The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-26
BOARD Of TRADE ASKS
Pertinent QUESTIONS

Following is the text OF the letter OF in
quiry which the board OF trade has sent
TO number OF ice dealers in this city.
with the list OF questions to which an
swers are asked:
'Gentlemen-The providence Board of
Trade is desirous OF obtaining all peril
nent information regarding the ice situa-
ton In this city and would esteem IL
FAVOR IL you will give us such information
as the following questions call for. The
same questions have been sent TO each
Ice dealer In Providence. and an early re-
sponse Will be appreciated. The commit
tee having this subject under considera-
ton Will meet In the office or the board
of trade on Friday. July o.
Please send us your schedule of prices
and state the period OF time covered by
these prices. Can you supply all con-
sumers who may send you orders?
Using as a basis the amount of ice
you have delivered In Providence since
March i, and the stock you have on hand
| or on order for delivery before Dec 1. 1906
| L what percentage was locally cutp
| What percentage was cut by parties
other than your own company?
% What percentage is local artifcial?'
| what percentage is artificial ice
from elsewhere?
'6 What percentage of your local busi-
ness is 10 consumers?
"6 What percentage OF your local busi-
ness is TO jobbers?
What extraordinary efforts have been
| taken by your company during the last
eight months TO ensure an adequate sup
| ply OF ice? The committee would no
| pieased 10 learn the extent of such eff
forts. as they have a bearing on the mat,
| ters BEFORE them for consideration In
| FORMATION OF this sort either verbal or
written. will be much appreciated
| CHARLES DEAN KIMBALL.
| HENRY ID. SHARPE.
Commissioner George II. Webb of the
bureau OF industrial statistics desires TO
make statistical tabulation OF da ia and
to that end has prepared the following
questions which will be sent to the ice
dealers:
Il. State number OF tons of ice har-
vested or manufactured Estate which,
during the year ending March 4. 1905.
| 20. State number OF tons delivered
TO customers from March l. 1905. 10
March /. 1905
% State number OF tons Of ice har-
vested or manufactured during the year
ending March I. 1906.
"a State number OF tons OF ice on
hand March 1. 1906,
"5. State approximate number of tons
Of ice delivered by you annually to house
trade.
&c State approximate number Of tons
of ice delivered by you annually to mer-
chants, or to stores. markets. meat and
produce dealers. etc.
| u What Is the percentage OF shrink
age OF Ice from time Of harvesting 70
time Of delivery TO customers?
IS. State approximate amount Of ice
(percentage) being used by your custom
ers at the present time I'm comparison
with the present time last year.
''9. State number Of tons OF ice pur-
chased or contracted by you for delivery
this season"
Discussing the ice question President
| Thomas Walch OF the Pocasset Ice com
pany. declared that he did not see how
the committees investigation would tend
| TO relieve the situation.
| III the committee can show" he said
ANY way by which ice can be sold at low
er prices. no one will be more glad to learr,
Of Il than the ice dealers. While Il may
help to satisfy the consumers that there
Is real basis for existing conditions
do not see just what other good the in
vestigation can do
Personally, / do not think that there
Is any probability OF a further advance
| in the price Of ice this year unless there
should come an extremely hot August.
There was no understanding among
the ice dealers TO raise prices. We have
generally followed the lead Of the Provi-
dence Ice company, the largest local firm;
and that accounts for the similarity and
simultaneous changes Of prices"