The Washington times., 1906-12-27
WITH LOTS Of ICE
NO DROP IN PRICE
Trust President Admits Big
Crop, Hints No Re-
duCtiOn.
'.IN BUSINESS FOR MONEY
Magnate Frankly Declares Monopoly
Has No Intention of Losing in
Race for Gold.

NEW YORK. Dec 2T.-In view of the
fact that the Ice trust is under !nves-
tigation by Attorney General Mayer,
the president of the American Ice Com
pany Wesley N. Oier. said yesterday
that present Indications are 70" the hest
ice crop in years. but that ne 1Id not
believe that ice would ne a bit cheaper
than it was last summer. adding: The
American Ice Company is in the busl-
ness FOR money They a,e not in il Tor
anything else than that, and it ought t9
+be plain 10 any one"
Mr.. Oler said 10 reporters that while
it looked like a fine ice crop this year.
he did not care TO deal in futures and
in the second place. the weather is al
ways ia the hands of Providence on
December II, he said, the company start
ed 10 harvest at Portland and Bristol.
Ne, and on the day before Christmas
they gathered the first of the Hudson
river crop at Green Island.
Natures Bounty Trusts Gain.
''In the event Of a bountiful CROP was
asked, you hold out no hope to the
consumer that ice VIII be cheaper in
New York and vicinity next summer"
II do not" he replied. He refused to
discuss the report that the company
had experienced great difficulty in OBJ
tanning enough men to harvest the ice
crop last year or whether there Is a
scarcity OF labor this year.
1--WE VIII gather all the ice we can
he said. "and VIII store it as fast as we
can gather It."
The storage capacity in Maine, he
said. was 100000 tons. and on the Hud-
son and other places in this State 4,01O.-
600 tons. In round figures. he said, the
consumption of ice in this city annually
is 100000 tons.
Granting that you can and VIII store
more than twice the amount that is re-
guired." he was asked. you cannot say
that the company will sell ice cheaper
than when they We're short last year2'
Il have already answered that Ques-
ton, said Mr. Oler. 81 have said that
no cheaper ice viii be promised. The
price of ice Is fair now. We deliver ice
10 the house at 30 cents a hundred and
never raised the price of this to the
AouSekeepeT. That Is fair dealing and
there is no reason to think that The pub
lie h3ye cause Tor complaint"
Defends Recent Dividend.
Mr.. Oler was told that il did not seem
consistent TO the public, when asking for
cheaper ice, 20 have ,ht. TRUST cry short
age and on top of this. declare a divi-
preferred stock.
There is where all the newspapers
which are pounding Us and do uot give
us a fair show have made a mistake"
ne answered. There has Been a divi-
dend OF pa per cent on the preferred
stock. That per cent was the first
dividend that has been declared in four
years. II the company cannot make a
profit OF a HtJIe over . per cent an
lually il ought 10 go out OF business"
is it to- be understood, Mir Oier, tHat
while tile company was putting up the
price of Ice last year IL was making a
pront that reimbursed il for three years
of loss o.
The Ice Trust head looked surprised
There has been 4 small surplus at
one time or another that had not been
divided, lac explained ''The company
has not charged "a biz too much. lt is
IN business for profit, of course: who in
the mercantile world Is mote.