The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-02
FIGHTING THE ICE POOL.
Arthur Jordan Is Now Delivering
Fifty Tons a Day.

Arthur Jordan is carrying the ice war
into Africa. A year and a half ago he was
connected with the City Ice Company. but
retired from the firm and made a contract
TO sell all ice turned out at his plant 10
that company. This spring the City Ice
Company turned its contract with Mr., Jor-
dan over to the pool and he continued to
deliver the output of his plant 10 the pool
until recently. For some reason the pool
was derelict in paying for ice furnished by
Mr. Jordan, and he demanded more prompt
payment, declaring that if the money was
not paid according to the terms of his con-
tract he would cancel it. He says the pool
tried to bluff him by asserting to the can
collation. OF his contract. Left without a
market for his ice. Mr.. Jordan determined
to do a retail business. At his plant TWEEN
ty-five tons are manufactured a day. In
addition to this supply he contracted with
lake ice each day. In the last week he had
seven wagons delivering ice and found the
demand so great that two more wagons
will begin the delivery of ice tomorrow
morning. His present output is fifty tons,
a day, and the indications are that it will
increase considerably before the summer is
over.
The misunderstanding between Mr.. Jor-
dan and the ice pool is a fortunate thing
Tor consumers. Heretofore ice delivered TO
families has cost So cents a hundred. while
In wholesale quantities the pool has sold
at prices ranging from liz cents TO %
cents a hundred. Mr.. Jordan sells to fam
lilies at % cents and to firms at Is cents a
hundred pounds. He says that he is in the
Ice business to stay and will make no COM
bination with the pool, although overtures
have been made with that end in view.
John Burke, the ex-ice pool breaker, who
ala not succeed in breaking anything but
himself. was fined in the Police Court yes
terday morning for failing to keep his
barn yard clean enough to comply with
the city ordinance. Burke tells a hard
he was employed as telegraph operator on
the Big Four: that when the company
learned that he was engaged in another
occupation he was asked to resign. He
rendered his resignation and il was &C
cepted, Notwithstanding he had retired
from the ice business. Burke claims he
lost $1,000 in the ice business, and now
finds himself out of employment.
There are a good many customers of the
late John Burke Ice Company who are
holding the bag for Mr.. Burke for various
sums which they paid in advance for ice.
When his supply of ice was cut OH. about
three weeks ago, he made an arrangement
with Arthur Jordan to take his trade, sup
plying those who had coupon books and
collecting from Burke for the amount of
ice delivered on the books for which Burke
had already been paid. The customers re-
ceived ice on this arrangement Tor a Few
days, and then Jordan's collector made the
round trying to collect for books unpaid
for and selling others. Those who did not
more ice. Mr.. Jordan explained that Burke
failed TO pay him for the ice delivered TO
the old customers; that he had delivered
il with the understanding that Burke was
to pay him, and when Burke failed TO pay
him he simply quit giving his ice away.