The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-02
GoRRIE WANTS THE ICE FIELD.
REPORTED MOVEMENT To CON-
troll THE KNICKERBOCKEH.

Manager YOumans of the KnieI1er-
booker Company Says He Knows
Nothing of 1t, and Does Not Be-
Iieve the Plant Is for saIe-PrOs-
pectOrs Are Inquiring About
Room for Third Company in sa-
vannah-COnsumers' Prospects for
the Coming Season.
"I am looking for a good location TO
start an artificial Ice plant. If your city
is not overloaded with plants of this kind,
1 would be pleased to hear from you, CIV
ing me such information as you can as to
the wholesale and retail prices now pre-
vailing. Our machinery manufactures ice
from condensed steam. which makes 1t
absolutely pure"
This is the substance Of letter received
yesterday by Clerk of Council Bailey, but
as the writer failed to sign his name to it,
he viii not be favored with a reply. The
inquiry appears on a letter-head of the
American Bonding and Trust Company of
Columbus, o., and is probably one of many
that have been sent out to find field for
the opera tons Of capitalists desiring to
invest in an ice factory.
1t is claimed there is plenty of room in
Savannah for another ice factory, notwith-
standing the capacity of the two existing
companies Is said TO be sufficient TO supply
the city and the territory that depends
upon it for ice. The consumers say there
IS room for another factory.
There are rumors af1oat, however, to
the effect that a consolidation of the ex-
isting companies which will give the pur-
chaser monopoly of the ice business in
Savannah, is being talked of, and that the
present competition may not last long.
While the report is strongly denied, it is
stated that the object of rumored negotia-
tons is the purchase of the Knickerbock-
er by the Gorrie Ice Company For a
long time the Knickerbocker has been
competitor of the Gorrie, and rivalry
for the survival of the fittest has resulted
In cheaper prices for ice than many other
cities the size of Savannah have paid.
A sharp competition between the COM
panies continued until last summer, when
circumstances brought them closer togeth-
err For some time previous TO this both
had been selling ice at very low rates,
but an understanding is said to have been
reached whereby prices were advanced,
and each company then hustled for bust
ness on an equal basis.
Manager Youmans of the Knickerbocker
company was seen in regard to the report
that the Gorrie had made overtures to buy
out its competitor, but he said he had no
knowledge of any offers in that direction.
Shortly after the death of Mr. CaVanaugh.
who established and managed the plant
he said he thought Mrs. Cavanaugh would
have sold the property, but as it is still
a paying investment the probability is she
would not care TO dispose of ii now, ex-
cept, possibly, at it's full valuation Mr.
Youmans is confident the plant will not
be sacrificed now, as the present owner
has not expressed any desire to dispose of
it at any price.
AS the existing competition has not
made the ice business pay much IN Savan-
nah for the past few years, it is likely a
combination of this kind would cause the
price of ice to jump considerably. The
natural tendency would be to recover a
part of the profits lost in cutting rates TO
meet competition, and until another com
petitor entered the filed the consumers
of ice would probably have to pay the
same prices charged in cities where one
company controls the field If the Gorrie
and Knickerbocker get along as well the
coming summer as they did during the
last it will amount practically to a mo-
nopoly, so far as prices are concerned,
as a schedule may be agreed upon again.
The consumers take the uniform prices
to mean that the companies have come
TO an understanding, and that neither will
try to freeze" the other out of business.
Unless the reported intention TO consoii-
date are brought about. the prices for ice
during the summer will be the same as
they were last year Mr.. Youmans said d
raise has not been considered, and that it
probably win not be. He says the pros
poets for good season in Savannah dur
ing the summer are bright, which is due in
measure to the fact the brewery will be
entirely out of the field. This was not the
case during all of last summer.
President Louis p Hart of the Gorrie
Company could not be seen in regard to the
report that his company is negotiating for
the control of the ice business.