New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-18
PRICES FOR ICE ADVANCED.
THE COMPANIES PROFESS IGNORANCE.
HoUsEKEEPERs TOLD OF THE RAISE. BUT THE
PRESIDENTS EXPRESS SURPRISE

HoUsEKEEPERs TOLD OF THE RAISE, BUT THE
PRESIDENTS EXPRESS SURPRISE
Horror and dismay entered the area of many
a house last week when Bridget was informed
by her admirer the ioeman that Their price on ths
here ice has gone up" When serious inquiry made,
the missus informed that this summer, instead or
being compelled to pay sixty cents week for an extremely
small molicu Of GOODNESS she would be required to pay
81 for the amount Of rgd luxury 30 SAID the re-
tail dealer In the dusk OF evening when the lord AMI
master the house home there was strong Ian
guage "a the narrowing tidngs told to him There
was natural Indignation because last season was one OF
the the ioemen have had in many years There
was an abundance Of frosty weather and exceedingly
long winter they had unpleasant experience OF strikes
save one the Kncker6Ocker Company crushed tner
expenses Of storing greater than usual and the
partial reasoning could assign 70 reason why the
retail prices should b. increased nearly 10 per cent De
cause they had had good crop.
On December TO- 1888. the more important companies
formed an Dealers Association with the avowed pr-
pose of protecting themselves but IN reality 10 arrange
prices from which there could be no appeal The aSso
citation was also designed 10 monOpOiHe The business
and to prevent the pcripletlc cedeacr, whose sales
alone were lculated to keep the prices down. from do
ing any business The Knckerbocker Company proposed
schedule prices for the retail trade and the PROPOSE
ton was accepted by the associated companies. The
prices were printed and distributed, and for tme-ln
fact until no7ho consumers deludei into believ-
ing thai they OBTAIN ice at reasonable price
hef prices If the ice IS bought from the companies are
still in force but there is exasperating uncertainty
about the time when prices VIII he changed that Is
calculated to make the public contented This sched-
ue. a 50, generally known and the drivers Of the
wagons nave it in their power to charge any commission
which their cOgetoI may suggest The consumer
then has no Resource do without ice altogether
the icemen who arc not employed by the companies
no longer have il ia their mower to compete
TRIBUNE reporter called On the presidents OF several
o. the companies ye'eFudy. h'Iu vas - sue - bi
unau.mity IN the answers when were gwen 10 nls
inquiries They protested that there had Deen no chnge
N me prccsi tney nad never nenIu oa any
they had liked the prices themselves anu 10
there was rea 3on why they should oe chahge Mhen
they told that the price had been advanced they
look cd injured aud indignant.
President Mac4y Of the Knickerbocker Company, was
found in his deliberately decorated Office. lie sai1: You
can depend upon It, the prices nave nor Dee ncieseu
DO yOu think that because to-day Is warm Que we nave
lost hcadsl No. sir The prices are the same AS ey
were asst wear although last summer sold ice at loss
Here is our schedule. Mr.. Maclay handed the reporter
Of ice, from Decembcr 10. 1853, for present
time only: II To 10 pounds dally, % , cents
upward. 40 cents per hundred weight Ihat does o0s
as though our prices had been increased, a3e5 ~.
90 cents hundred weight just think; the eXpressnan
would charge 40 cents for carrying that piece Of ice
house. lille do tie carriage ANA delivery for about
we did In the winter OF iss2s3; but last year lost
money the prices are always regulated by the Law OF
consumption and supply and therefore we can't answer
for the future. We are always At considerable loss Or
wastage That H. we sell ice docks for - tom
but that docs represent the original ton that we ship
the la bargeS. our loss IL uIly 90 per
cent in Transportation. II did not build our own
carts make our harness. own rights and means or
transportation generally could not afford to sell lee at
double the price which charge. ONLY 10y having
all of these facilities for supplying tue market can we
afford to sell the ice for SO low price.
VIII the companies accepting ono price drive the
small dealers out OF bu>ines-!'
Certainly; that Is to he expected We viii sell them all
the they require at wholesale price but they are
not able to supply their customers nearly Is cheay as
can"
Then You will continue to charge the same prices
which YOU have given throughout the SUMNER
don't say that. have given you tue prices that we
charge 1t present make promises for the future
any kind As said before, the prices are regulated
by consumption ami supply"
President Earle, OF the Consumers lee Company told
su sautIay the same story. " The prices are hlgier
now they last year said lie. Then We lost
money-uOw just about making interest on our
capital"
SIR Earle was shown the schedule Of tho Knicker-
booker Company, aud asked: are yOur prices different
from thOseW
No they are the same. But I am giving yOu our
prices, remember. and say nothing about the
Knckcrbocer people. lee sold at the present price
gives profit other than what could get III any busl-
ness for the same amount OF money invested"
Then YOU intend to raise your pricesP
simply say that the ice business at the present
prices does not pay. will this: there Il not par
tce OF truth in the report that we have raised our
prices"
Nevertheless the fact that nousekecpers have re
ccivcG notice that they Will be charged 9l wees Tor
small quantities OF Ice still remains.