New-York tribune., 1906-07-14
ICE BOOSTED AGAIN.
FaMINE FEAR A RE4sON.
HesIey ". Oier Says .artifciaL Man
ufacturcrs Are to Blame.

wesley NJ uler president OF the American
r,s Company said yesterday that the alleges
ero-bitant prices demanded by the manufacturers
n ARTIFICIAL fee were largely responsible for the
American combsny's announcement that on
-gonday it Will charge for ice 81 cents for 100
mounds. except for family use.
The manufacturers said Er. Oler, turn out
saily 420o tons OF ice. against the American
Zee Company's 500. and by their prices throw
many buyers unwilling TO pay so much. on
% Us"
Regarding the notice OF an increase in price
70 IS cents Tor 100 pounds. Mr. Oler said he
vas confronted by the alternative Of shortage
q, more than 10000 tons by October 81 While
;. vas willing to be pounded" by the public
s-r increased prices. he was not willing TO be
criticised for an ice famine Hence the COM
rany's action. Il would not affect the people
q the East Side. he said. Since March the
cost 20 families had been 30 cents for 100 pounds,
and would so remain in any contingency. Other
reasons which Mr. oler gave for the shortage
were the increased growth and prosperity of the
city last year and the bad ice crop, illustrating
tits By pointing 20 a sprig Of pussy willow care
suly framed above his head which had been
plucked. he said last January in Maine
The company had sought everywhere for ice,
going so far as 10 buy a quantity Of il at
Elmirs- y. Z, al IS ton. and selling IL at the
same figure.
June showed retail gain in the sale of ice
ever the same amount last year Of 2.27O tons,
and wholesale gain Of about the same
amount" said Mr.. Oler, who seemed scarcely
disposed 20 take seriously the talk OF inde-
pendent ice plants, saying that a s15O.OOO plant
ouuld only turn out some 100 tons day,
scarcely more than days load 10 one of the
American company's carts
Il is understood that already Mr.. oler has
Invited District Attorney Jerome to examine
he company's methods
The American Ice COmpany's notice which
6 dated July and is addressed to its GUS
toners follows:
The condition of our supply of ice taken
June 80 shows such shortage to compel
us 10 reduce the consumption or leave as in the
xfe summer without ice for the people. To
fhst end we are obliged 10 advance all prices
lother than 10 families) 10 S5 cents a hundred
pounds. 70 take effect July Is.
The reduction hitherto made to those using
Eve tons a week and over is Withdrawn in order
70 discourage the use Of ice as much as pos
Elble
Our appeal. made May %. 10 our trade has
failed TO reduce the consumption. sales in
June being greater than last year
President oler also said yesterday:
In answer TO a newspaper statement that
as president Of the American Ice Company. in
eny olner capacity, stated EnaI lulS company
last year made 21z cents a ton on 2,eDooslO tons
Of ice and paid 8 per cent dividend on an invest
met Of Sl3.eG0.G,00. I would say that this is
absolutely untrue.
The only statement to sales and profits eVei
made by me or any OF the officers of this admin
istTslion was made at the last annual meeting
q the stockholders. and the figures were entirely
at variance with those published
In Brooklyn it is said, the independent dealers
have subscribed $4,000 to erect an artificial ice
plant, and antitrust dealers in Manhattan 1t
aexpected WIFI follow their lead.