The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1889-10-01
IT WILL Be VERY ERIGID,
Colder Than the Man Who Gave
Up Cracked Ice,
THEYSAY THATTHE ICE TRUST
win be a Very Nice Trust, That the
Price to the Consumer WilIMuoh
Improve His Humori And It's
Not Quite all a Rumor,

There is TO be an ice combine, but It
is promised that the consumers shall not
be sufferers thereby, and that contrary
to the usual methods Of trusts, the price
will be reduced, possibly to q figure
which sounds ridiculous 70 those who
are heavy purchasers, At present the
ice business is practically held by three
firms, O, seibert's Sous, KoehnIine Bros,
and Nicholas Kuhn, seibert'sice comes
from three miles out Wheeling creek,
and Koehplipe's and Kuhp's from the
Back river and Wheeling creek, over in
Bridgeport
For some time past the Ice from the
creeks and the river has been Of a quail
ity which does not compare iavorpbly
with either lake ice or the artificial ar
ticle. The winters have not been severe
enough to make good heavy Ice, and the
cold snaps have been Of such short dur
alton as to render II impossible to store
the ice, when 1t did form, before It had
begun 10 thaw, AS result Consldera
BILE demand for lake ice has sprung up
and the ice dealers have brought large
quantities from Lake Chippewa ant
Lake Erie.
This demand for a quality OF ice moi
procurable in this vicinity was the prln
cipal incentive to the formation OF the
Wheeling Ice and Storage Company and
the building Of their ice plant, At the
time the company was forming an e6orI
was made to Induce the dealers to be
come stockholders, butthey refused to
accept the proposition. Since the new
company Is in position to furnish ice tC
consumers, and has expressed the inten
ton OF retailing their product II the
dealers do not purchase from them
these gentlemen have begun to see thai
the community wants and will have
better Ice, and are preparing to furnish
it. No one OF these dealers has enough
trade to Justify the erection Of an indi
vidual plant, but the three mentioned
above, deliver on an average, about fifty
tons a day during the summer season
which Is about twice the capacity OF thu
Wheeling Company's plant.
During the past season they have
been buying ice from the lakes, ant
have furnished an article which is Al
good as lake ice can be. What the
people seem to demand, however, Il
an Ice made Of chemically pure water
which they do not expect to get in thu
lake ice any more than In the river ant
creek ice.
These dealers say they cannot SCI
their way clear TO allow the Ice company
profit OH the ice they would make FOL
them, while they have the capital Il
furnish themselves with q plant, ant
accordingly, they have formed com
bine. Their intention Is to 90 into the
buainess on a much larger scale thar
has ever before been attempted.
The three firms have Grst-Claas appli
ances for storing and delivering the rive
and creek ice, while Mr.. Kuhn has RS
in position at Lake Chippewa for pack
ing the ice in cars so that It may be ship
ped here and stored in the house durint
the winter season. All these appliances
including the houses, horses and wagons
and everything they possess, will b'
turned into the new company.
II Is their further intention TO built
an ice plant for the manufacture OF dis
titled water ice. Where this plant will bt
huilt has not yet been decided. Mr.
Kuhn has q pair Of splendid twir
buildings, built only a few years ago
enough available ground to accommo
date the remainder OF the plant, and {
neyer.iailing water well. These arc 10
Gated in Bridgeport, and the only draw
back to the establishing Of the artificial
plant, and the lake ice storage room
there Is the fact that bridge toll must be
paid every time q load Of leo crosses
These parts Of the company's plant will
probably be located there, however, fol
the reason that the toll charges are off
set by the expense they would be put tc
in erecting new buildings on this side
and the carrying across the river Of the
lake ice in the cars.
Mr.. Kuhn, OF the new concern, was
seen yesterday, and stated that the com.
bine Is a sure 20. He further said they
will furnish any kind Of ice the people
want. They will have river Ice for ga
looms, butchers and those who do not
allow the Ice to come In contact with
the article cooled, and who want cheap
article, lake ice for those who want a
clear solid Ice that will withstand the
greatest amount Of heat, and artificial
distilled water ice for those who are fas.
tidlous. He says they can furnish ice
as cheap as anyone, aud cheaper, too,
because they have their plants all ready
for everything but.the artificial Ice. He
intimated that river ice might be fur.
nished for ten or fifteen cents q hun
dred II necessary, next summer,
The artificial Ice people arc prepared
TO make long and vigorous fight, and
have expressed their intention to put
their product on the market. Ice 10 not
perfectly transparent, but so far as an
ordinary observer can see into cake Of
tri0t,iily tha inHinaftnna urn favnrahln