The Washington herald., 1909-06-07

Commissioner Henry L West favo-s
the erection by the national governrent
Of plant for the manufacturs OF ice.
with which 10 supply all the government
departments. including those OF the Dis
trict government
He made such a recommendation yes
terday while discussing the price paid
under contract for ice by the District.
his attention had been eaHed 20 the fact
that The District Is paying 20 cents a
hundred pounds for fee. Notwithstanding
IT uses Loo0.ooo pounds IN season. While
. cents a hundred pounds Is paid by
the Washington clubs. hotels. saloons.
and many other private concerns
Recent bids az 70 cents a hundred Tor
supplying ice 20 the District have been
rejected by the government board OF
awards. and that body is now said %
be seriously considering the advisabiiity
OF buying ice for the District IN the
open market
Favors National Plant.
ConmissIoner West made a lengthy
statement 20 reporter Of The Washing
ton Herald regarding the situation as
affecting the District He said:
II the national government would
erect a large central ice plant FOR sup
plying al Of It's departments. Govern
uent Printing Ofce. the Navy Yard. and
other places. similar 10 the big heating
and lighting plant that is now building
70 supply the Capitol with those neces-
sary comforts. I would favor the Dis
trict government being supplied from
suca a plant
The government could prodUee all the
Zee needed for its own uses and those
+ of The District a. cost. and we could be
/ independent of the ice companies and
I save large sums Of money annually
4 through such an Industrial plant under
T the control Of the national government
I 90 not believe a plant for the manu-
T facture Of ice for the local government
would be the thing just now. although az
some time IN the future Il might become
a necessity 20 protect the District from
. a combination 20 raise prices
The only solution OF the question ot
/ cheaper ice for the national and District
I governments. Il seems 10 me. Is for the
4 Federal government 20 manufacture ice
T for all its needs and those Of the District
I government
As 10 the prices charged the national
/ government for ice, you can readily see
4 there Is great difference when compared
with those OF the District government
! Contractors for the government depart
( ments deliver large quantities OF ice in
bulk Al one delivery more ice is deliv-
/ cred at some Of the larger departments
! than We get n a whole section OF the city
T It Is delivered n large blocks. cut up and
E distributed 20 the various rooms In the
/ case OF the District each delivery IS small.
I not more than z 10 or % cent lump, and
II must be put n the coolers BY the ice
men
Service In the District.
In supplying the District government
/ the contractor must serve = points.
1 widely scattered. from the foot OF Seventh
street 70 beyond the neighborhood OF Ia
i zoma Park. and from Benning on the
I east 10 the extreme western limits OF the
( city beyond old Georgetown. and n nearly
t all cases in small 3 and 10 cent lots. Tbs
I ice contractor must cover a wide scope OF
I territory in supplying the fire engine
/ houses. police stations. school houses. and
/ other points
While I believe ice can be manufac-
tured ard sold al a good profit al a much
/ less price than We pay. yet when We con-
slider the market IS practically controlled
! by one company and other matters that
go into the consideration OF delivery OF
/ ice 10 the various needs OF the District.
there IS only one thing for the Comnis-
I sioners 10 do and that IS TO get their
( ice through proposals at the lowest posi-
1 bic price.
so far as can remember, the Board
/ OF Commissioners has never taken any
action 20 ask Congress 20 appropriate
money FOR the installation Of an ice plant
+ for the District. although al one time
+ It was Informally discussed. II we had
I such a plant IL would necessitate the local
+ government purchasing wagons and
( horses and other equipment. and the
I hiring OF a large number Of men 70 DIS
( tribute che ice. This would be a heavy
/ expense TO be added 10 the cost OF manu-
/ taeture Of ice, and when all things are
/ considered. I 90 not think il would be
1
Asked II the letting OF contracts had
! been taken out Of The hands OF the Com
missioners and vested fl the newly Gre
I ated government board OF awards. ieav-
f ing the Commissioners helpless 10 have
7 a voice in the letting OF contracts. he
said ne did rot think the new board was
/ the court OF last resort. as the Conmis-
{ sioners were bonded. and the letting or
! contracts was a part OF their duties he
was not certain as 10 the authority pos
sessed by The new board. and doubted
I II II had authority IN the matter OF de-
( priving the Commissioners Of passing
I finally on The contracts
Threatened Emergency.
I He said that some time ago. TO meat
q threatened emergency. when the IS
phalt trust threatened 10 charge the Dis
/ trict government unreasonable prices for
asphalt. the Commissioners asked author-
I ity Of Congress 70 establish it's asphalt
plant as a means OF protection. and au-
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