The times., 1898-12-02

Representatives of the Knickerbocfer
Ice Company, the new ice trust of New
York, Chicago and Baltimore, will, it is
understood, be in Washington within a
few days for further conferences with
the established coppanies ehere looking
to the purchase of their plants and busi-
ness. 1t may be stated on excellent au-
thority that there. Is very little proba-
bility that they will succeed. Members OF
two of the companies have made state
ments to a reporter of The Times that
they have no intention of selling out. and
it is understood that the same feeling is
held by nearly, IL not quite, everybody in
the business.
The steps taken by the Knickerbocker
Company thus far In their campaign here
have been very interesting to people in
the ice business and 10 business men
generally. The company had come from
u successful deal in Baltimore, where
practically all the opposition had been
bought up and it is understood that 1t
Is believed IL would have no difficulty in
this city. Propositions were made 10 all
the ice companies for their plants, ice
fields on the kennebec River and business
here. The Hygienic was the only COM
pany that sold out
Mr. Samuel W. Curriden, of the Hy-
| gienic. was chosen as the local manager
of the Knickerbocker Mr.. Curriden i'm
mediately began the second step of the
campaign by talking lower ice to con-
sumers here. a blank form of contract
was circulated and still is being presented
to large users Of fee in which it is agreed
that certain quantity of ice shall be
a rlf In
was at first inserted in this contract
| that should the market price OF Ice go
! lower than the stipulated figure the
Knickerbocker Company would meet the
| reduction. Later this clause was omitted
| In the form.
The supposltion OF the established ice
companies is than this vigorous work was
| intended 10 convince them that they
/ would have to meet with a very bitter
| competition If they did not get into the
| new concern. IL Is now the general idea
! that, having shown what il can do the
second visit of the Knickerbocker will be
| to sound for any weakening on the part
| of the local companies. .4-
| As far as can be learned, the failure TO
| make the combination has been due TO
I the fact that the price offered by the
new company for the plants has not been
anywhere near the. valuation placed on
them by their owners. 1t is believed also
that it is not Intended to offer much
larger figure and that for this reason the
negotiations must continue TO fail.
Mr. Bartlett. OF the Great Falls Com
pany said to reporter of The Times yes
terday:
81 see no prospect of this company SELL
| ing out. / have every reason to believe
that We will he doing business here in the
same way next year at this time. 4
proposition has been made to us. but it is
not OF such nature as we.can consider.
do not believe that we would be able to
consider any proposition that the Knick-
erbocker Company would be able TO make
/ am convinced that the stockholders of
the company agree with me in this
Others who were seen by the reporter
expressed the same opinion as to the
situation.
1t is learned that an opposition TO the
KnickeIbocker Company in Baltimore will
open and be ready to supply ice in large
quantities next Summer. II is understood
that a price below that of the trust is
already being promised by the new con-
cern. The fact Is commented on in Bal
timore that as soon as all the opposition
was sllenced there the price of ice was
put up by the trust.