The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-06-28
ALMOST AN ICE FAMINE.
Half of savannah Had to Do without
Ice Water Yesterday.


Savannah is almost on the verge of an
ice famine. Since the hot spell began the
ice companies have found it impossible to
supply the demand for Ice. in spite of the
fact that more ice is being produced in
Savannah now than ever before.
The Savannah Brewing Company has a
capacity Of fifty tons, the Gorrie Ice Com
pany of fifty tons, and the Knickerbocker
of thirty-fve tons. In addition to this,
about 125 tons Of Ice have been imported
here from Macon during the last several
days. At present prices there can hardly
be much profit in this business.
The shortage of ice yesterday was part
Iy accounted for by an acci-
dent which occurred to the new
ice machine of the brewing company, re-
duclng its capacity about one-half. The
plant will probably be in shape again to-
day, however. This deficiency was for
tunately supplied by the arrival of thirty
tons of ice from Macon yesterday morn
ing, consigned to the Knickerbocker Ice
Company, otherwise many people would
have had to do without Ice yesterday.
As a matter of fact many people did do
without ice and many others got along on
less than they had intended to. The de-
mand was something terrific. The ice
delivery wagons were besieged from the
time they got on the streets.
All of the lcemen had a hard time of it.
Many an angry housekeeper berated them
because she could not secure her desired
supply of ice. The drivers, acting under
orders, delivered ice only to the regular
customers of their companies and people
who were not on the list had to watch
the ice wagons go by. Under no circum-
stances would a driver for one company
furnish ice to the customers Of another
company.
There were many complaints from con-
sumers that the wagons did not make
their regular calls, and that reg
ular customers failed to secure the
supplies of ice to which they were entitled.
This was especially the case in the south
ern section Of the city where many people
were compelled TO pass the day without
ice Even where the wagons called, GUS
toners who expected 100 pounds were COM
PEELED to do with fifty and those who ask
ed for fifty were given twenty-five. 1t Is
also remarked that 1t does not take as
much ice to weigh 100 pounds now as for
merly and that the icemen's weights are
about 40 per cent. short.
Mr.. ]. f. Cavanaugh, president Of the
Knickerbocker Ice Company. with whom a
yesterday morning, said that the condition
of affairs is one which could not be pro-
vided against.
Savannah is consuming more ice to-day
than ever before In her history said Mr.
Cavanaugh. This is due to the extremely
low prices prevailing. People who former
ly used ice only to a limited extent now
use it freely and people who had always
used ice now buy twice as much as they
ever did before With the same prices at
which we supplied ice last summer the
companies would have more than enough
to supply the demand. There is no money
in the business for the companies at pres
ent prices. We are doing our best to sup
ply the demand, and as usual are getting
literally cussed for it, I have been in the
business twelve years, however, and am
used to that sort of thing. Should there be
a let up in the hot spell we would have
more ice than we would know what TO do
with"
Mr.. Cavanaugh received word yesterday
that the new thltty-toh De Lavergne ice
machine for the Knickerbocker Company
would be shipped to-day, and the work of
putting 1t in place win be pushed as rap
idly as possible. With the new thirty-ton
machine added to the present capacity,
and the Savannah Brewing Company
ffty-ton plant in operation, Savannah
ought to have plenty of ice for the next
hot SMELL