New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-20
FAILURE OF THE ICE CROP.
DEALERS FORMING A TRUST.
PROSPECT OF HIGH PRICES FOR THE CONSUMER
NEXT SUMMER

PROSPECT OF HIGH PRICES FOR THE CONSUMER
NEXT SUMMER
Tho rain last weok extingushed all tho lingering
hopes that the ceealers hore had entertainer that
the Hudson River would furnish an ice-crop this year.
rberc were herr and there few hopeful men among
the various companies who had at the beginning OF tho
week. still chung TO tho belief that Father HUDSON was
getting so old that he could not give up ais Winers
nap But the majority Of the local ce-men mad already
come TO tho conclusion that there was going 10 DO Just
as much Fourth Of Juiy' ice In the HUDSON at tho
end of this month as there was at
the beginning. Once in a while tho old Hudson is
seized with an attack of insomnia and won't close up.
pcrbap some wags in tho trade responsible for the
r,mor that tho old gentleman is going to sleep this
wear with HIS eyes open, because he Is curious to know
what these Americans, these people who live on ice.
mean by making their own fee in their reftgerators
IL Is limited that the old Hudson is little bit jealous
Of his own prcrogatives, and has decided to how
This community can get along without his help for ono
season.
This may be a legend which noated down tho Hud-
son the other day. But some interpret II rejecting
the feelings and plans OF tho cemen. There is a
business way Of dsentanglng this crooked tale. and
there IS no harm in saying, a preliminary warning,
that II is cold day when your lce-man gets left
There viii be short crop this year. and yet the trade
does not intend to lose much money. Throughout
exasperatlng intermittent rainy spells, the ce-doaler
here has kept cool There are reasons, too. why
no should be calm.
THE ANNUAL CONSUMPTION
II should be remembered first that this city con-
sumes yearly about 100000 tons OF Toe. AS tho
Hudson viii not yield its usual CROP ice will be difficult
to cot and the cost Of the commodity to the trade and
the consumer will consequently DO enhanced.
But there is another factor in the problem and that
a., tha rat "
during the last two years. 1t is generally said among
ce-mon that money has been mado IN the business
for at least two years. Ono deaor Of long experience
said yesterday that unless understanding as to rates
could be effected In tho trade and tho ruinous war In
rates of the last two years be stopped, some of the
companies might so under Other circumstances con-
spre to compel understanding and thus to keep the
ice-man calm and cool
Some sagacous men In tho business saw last gum
mer that this would DO an "open" winter. Tho
summer cold and tho winter, therefore, would
have to be warmer than usual to enable The weather
clerk to balance up his record Of the years degrees
They did not waste any time in specializing on what
Kind OF a crop tho Hudson would furnish. They
went TO work to buy up what leo they could. Tho
trade in general, is reaching around now trying to
get ice wherever Il Is to DO found
ALREADY SENDING TO NORWAY.
ono company IS already sending TO Norway and it
IS certain that tho Ice-man OF Maine is as happy
this winter as he IS In summer when city boarders
drift hs way. The trade hero viii have 10 pay heavy
freight, and II IS not likely that the consumer wiz
get his leo for moderate rates.
There is a surplus from last years CROP and that
IS already being brought in canalboats to this city
Hut when the surplus gives out then tho ice trust
will evaporate in the winters II not before. Wo
have got to come TO UNDERSTANDING said ono leo
man Yesterday. We have tried for two years to
maintain an association and attempts have always
been rendered lo by the appearance Of some private
craft which sold leo so cents ton cheaper than tho
market price. The association, II IL could 90 called
such AZ once melted away. Now we arc al In the
az, and guess the association VIII hoh tosetnor
this year,
There arc denial that trust has boen formed but
there seems good for believing that an undr
standing rs TO rates has been partially arrived az
Table ice costs now 40 cents a hundred pounds.
This Is a higher pucc than was paid last year sno
this increase seems 10 give color 70 the report mat
a combination has already been effected and prices
agreed on. As has been already stated the condilon
of tho weather will probably decide whom the trust
win begin t. work II Is now ruinored that thirty
OF tho Wholesale dealers had meeting on January
ii al the Ice Dealers Exchange, and resolved on
THIS provisional schedule: Wholesale. s. 90 per ton
hotels ~ per ton small trade 81 per ton families
g per ton Tho business directory gives the names
OF over seventy dealers and about fifteen wek known
companies But whe ali tho companies arc not mem
bers OF the embryonic trust, some OF those which arc
out will have an understanding with the trade
In 1879 families had 20 pay in July 81 80 hundred
pounds IN 1870 70 cents. In 1874 families paid Tor
ihoir leo at the rate OF slo ton and In 1850 ono