Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-11
HE HAS FIXED THE PRICE on ICE
THIS SUMNER.
so SAY THE MANUFACTURERS
ORGANIZE MISSOURI AND KANSAS
ICE EXCHANGE.
Leading Manufacturers of Kansas and
Missouri Met at the Savoy and
Discussed the Situation All
Day-Deny There IL
Any Combine.

With the mercury in the neighborhood Of
zero and snow sitting thick and fast past
the window panes. the leading Ice manu-
facturers Of Western Missouri and Kansas
organized the Kansas and Missouri Ice
Exchange. Their bitter rivals, the natural
Ice men, were at the same time busy on
scores Of ponds and rivers within q radius
Of a few miles, cutting and hauling to their
store houses great frigid ice blocks Of un-
precedented thickness. made by Dame
Nature and offered free for the taking.
Could it be these men were organizing to
control the price Of ice at time so inop-
perfume? The answer came from William
Moeser. Of Topeka, as he smoked his cigar
with the utmost composure:
1.-The Lord has fixed prices on ice for the
public this year. There is nothing We can
do but meet the natural iceman's price this
summer on the commodity, or shut down
our plants. The Lord holds the cards this
time"
It was not such a lugubrious and discon-
solate crowd as would naturally be ex-
pected under such conditions. After elect
ing DR.. D. NJ. Howard, Of Nevada, presi-
dent; 8. d. Hamilton, of st. Joseph. vice
president; A. Mense. Of the Peoples Ice
Company. KANSAS City. secretary. and Mr..
Kimball, Of Parsons, Kas., and William
Moeser, of Topeka, members Of the execu-
tive committee, they adjourned to the din
ing room for q spread, celebrating the birth
of the organization. Two hours in the
dining room were followed by a symposium
in the parlor. ...-- -s
"Did we discuss prices?' said DR.. How
ard. How ridiculous. Do you suppose It
would do any good for artificial icemen to
fix prices and leave the natural icemen
out? No. when we form a combine to
raise prices in 1899 the first invitations will
be sent to some of these fellows who are
saving out fortunes on the river. We are
having discussion on liquid air. Wait TILL
We get liquid air on the market and we
will knock the natural iceman and his saw
into caloric conglomeration suggestive OF
an unfortunate hereafter.
Il have made study Of liquid air from
scientific standpoint, and am convinced
1t will be placed on the market within
three years. shall sell my plant for scrap
iron."
Liquid Air Too Costly.
at will never be a practical commercial
commodity" tnterposed c. A. Lorey, agent
for the National Ammonia Manufacturing
Company. MY company, the syndicate,
has millions at stake on is this question; ;a9s aae
I was sent to all the great european iaD-
oratories to study the possibilities OF IT'S
being put on the market. My work took
me to five European countries. spent
months in investigating the suoJect.
gave r1y company full report, supported
by the opinions Of all the leading exper-
imenters and scientists. The first pound
Of liquid air made by Lord Kenyon cost
E5O0 sterling. That it can never be man.
ufactured economically is the Judgment OF
the leading scientists at the present time.
'sWel that concerns US less. in my 0pin-
ion,'P said A. ]. Morris, OF Morris, Butts
& Mueller, Of Kansas City. than the fact
that 500 900 tons Of natural Ice have already
been harvested at Lawrence, this winter.
The factory at Lawrence, with an invest. west.
ment Of $4,000. which has employed q force
of men for years, will stand idle this year.
Another important fact is that they are
cutting ice in ponds In this city's limits to.
day that will breed disease next summer,
said Mr.. Menny. 'At Thirty-first street
and Indiana avenue they are harvesting
ice from hole in the ground that . is
through the summer. It will be sold to
saloons and families this summer. and
typhoid will follow in its wake. Such things
have been stopped In every other large
city in the country by strict state sanitary
II have seen ice harvested from ponds in
this state where a part Of each pond was
fenced into hog lot" said DR.. Howard.
Zone Of the first duties which We took
upon ourselves after organizing to-day was
to urge the, passage OF laws to remedy
such things
Improved machinery and sanitary laws
were the principal topics OF conversation
and discussion during the afternoon. The
first meeting of the Ice exchange adjourned
to meet the first Wednesday in January,
tions Of the country Circulars were sent
out by DR.. Howard. as temporary chairman
of the exchange, two months ago calling
for the meeting which was held yesterday.