New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-17
THE ADVANCE IN ICE.
EFFORTS OF THE TRUST OFFICIALS TO INCREASE
THE PRICE.

Such chorus OF protestation has arisen from
the housekeepers OF Nev-York against the arbi-
trary in the price OF ice. recently decided
upon by the Ice Trust. that an effort was made
By some OF the trust officials yesterday 10 give
reason for the rise. other than the one which is
pretty thoroughly understood be 10 increase the
profits Of the
Mr. Baantne, the secretary OF the Consolidated
Ice Company. who az the office ~ the
company. at Twenty-thrd-st and Lexington ave
said. regarding the rise in price from 5 cents 10
% cents n hundred pounds:
The impression which OF the newspapers
have got. that people who take. say ten pounds OF
ice a day. will be affected by the increase in price
is all mistake. A very brief explanation will
show this. Now great many families want as
little five pounds day. At that rate II would
take twenty days make the bill Is cents at the
former rate. and that would not pay for delivery
Consequently when little Is taken a special
rate is made We charge from ~ to 50 cents
week for five pounds day. In such neighoor-
hood Klngsbridge. where the ice must be taken
long distances, we. OF course. charge higher rate
Still. IT is clear from this that people who get
only five pounds a day not affected by the
change since they never pay by the hundred
pounds at all
The rule applies only in cases where not
more than twenty-five pounds are taken every day.
But even at 30 cents a hundred pounds. the rate -
cheaper than it in previous years. so
do not think there is any cause for complaint"
Mr.. Ballantine showed scrapbook filed with
printed handbils OF the company in previous years
They showed that in lsSs the price was 20 cents
hundred pounds, and in 1889. ~ cents. In 1880
year Of scarcity the rate 81 hundred POUNDS
In 1892 IL 30 cents. while in 1893 10 1928 II was
20 cents. These rates only for customers
who took twenty-five pounds or more daily.
The chief item Of expense In our business.
added Mr.. Ballantine. is the cost OF delivery.
Wholesale ice costs only 81 50 20 81 ton This re-
cent advance Is necessary 10 cover the cost OF de-
livery"
Mr.. Ballantine also said that. even II John F
Carroll or any other politician had bought stock
in the company. there was no politics in H. pc
cause there we're political privileges 10 De
sought in the ice business.
Mr. Ballantne's naive argument that the people
ought not 20 complain, because Ice at 81 cents a
hundred is cheaper than in previous years, brings
no satisfaction TO the thousands OF hOusehoders
who were, in the early part OF the season. being
dealers who have since been goDbled up py the
trust When the consolidation was made public re-
Gently II was announced that II would NOT result
I'm the advance OF prices this The increase
company a few days obtained control OF the
Union and Crystal Lake Ice companies Large con-
sumers will be protected for the remainder or me
season by their current contracts, but, as very
large portion OF the business comes from srnaI
total Increase OF price is estimated
as a general advance Of 10 per cent
The Consolidated Company has been absorbing
other ice businesses until II IL now understood 70
control over 20 per OF the trade in the CITY,
and the chances 100 TO thu. soon as current
contracts expire the price will be raised 10 all con-
sumers big and little Every dealer In food proc,
ucts which require ice for their preservation VIII
then feel at ibnrty 10 raise the price OF those
products giving as excuse that he Is put 20
eventually pay the increased price OF Ice three or
four times