The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-10
PRICES
OF ICE


here. This Increases the rate OF freight
and the delays caused by transferring
cars at functions materially affects the
shrinkage.
''The freight from some points In
Northern Massachusetts Is more than
double that from Worcester. Fifty dol
lars per day was paid by local dealer
90 a railroad for a special service which
delivered cars 10 the New York. New
Haven AZ Hartford railrod In time TO be
attached 10 certain freight trains. The
saving in time was OF considerable value.
1.-THE carrying OF ice is only a small
temporary part OF the immense freight
business OF Providence. Railroads hav-
ing a large and regular amount 10 carry
would probably make better rates and
more advantageous schedules.
Letters were sent 10 a large number
OF cities. asking for the prices st which
Zee was sold there. Replies were received
from 10. OF these. seven were from cit
aes where conditions are similar 20 Provl-
uence. Comparisons were made upon four
different quantities. Upon deliveries OF
poo pounds the price in Providence Is 81.
The average price in five cities was $40.
The list OF cities was New Bedford, Taun-
ton, New London, Bridgeport and Hart
ford.
The price OF 100 pounds In Providence
ls 30 cents. The average price I'm seven
cities was So cents. The list was the same
as before. with the addition OF Fall River
and New Haven. The price OF 80 pounds
In Providence Is 30 cents. The average
price In three cities was 30 cents. The
list was Fall River. New Bedford and
New London. The cities named in these
three comparisons were the only similar
cities where prices on the quantities were
obtained
''These comparisons show that on two
-
tity the same. and on one higher. The
average on the four comparisons is
slightly lower here than In the other
seven cities similarly SITUATED. The
gprice OF % pounds In Providence is II
gents. The average price in four cities
was 15h cents.
:, 'The list OF the only cities where prices
could be obtained on 25 pounds is as fol-
lows: Hartford, New London, New Bed
ford and Fail River. No comparison
could be made upon smaller quantities.
as the prices I'm enarly all such cities
was not obtainable. The prices were
those existing about the 31st of July
and the rumors that advances were made
subsequently, In some OF these places have
not been investigated.
THE committee find no indication of
any connection with any outside COM
bination. no evidence that stock or Sc
curities are owned by other than local
investors. There are I'm existence definite
contracts whereby retailers OF ice agee
TO maintain the price TO consumers, but
no evidence OF any combination among
producers or wholesalers I'm restraint OF
trade, or In conspiracy against public or
individual rights
I'VE are assured by competent legal
authority that the contracts mentioned
violate no common or statute law. They
are OF the same nature as numerous
agreements whereby manufacturers pro-
tect their customers against ruinous COM
petition In goods they produce. We are
assuerd that a seller has a right TO pro-
tect his interests by making such condi-
tions a part OF the terms OF sale.
THE committee also endeavored TO find
out IL the price was excessive. To do this
II was necessary to establish basis OF
comparison. This was obtained by get
ting the prices at which outside competi
tors would deliver ice at the freight plat
form In Providence. Prices were obtain
ed from six different sources, including
owners OF small quantities whose deliver
les would be insufficient to affect the
price.
The price charged by Providence deal
ers is t6 per ton. The average price Is So.
or the same. In obtaining this price the
estimate OF shrinkage by rail was 20 per
cent from points at the distance OF Wor-
cester and 30 per cent. from points far
ther north. The estimated shrinkage 10y
water was 40 per cent.
I'm regard To ice carried over by deal
ers from last or previous seasons. its cost
ts much less than ice bought from a dis
tance. but a continuous policy OF carry
ing ice over from season to season to
supply wants I'm a year OF short supply
involves continual expense III no def
cheney occurs such ice must be sold at
the same price as Ice freshly harvested,
but its cost adding insurance. interest on
capital represented and shrinkage, is
much more.
The last shortage was I'm 1900 and six
years aggregate expense in carrying Ice
over yearly brings. In the opinion OF the
committee. the real cost OF such ice MS
high as IL brought here from distance.
IF the deficiency occurred at regular
Intervals II could be provided for In
years of plenty and the approximate cost
estimated, but where the shortage occurs
irregularly and varies In amount all such
holdings are purely speculative and
should be sold accordingly to the laws
OF supply and demand.
"The production OF artificial ice under
ordinary conditions Is about 10 per cent OF
the quantity consumed here If the avail
able plants are run full capacity through |
the year, II would approximate 2 per
cent. In either case the quantity is too
small 20 materially affect the prices. The
same number OF customers I'm midwinter
would only use about a quarter OF the
amount they need In midsummer The
manufacturer must either sell his surplus
ten months In the year TO an ice dealer
or only partially run his plant for that
time
THE estimated cost OF artificial ice
ts at least Ave times that OF housing the
natural product The only estimates the
committee could obtain as TO It's cost here
varied from ten TO fifteen times the cost
OF natural At either rate the cost puts
II out OF the question for artificial ice To
be sold TO a dealer In an ordinary year
except at a loss.
III the plant Is partially used the cost
per ton Is much Increased. II Is made
here by concerns engaged mainly In other
lines of business There is general agree
ment among those Informed, that the
amount invested does not bring a fair re-
turn. Several attempts have been made
60 establish large plants here. but as far
as the committee can learn. without sue
cess.
I'm conclusion your committee believes
that the Ice dealers here are engaged I'm
supplying the people OF Providence AZ