The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-28
THE ICE CROP.
Mild Winter Makes Shortage in
Natural Supply-PriceS For
Approaching Season.

The mild weather of the past winter
has been unfortunate for ice dealers who
depend upon a harvest OF the natural
product. The same conditions have
been correspondlngly favorable to the
ice makers Of Kansas and western Mis-
souri,. Inquiries recently made of people
interested in these lines elicit the fact
that there is a big shortage IF the crop
OF natural ice.
1t is said that forty thousand tons less
than usual were cut this season at Oma-
ha. and that there is a similar shortage
of about fifty thousand tons in Kansas
on the Missouri river between st. Joseph
and Kansas City At Lawrence, in this
state. where are located several large ice
storage houses. it IS understood no ice
whatever was harvested. At Topeka the
estimate is that the ice companies put
UP about fifteen hundred tons OF thin
natural ice. which is available for little
use aside from the icing of cars and such
purposes.
The warm area existed all winter in
Kansas and Nebraska as FAR north as
Omaha.
Those familiar with the conditions and
figures say that no natural see can be de-
liVeIed in Kansas City on track from the
north during the coming season for less
than 81 per ton, not counting shrinkaga.
W. L. DicNey. marager Of the Peo-
pies lee company. OF Topeka. has this
to say upon matters Of interest to ice
consumers
THE public does not seem to fully
understand or appreciate the DISPOSE
ton or intention of our company Last
year we were accused of bring a trust
and raising prices. We were charged
with rObbinz the peOpie- The facts were
exactly the reverse our prices were
less than these charged in K ansas City.
where one OF the largest companies has
six thousand customers to serve, and
where coal is IS cents a ton less than
it costs in Topeka
While people generally gracefully ac-
cept advances ia prices en- nearly every
living, an advance m Ice Is called fah-
berry Materials and products which
enter into the manufacture Of ice have
advanced heavily in cost. Steam coal
is 20 per cent. higher: pipe and iron
products are from p TO 40 per cert. 1
higher; ammonia costs 40 per cent more,
and all Ia Dor employed by tire n2lufac-
tureres Of ice are better paid yet YOU
will find people horrifad at the rlimcr
that ice will advance even five cents per
hundred pounds.
Notwithstanding these conditions the
Peoples Ice company viii not make any
general advance IN the price If ice fora
this seasons consumption in TOPEKA.
All the dealers here will Introduce the
coupon book system of selling ice which
is in operation in eastern and southern
cities gel orally. and ask cash in advance
for the books
The prices viii be revised and based
upon q quantity scale. as follows. Gus
toners using coupon books
Ten pounds at one delivery. So cents
per 100 pounds.
twenty-five pounds at one delivery, 45
cents per 100 pounds.
FIFTY to SaNeDry-Hve pounds at one
delivery. 40 cents per 100 pounds
100 to lis pounds at one delivery, So
cents per 100 pounds
200 to 275 pounds at one delivery, so !
cents per 100 pounds
300 to 500 pounds at one delivery, %
cents per leo pounds.
300 TO see pounds at one delivery, /
22ia cents per 100 pounds
p 100 or more pounds a t one delivery, /
20 cents per 100 pounds
Higher prices to persons not holding I
coupon books.
There viii be no distinction between 4
residence and business house prices. The I
above price list shows an advance upon /
10 pound deliveries Of Is cents per hun /
dred pounds. and on % pound deliveries I
of i've cents per hundred pounds The /
company does not wish to deliver 10 I
pound pieces of ice. and attention is /
called TO the fact that a % pound de- /
livery made every other day will cost I
the customer less than 10 pounds de- I
livered daily did last year. and will give 7
TO the customer Is pounds more ice each /
unOnth -