The times., 1899-03-14
MORE TALK OF
bN ICE TRUST
Negotiations for a COnsolida.
tion Still Pending.
The Purity Company Opposes the
Proposed Combination.
1t Is Intimatcd Tint the Knickcr.
booker Concern Intends to Com
troll the Trade.

Little doubt is expressed. in quarters
which should be well informed that the
Independent Ice Company will soon be a
part of the KnicEerbocker Ice trust. which
began business last fall in this city by
purchasing the Hygienic Company. There
is talk also of the probability that the
Great Falls Company will join the trust.
but it is said that in this case the nego-
tiatiOns for the purchase have not vt gone
very far and may not result in any deal.
Officers of both companies acknowledged
to reporter for The Times yesterday that
negotiations have been on foot for some
weeks 1t is said that the Purity Ice Com
pany is now the sonly one in Washington
which is holding out against the trust
steadily. All the other concerns may at
least be accused of coquetry.
President Church was asked the quest on
yesterday if the Independent had joined
the trust.
Il will not deny that there have been
negotiations he said, but up to the pres
ent time | cannot say that any deal has
been completed | have seen deals fail
before now. | do not care to say more
than that price has been fixed by u.s. and
that il may be accepted. | remember that
the deal for the purchase of the Metro
politan Railway failed when everybody
believed that it was certain OF consumma-
tion. Our price is satisfactory to our
stockholders, but it may not be an
nounced at this time for obvious Telsons."
Another gentleman seen by a reporter
stated positively that the sale of
the company had been made. 1t is
known that parties are buying the
stock of the Great Falls Company and
the inference is drawn that the stock is
desired in the belief that the Great Falls
Company will also be bought out by the
trust. There were two sales of stock on
the local Stock Exchange yesterday, the
first at lS5 and the second at 146 The
latter price is $50 a share higher than the
stock sold for week ago. No facts could
be ascertained from the officers OF this
company except that the trust has offered
to buy the company. The opinion given
by one gentleman familiar with the affairs
of the company was that for the present
at least the Great Falls will stay out OF
the combine.
The Knickerbocller Ice Company made
lis appearance in Washington few months
ago and the hint was given in various
quarters that it intended to obtain control
OF the ice business here. The Hygienic
Company was soon purchased. but for a
time people contested with the other con-
Germs persistently denied that there was
any possibility that they would be alb
sorbed. Two minor concerns were later
bought.
Since that time the Knickerbocker Trust
has been working hard for business in the
city. 1t is thought that the encroach-
ments made by it in the business of the
other companies may have finally induced
them 10 consider its terms 4 represen-
tative of the Purity lee Company was seen
by a reporter yesterday
You may state for lis" he said. that
we are not going into the trust We will
continue to deliver ice TO our customers
this summer. and it will be Purity ice
and not trust ice"