The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-04-01
MAY BRING ON WAR IN ICE.
BREWING COMPANIES AGREE TO
STOP THEIR FIGHT.


AbandOns the sale of lee From It's
WarehOuse-GOrrie Ice COmphny
Agrees to Furnish Dealers Ice
Within - Cents Per 100 Pounds.
May Cause Ice Companies 10 Clash
for the Business Formerly Done by
the Brewery.
The Savannah Brewing Company issued
circulars to its patrons yesterday annouuc-
ing-that after to-day ice would not he sold
from its plant as last year. Accompany
ing this circular was another announcing
a reduction in the cash prices of beer, to
go into effect at once.
The move seems to have been the result
of an understanding between the Savan
nah Brewing Company, the Georgia Brew
ing Company and the Gorrie Ice Company.
The brewing companies have come to-
gether on prices ana the Savannah Brew
ing Company relinquishes the sale of ice
to its patrons at reduced rates. in view
of an agreement by the Gorrie Company
not to exceed certain charges.
Copies of the circulars were delivered to
all patrons by the drivers on their morn
ing rounds "As investments in all indus
tries are entitled TO a reasonable interest"
the circular states, this result can only
be accomplished when a reasonable profit
is obtained The latter conditions are i'm
possible when prices are reduced below
cost of production. The directors Of this
company, in the interest of its stockhold-
l.eraaA haSf n
agree to an arrangement looking to a ces-
sation Of the contest that has been going
on in the beer and ice business for ths
past year. The interest of dealers has
been carefully considered as the. price Of
-high-erade beer is placed at less than in
any of the adjacent Southern cities. Ice
remains at the same rate previous to the
cut and will not be in excess of . cents
per 100 pounds delivered. This price Is
from 10 to 20 cents less than in even tho
largest cities in the country. The quality
of our beer shall continue as at present,
equal to the best in the United States. No
ice will hereafter be disposed of, or deliv
cred from our factory. as all beer dealers
will be supplied with all they may require
ON the Ice companies al dbONE BA Nv
The arrangement to which the circular
refers seems to be principally between
the brewing companies and the Gorrie Ice
Company For some time the Savannah
Brewing Company has been supplying it's
patrons with ice, delivered a the factory,
at 10 cents per 100 pounds. While this
rate was conceded by consumers to be
considerably below the cost of production,
still there were several saloons which
- Il slrr
which was the price charged by the COM
panies, and have the ice delivered by
them. By far majority of the brewing
companys patrons, however, took advan-
tage of the low rate and while at first
IL might appear the company is relin-
gushing the business and throwing its
patrons out for the ice companies TO deal
with as they desire, as seen from the cir
cular, this is by no means the case. Ice
is to be furnished at the same rates as
now and the brewing company has ar
ranged for the price not to exceed %
cents per 100 pounds for the present, this
agreement having been made with the
Gorrie Ice Company, which is to handle
the ice output ofIthe brewing company.
Manager w. w. Starr of the brewing
company was seen in regard TO the change
and said the reduction in prices of beer
by his company, which is from $3.50 TO
Si.to Pei htS Ol the OIduEilI ana a COIl-
mensurate reduction on other beer Is
simply for the purpose of restoring har-
mony to the brewing interests and to
avoid contention. AS TO the arrangement
by which ice is no longer to be handled,
by the company he said an understand
ing had been reached with the Gorrie com
pany by which ice was to be furnished
dealers at not to exceed % cents per 100
pounds. The probability was that it
,nsafr, 4 H..
cents delivered, though the ice company
could sell at it's own figures, so long as
il did not charge in excess of the stipu-
lated price Mr.. Starr did not say how
long the agreement was to continue 1t
is not his opinion that the effect of the
change will produce any results that
will reach general consumers of ice.
The Knickerbocker company is not In
the deal, and ID is not bound by any agree
ment TO sell within the stipulated rate.
Manager Youmans was seen in regard 10
the circular issued by the brewing com
pany which stated that the ice com
panies" would sell within the rate men
toned, and said he had entered into no
such compact. He stated that the Knick
erbocker company is selling ice 10 deal
ers al Is cents per 100 pounds, and would
probably contisue TO do So The Knicker-
booker, he said, is not in any way con-
savannah
Brewing Company, the Georgia Brewing
Company or the Gorrie Ice Company. Mir
Youmans said there had been more than
the usual number of callers at his office
during the day, who probably wanted
special contracts for ice, but he told them
that his company is selling at the same
rate.
What viii follow as result of the COM
petition between the ice companies for the
patronage which formerly went to the
brewing company remains 10 be SEEN II
IS said a fight may ensue, inasmuch as
dealers are the principal consumers. and
as IL is said the price is little more now
than what the companies can charge and
continue operations, a further reduction
may be the means of summoning the
comparative strength of those that engage
Ia the competition.
AS one of the results of the brewery
combine, it is understood that the practice
of providing bar fixtures for bars. indoors
ing for licenses and otherwise helpinr ont
men who have not sufficient money to go
II alone in the saloon business will be ais
continued, and that the breweries viii
confne themselves to straight business In
dealing with their customers.
WILL GIVE AN OUTING.