The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-13
NO ICE COMBINE IN Sight
Large Companies Held Out
Against the Trust.
STATEMENTS By OFFICERS
Feuncbcc. Great Falls and Purity
All Preparing for the Summer
the Small Georgetown Plant
Some Experience With the Trust.

1t may be stated on the authority Of off,
GERS in the Kennebec, Great Falls and
Purity Ice companies that none of them
have gone into the trust" The present
outlook is, furthermore, that they will not
do so.
There have been rumors within the last
week that at least one of these companies
has been bought by the Knickerbocker Ice
Company. The story was told among bust
ness men that this company had succumbed
to the Establishments Of the trust, but that
there might be no positive announcement
OF the fact until Summer. 1t cannot be
learned that there is any foundation for
this statement other than the desire Of the
trust.
Two companies have Joined the Knick-
erbocker Company-the HYGIENE, which
was acquired Two months ago as first
step by the trust. and the Washington Ice
Manufacturing Company, which was sold
a few days ago. Both OF these companies
are artificial ice manufacturers, and both
OF them are relatively unimportant in the
total ice output for Washington. 1t is esti
mated that they do not furnish % per cent
of all the ice consumed. Up to the present
time therefore, II would seem that the
{
4 reporter fer The Times has obtained
statements from officers of the Kennebec,
the Great Fails and the Purity companies.
They are all very positive in their asser-
tions that they have not been bought out
and that negotiations are not in progress
with the Kennebec Company.
An officer of the Great Falls Company
said We are cutting ice on the Kennebec,
as usual. and will harvest large crop, Il
full crop. Tha; HIS no indication in it that
We intend to sell out. We have expended
considerable sum Of money in the last
month in getting out our annual calendars
We are preparing 10 do our usual adyer-
Using for the coming season When the
season opens We will begin 10 sell ice as
usual and We will not be under the con-
troll of the trust.
IAN things are possible in the ice bust
ness. as in everything else suppose
but it is at least safe to say that there is
not now any probability whatever OF our
joining the Knickerbocker Company
\ very similar statement TO this. which
reiterates the one given to reporter for
/ The Times by Mr.. Bartlett = few weeks
ago, was made by kennebec Ice Com
| pany officer yesterday.
Mr.. John f McGTaw, manager OF the
| Purity Ice Company, said last night:
You may say very positively for the
| Purity Company that it is not going into
! the Combin2tion. There has been no deal,
! and there will be none. / feel very Ger
! tain that the Knickerbocker Company
I could not afford to pay us what we would
| be willing 10 sell for"
The Kniekerbocker Company is making
! an active campaign for the trade of the
| customers Of the local ice concerns. II
| is Offering its ice at low price, and fur
| thermore its agents are alleged to he
making the statement that the Local COM
| panies will soon be in the Knickerb ecker
| to further its object. This latter state
ment has caused some adverse comment
among business men, because OF its SEEM
| ing unfairness.
1t is pointed out by officers Of other
ice companies that in cities where the
| Knickerbocker Company has obtained
| control prices have gone back to tioir
| old level, and are now even higher than
| when there were several independent
| concerns. This is the case, TO a certain
| extent, in Baltimore.