Omaha daily bee., 1906-06-24
ICE MEN STATE THEIR CASE
Deny Charges that Drivers Are Held for
shrinkage in Days Supply.
INSIST THEY ARE DOING BEST THEY CAN
Consumer Continues to Pay tn
Freight. However, hut Dealers
Say IL t. the Best
They Can DO.

Omaha ice dealers say that with con-
tinuance of a summer of reasonable cool
ness they hope to get through the season
without making further advances In prices
or failing to supply all patrons. Should
there be a run of very hot weather, how
ever, they fear that the supply will not
equal the demand. Rather than increase
prices again and incur further public odium
and abuse some of them say they would
prefer to let their stock run out at the
present figure and have the whole business
ended In this contingency they figure too,
on the possibility OF new ice company
capturing large amounts of the business
next year, because OF a feeling on the
part of patrons that they have been the
subjects of eXtortion.
A week ago the companies that control
the local situation and furnish the bulk Of
ice made fiat residence coupon book rate
of 80 cents per 100 pounds. Up to that time
80 cents had been charged for l0O-pound de-
Hveries. 70 cents for hfty-pound consign-
ments and ~ cents for twenty-pound lots.
BY making the 5O-cent fiat rate. the dealers
argEe, they are making the fairly prosper
Gus consumer stand the advance and letting
the poorer patrons off without additional
/ cost.
| On what il known as wholesale business
| to butchers, drug stores and saloons-the
! Omaha Ice and Cold Storage company
/ raised the price from s. to So ton. The
| Peoples Coal and Ice company did not
/ meet this advance. but is inclined TO ease
OF on seeking new business These two
companies supply the greater part OF ice
| used in Omaha.
1t is estimated that half the ice being
used now in the city has been shipped in
! from outside The local crop last winter.
owing to the mildness OF the season, Is
said to be only from 20 to 30 per cent Of
the normal The same conditions exist in
other cities and towns throughout this ter
rtory.
Charges that drivers are compelled TO
make up for shrinkage by giving short
weight are denied absolutely. by the com
panies This story is. allegeh TO have been
produced by a driver OF the Omaha Ice and
cold Storage company discharged for per-
sonal reasons To disprove this charge
Manager Willis Todd of the company
handed a reporter for The Bee the circular
issued to route men with reference TO the
increased prices effective June Is. Part OF
this reads:
We wish to call the particular attention
OF route men to the fact that it is essen
tial that all customers be treated with
courtesy and respect Avoid arguments
| contentious or quaTrels with any customer
BY acquiring and maintaining the good
will of your customers you Tighten your
care must be observed that all customer,
I receive full weight
/ According 10 the managers, wagon msT
are not held accountable for shrinkaRe ol
required TO pay for H. They say thai
false statements to this effect have caused
them an endless amount Of trouble, in
GLIDING the resignation OF route men, VIII
refuse 10 allow themselves TO be the sub
jects Of abuse from patrons who are con
WINGED they are being robbed
A representative of the Peoples Coal an,
Ice company showed a reporter for TIT
Bee letter from an ice company in Mime
sofa. stating that II had $500 tons Of ic
for June or July delivery. The letter wa
dated June p IL quoted price of S. 50
ton for June deliveries and s. fer July de
liveres. The freight charges are $3.50
ton, with special rate OF 81 a ton 70
consignments Of five cars a day or more
made by the Great Western shrinEag
amounting TO $3.50 a ton Is estimate
enroute. meaning the cost OF the produc
laid down in Omaha at from s. 80 TO s.
ton. This, against the present residenc
rate Of SO a ton. delivered in small quau
titles.
The artificial ice plant Of the Omaha Ic
and Cold Storage company, the only one
Omaha, produces from sixty 10 sixty-fy
2 tons a day, out OF an average oOnsumptio
in the city OF something like 200 tons DALI
Many artificial ice plants are being cor
: structed this summer through The ives
: the demand for them being 30 great as
retard Installation some assistance fTOs