The Topeka state journal., 1901-12-21
| HE is AT OUTS.
Originator of Mutual Ice Plant
Now Opposes 1t.
Says 1t Has Drifted Away From
Original Plans.
HE is VERY BITTER
Predicts That Supporters Will
Lose Their Money.
Natural Ice Will Solve the
Trust Question.

George III. Langdon, the originator of
the scheme to build a Citizens Mutual
Ice Plant in Topeka predicts failure for
all the efforts of the management of
the present Mutual Ice and Cold Stor-
age company, stock of which is being
offered for SALE
The project of the Mutual Ice and
Cold Storage company is the outgrowth
of the movement begun here last sum-
mer when the city was in the grasp of
the ice trust, to form a cooperative
company to furnish ice to all the m en-
berS of the company at a sum only
tr1f1e above cost.
Il have no connection whatever with
the company" said Mr.. Langdon to a
State Journal reporter '.I was vice
president of the company when it was
organized here last summer, but soon
aIter that was called out of the city.
and was away over three months. I
returned to find that the name of the
company had been changed and that
the constitution and bylaws of the
company had been so changed as to be
hardly recognizable.
My resignation was handed in to the
board of directors at the meeting held
December 6.
"A clique has gotten hold of he pro-
Ject and it is being conducted to suit
themselves. The bylaws and constitu-
ton have been doctored so as to allow
the sale of 100 shares to any one per-
son instead of 10 as originally intended,
to let in capitalists they explained.
CanVassers have secured the city
for 80 days and have collected $780,
Mr.. Langdon asserted, las an assess
ment on 399 shares of stock
The shares were not selling so fast
as was anticipated and the promoters
again sent out over the city with a red
and blue contract. Here they were TAX
ing contracts for something they had
not and with the remote possibility of
10 IN
business possibilities for me. No ice
no plant, no money, no stock sold, no
delivery wagons and not even a pair of
ice tongs; nothing but the blue sky of
Kansas and it's gusty breezes for cap
1tal And it was a feeling of disgust
that overcame my surprise when the
situation was explained to me-
AT the meeting of the shareholders
that was called for December 6. 81 at
tended. The minutes of the last meet
ing and an account of the money re-
celved and expended were called for,
but the books had been left at home
by the secretary. A bundle of those
blue and red contracts about half the
size of brick were waved triumphant
ly aloft as the capital of the company.
"A new election was held, which was,
L suppose according to a cut and dried
programme. The president and his cabi-
net retained their former positions and
are a majority of the executive commit
tee But not of them have taken
shares of stock and paid the money
therefor into the treasury
1t has been announced in the news
papers that the company has been
chartered for $4,000 and that they had
contracts for so tons of ice daily, and
that a plant would be built at once. I
learned from one of the directors that
they had nearly 500 shares sold or about
sold and that 10 tons of ice per day
had been contracted
To build a plant with a capacity of
65 tons daily will require a paid up
capital of $4,000. exclusive of building
site And ice machine men demand
their money upon delivery of the ma
chine.
Zone clause of the bylaws says: All
share holders shall buy all their ice Of
the company under penalty of forfei-
ture of stock What is the consumer to
do if the machine breaks or the supply
of ice should by some means run out?
Il asked what would be done with the
money collected for the first assessment
if the project failed. I was told it
the subscribers, but 1 anticipate that
those who have parted with their mon
ey, may as well say good-by to it,
IF the ideas first promulgated had
been carried out along the lines intend
ed, it might have been successful, if
properly managed, but how can a thing
prosper that has fallen into the hands
of people who are always ready to grab
an idea furnished by others If they see
chance to gain glory or lucre or both
and at the same time be it?
Providence is starting a mutual ice
company right now that will make that
commodity so cheap next summer it
win be a drug on the market