The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-05-08
Rival Ice Companies Or
ganizing Mutual
FreeZe-0utS.
SUNS MAY MELT THEM.
Meanwhile the Opposition to High
Prices Is Congealing and the
Atmosphere Is Very Stormy.

evening, promises to be an important one
to ice consumers 1t is known that but
a meagre crop of ice was harvested here
abouts during the past winter, and the air
has been full of rumors concerning the
fancy prices consumers will be obliged
to pay for the luxury this summer.
THE SUNDAY MORNING NEWS some
weeks ago published interviews with
representatives of the ice companies of
Jersey City. The opinion was unanimous
that prices would go away above those of
last summer. That the ice companies
have taken advantage of the ice famine
scare, and effected a combination in order
to force prices up, there is no reason to
doubt.
The independent lcemen, some 175 in
number. reap no advantage from the in
crease; indeed to them it is a detriment.
inasmuch as their orders are necessarily
curtailed, while they dare not increase
their profits in the same proportion as
companies increase theirs.
In an interview with. Mr.. T. McDer-
mott, whose name is signed to the call for
the meeting of independent icemen to-
night, JERSEY CITY News reporter
cleaned considerable information as to
the methods of the ice companies in rails
ing prices. In anticipation of the work
before the meeting tonight Mr.. McDer-
motifs remarks are worth perusing:-
FORCED TO ACTION.
''The independent icemen," said Mr..
McDermott, "must do something to pro-
tect themselves. Ten. years ago the
United Ice Lines, settled here, and were
selling ice at twelve and half cents per
hundred pounds and were glad to get
trade at that price, The other companies
were getting forty cents per hundred
pounds The company found it unprotit-
were done away with. By running one
wagon, however, it managed to draw
trade to the bridges from the restaurants
and meat markets. Last season the
Greenwood Lake, the Hudson, the Jer-
sey City and the South Cove COM
panies effected a combination and
raised the prices SO per ton at the dock.
We retailed it for S. Last fall the whole
sale price was raised to 81; we raised to
81; in less than week the wholesale price,
was raised to $5; we raised to IS; last
Monday they raised it 50 more, making
us pay 81 per ton; naturally we must raise
the price to $40. We cannot afford to
send wagons and competent men out for
a less profit than So per ton. During this
series of advances we have never in
creased our profits, Notwithstanding the
fact that the increase of prices naturally
made our safes iess. n &
"They tell us that there Is a scarcity of
ice. That sounds very we'll, in view of the.
fact that we have. had very little ice in
our own region this winter. Why, my
dear sir, don't believe any so-called COM
pany in the city has fifty cents worth of
ice in stock. though they may claim fifty
or sixty thousand tons. They seldom
they need of the schooners in New York
Bay harbor. Why, have known these
companies to send men at their own
expense and pay them So day
to bail out the boats laden
with ice fast melting lying just over here
in the bay, in order.to create the impress
sion that there was a scarcity of ice.
Thus, you see, the independent icemen,
with their wagons waiting at the docks
for ice, would take the first that came
ashore, no matter what the quality. As
to the increased cost of transportation of
ice from Maine, that is true, so far as it
applies to that brought by canal boats.
But why? Simply because the canal boat
companies, when they saw that the price
of ice was put up by the transportation
companies when the price at the ice
fields had not increased, naturally de-
manded an increase for transportation.
ONLY DoCKAGE WANTED.
tsNOw here's the firm of G. L.. Riker, OF
No. 101 Park Place, New York. This
wholesale dealer wrote to Mr.. Monohan,
prominent ice dealer in Erie street,
near Sixth, that he would furnish him
ice from 81 to SO per ton less than any
company in this city If he could get dock
age. You may bet your life Mr.. Riker
will get all the dOckage ne wants.
When Mr.. McDermott was asked what
be meant by the remarkable emphasis he
put upon this latter sentence, he simply
replied
at least. am not at liberty just yet to
divulge what know in this connection.
But just here, you see, the scheme ON the
part of the combination is given away.
Mr.. Riker purchases his ice from the
same source as do these companies that
have effected the combination, If Mr..
Riker can sell his ice at S5 per ton our
companies can do the same,
''What do you propose to do at tonight's
meeting of the Independent icemen?0
"Well, i can't answer that question.
We number about one hundred and sew
enty-fve. The number of wagons sent
out by the combined companies does not
exceed forty. The number OF men in
their employ does not exceed one hum
dred. cannot say how many will attend
the meeting. myself have spoken to at
least fifty who promised to attend. Others
have been spoken to. 1t is our intention
to effect a combination if possible. to beat
down the prices. We get no share in the
increase OF pfUHtS, huu YET must me6L tQ6
rebuffs and complaints of our naturally
indignant customers. We are willing to
pay S. per ton"
GREW By DEGREES.
Mr.. Samuel McBurney, secretary and
treasurer of the Hudson River Ice Com
pany, showed me copy of New York
paper containing Riker's advertisement.
lice Sc per toD." printed in boldface let
ters headed the advertisement.
THAT figure has grown within the past
few days" he said. 1T first appeared $4,
then IS; now it's So. Mark the words fol-
lowing Contracts for the delivery of
Diamond Ice during the season from our
own store houses, Nos. 43 and "A East
River made and guaranteed ~
"That firm," said Mr.. McBurney, sis a
new one They are taking advantage of
the present dearth Of ice supply to adver-
tise their business. That is natural.
They remind me of a man just starting a
liquor saloon. He may advertise beer
three cents glass. By the keg
you must pay him the same as
you would all other dealers
Now. you may take my word, or
not, just as YOU see fit. But these very
same independent icemen who propose to
bring down the figures to IS per ton will
pay SO per ton inside the next sixty days.
i tell you the ice crop is short. And
want to add. with emphasis, the Hudson
River Ice Company has entered into no
combination with the other companies to
49,. 49,