this summer. Now, then, let this be put
to the credit Of the company, and let us see
| what the dear people of this appreciative COM
munity did for it. Did they support this
Southern home mandatory? No; but, on
"
they, usually act in such cases, they
| bought the Northern article at even q
| higher price than that manufactured here
could be obtained at The Louisiana Ice
| Company could not sell all the ice 1t madei
| large houses had to be built for storing 1t, and
| at times the company had necessarily to stop
working; the consequence was no dividends
to stockholders; depreciation OF stock, until
it was almost impossible for those who were
| forced to realize to make sale at any price
| n it, a.
even under that tigure-and that was the con-
ditiOn Of the company at one time. 10 be
sure the stock appreciated somewhat after
ward under the iudicious management of the
present president of the company, and COM
manded from $12 to $14 a share-if buyer
could be found. Theintroduction of the product
OF this company had been like bringing coal
to Newcastle" for had not the good peOph
plenty of ice brought from affair."" Such was
the condition OF the company willing to sup
ply this community all the ice 1t could make
at 50 ton or even under that figure, for at
that fair profit to the company could be
made. But no; the people wouldn't buy 1t
and then came the Crescent City Company
and what does it do? 1t steps in as an inter
mediary between the Louisiana Ice Company
and the dear people. 1t says. Gentlemen
your ice is very good, but it don't sell; we
will give you 50 q ton for all you can make
from now to December; we'll come for it; 4
shall cost you nothing to deliver it; we will
take it as it Is turned out from your ma
chimes; and we will see whether the people
will buy it or not. Here Is $4,000 cash as g
guarantee, and we will make monthly settle
ments in cash: II you accept this con
tract you will receive from 100000 t.
$4,000. With this you can pay YOU
$4,000 or $4,000 of Indebtedness, YOU
current expenses, and then declare divi
dend."
This was the proffer-it was what the com
pany had been trying to dO-"seU all the ice !
could make at 50 q tom" The company shoult
probably In the interest Of the communit!
have refused to sell. for fear that the peopL
who had so generously supported this hom
institution might possibly be made to suffer
But alas for humanity, for philanthropy, the
company concluded that as the people had 81
long allowed it to take care OF itself, 1t wa
about time that the people, these poor peopf
who are so often oppressed, should take car
of themselves. The prOffer was accepted, ant
two months after the Louisiana Ice Manu-
featuring Company" was enabled to declare
dividend from the sales of ice at 80 to-
for which the people pay, as you say
S22 ton, but in reality which costs them q
retail at the rate of at least $50 per ton, ant
at the present rate Of increase, soon the maj
that buys five cents worth of ice will have tt
, run home quickly lest 1t melt before he get
! there SO much for the ediication of tn
community, as to the why and the wherefor
of their present troubles on the ice question
But it is but an old story; when will our PEG
, pie learn to patronize home institutions
home industries? How often must the.
, suffer in pocket before their finer sensibilitie
: of pride in, and duty to, their State and cit
are touched? If 1t is by suffering only tina
: they are to be reached, God grant that tn
blows may come quick and hard, that the.
may be the sooner awakened.
+ Mr.. Editor, the writer is not an apologies
for the Louisiana Ice COmpany-it need
none; nor is he stakeholder, nor has he an
interest whatever in the company, but b
: has thought that the ice question was OIL
: upon which the people might be edited
q know that to themselves they owe many {
a their troubles, and it might be the means {
i learning them a lesson for their futul
e guidance.
= The MorehOuse Clarion dominates Col.
q B. Todd Of MOrehOuse, for Congress.