New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-31
WHICH IS THE BETTER ICE?
THE NATURAL AND THE ARTIFICIAL.
AReuMrNrs ON BOTH sIDEs-LooK OUT FOR
Exronr1oS FROM THE DRIVERS
OF THE WAGONS.

Trbune about the high prices charged In this city py
several OF the ice companies Some say tnat they are
Obliged to pay so cents hundred pounds, ana even as
high as go cents which Is not far short OF the price
charged durine the ice famine Of last summer.
Tribune reporter visited all the ice companies In
this city and found that the retail price Of all but one
or two companies for ice delivered In small quanutes
nj the home of the consumer from 35 to 40 cents
a hundred, while the wholesale price was from 10 W
25 cents, according to the quantity taken II small
consumers are charged more than this they are I'M
posed upon by the drivers Of the wagons and service
will be rendered to the companies II such extortions
are reported at the headquarters Of the companies con-
cerned.
The only company which refused to give The
Trbune satisfactory answer to this inquiry was the
Consumers Ice Company, in Horatiost. Mr.. Coisa'e'
OF that company, seemed to be under the impression
that the public had no business to know what thelr
prices were and said: ave take whatever we can
get.s This company, together with the New-York
City Ice Company the National Ice Company and the
Mutual Ice Company Of this city, reported In the
papers Of last week as having been bought up by
syndicate Of capitalists, prominent among whom are
the Morses of Bath, and Captain Eben ID. Haley, of
Gardiner Maine; besides several NewYork capitalists
The ice-famine of last summer brought Into ex-
lstence several artificial ice companies, which are now
in operation and are supplying ice in this city. AS
New Workers about to enter upon the hot season.
the result OF this experiment. for such the
Of artificial ice in NewYOrk must be considered, VIII
be of interest to every person living here The re-
porter visited all the artificial ice plants and then
talked with many of the hoelkeepers, liquor dealers
and Others who have used both the natural and art
fetal Ice so to get their opinions as to the results
Of this new element in the ice business The opinions
expressed by many who in positions 10 Judge
of the merits of the two sorts Of ice are somewhat
varied but the weight Of opinion far the rsorter
could learn, was in favor Of the natural ice.
From member Of the firm Of ]. NJ. Horton q Co.,
the icecream manufacturers It learned that the
artificial ice used by them only to limited ex-
tent. He said awe have tried both the artificial
and the natural ice, but we find that although the
artificial Is cold II lacks strength. We are AFRAID TO
send ont tubs OF packed with artificial ice, be-
cause IL mes or rather crumbles away so fast that
the cream is apt to melt away and be spoiled before
the purchaser wants It, With the natural Ice we are
sure of its retaining its cold at least four hours, but
the artificial fee when mix salt with 1t, seems TO
lose its strength much faster than the natural lce
STILL we are giving it fair trial. and are using 1t In
our branch at No. 115 Park Row, but only In limited
way"
The Morton House has used the natural Ice for
MANY wears. About week ago, however, 1t changed
TO the artificial ice supplied by the New-York Hygela
Ice Company at Fifty second-st and East Rver' Mr.
Buckley Of the Morton House, said 81 ina the ar
fetal ice satisfactory in every respect 80 far as we
have used IT, As yet have not heard single COM
plant from our guests about it, 1t is perecty GEAR
and contains no sediment when melted ana nhu IiaV
II lasts Just as long and gives out as much co as Vo
natural icen When asked If he had detected any
greasy smell OF taste, which many say is noticeaole
in the artificial ice, Mr. Buckley said that he had
noticed nothing at all Of that nature.
The Grand Union Hotel, in Fourthave., near the
Grand Central Station has used the artificial ice since
the first Of April The manager OF that motel was
eouay emphatic in his praise OF manufactured lce'
lie said al would not go back to natural ice even
II could get it for less. have used the arUnciai
ice for number OF weeks, anu hHu 'n"' e"0'
perfect satisfaction"
Among the louor dealers the same difference OF
opinion prevails although the majority of them who
have used both the artificial and natural ice seem 10
pefer the latter and have gone back to IT, MT.
GoerwItz In Thrave., near Eighteenth-st SAID tnat
he had used the artificial Ice and found that II an
swered every requirement and that he would
continue 10 use 1t. Bernard Byrne, dealer
in Thrd.aye and Seventeenth-st.. said that he had
given the artificial ice fair trial. but found that IL
WAS much inferior to the natural Ice.
He said: was compelled to give up tire artificial
ice because it was not cold enough could tell the
difference every time went into the cebox. There
was difference Of 10 to Is degrees in favor Of the
natural ice so that although paid the same price for
both vet the natural ice much cheaper, because
the same amount Of natural Ice gave out many more
degrees of cold The trouble with the artificial Ice was
that il did not melt properly but lay In the box like
stone The natural ice melted in the proper way so
that fresh surfaces Of cold exposure were constantly
being exposed to the air in the cebox. have been
compelled to 60 back to the natural ice.'
Among the butchers much the sarle opinion wns ex-
messed but ms with the Others there variety of
opinion as to tho natural and artificial article. num-
Der OF butchers however have gone back to the natural
ice They say that the artificial ice when placed in
their boxes does not melt but lies there like stone
without throwing out much cold as the natural Ice
A number OF them also complain Of a greasy smell
which is thrown Off by the artificial ice and which per-
meates the meat to serious extent ono butcher said
that wien he took the core OF the artificial Ice and
rubbed it in his hands very perceptlble odor was
noticed which he thought came from the ammonia used
in its manufacture.
A good deal Of doubt was expressed as to whether
the artificial ice companies could be run prohtaby at
the present prices of ice Charles A. Kramer, tae
president OF the Consumers Hygiene Ice company,
said 1--WE supply only our own stockholders Inc pres
payISg the water tax the cost Of boiling, dsling
and altering the water and freezing It, we md that we
have no profit in the business at Is cents hundred But
we are not In tho business for profit in that way We
are merely combining for our own protection we
satisfied barely to pay our expenses and get our
one Of the artificial Ice companies has already failed
while the reporter learned from several sources that
Meyer, Of the New-Yorb IIygeia Ice Company said
were eniarging their plant to output of 200 tons
day which would be ready by June 1. A number OF
the natural Ice companies, however have tried to
manufacture ice, but found II was impracticable.
Among these are the Glasco Ice Company. They say
that they tried the manufacture of ice but found ii i'm
practicable
Robert Maclay, president OF the Knickerbockcr Ice
Company said d" II we had winters like the one Of
1a5090 every year, artificial ice companies would pay.
But do not have winters ike that one more than once
In twenty years. The knckcrbocler Ice Company has
given the artificial ice a thorough trial. We put up
an expansive plant, and did everything to make II
succesg but we found that could not compete
against nature In the ordinary winters, We gave 1t
uD. and have dealt in The natural ice only You may
be sure II there had been anything In artificial ice, the
Knickerbocker would have been in II long ago. II was
only the omen winter Of 1S5900 that made artificial
Ice companies possible last year and this year Arti
cia ice per cent less cold than the natural lee so
that when the pays fifteen cents for II he
is in fact getting Is per cent less icc-cold although
he seemingly pays the same price as Is charged for
Another point Is that at present, while these arti-
fetal Ice companies require sixty hours in which to
freeze cake Of ice, when the real hot weather comes