Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-04-01
CHEAP ICE FOR
NEWARK IS AIM
OF NEWCOMER
William ]. Clark Says He Has
Contract with American Co.
Will Cut Prices.

That Newark is to get ice this sum-
yet been sold in this city is the state
ment of William J. Clark, formerly of
Yonkers, n. Y, but who recently pur-
chased a home in the Forest Hill sec
ton. Mr.. Clarke claims to have a con-
tract with the American Ice Company
whereby he can supply the retailers,
no matter how large the demand, for
the next three years. Incidentally Mr..
Clark says that Newark has been pay
ing a greater price than any other city
in this section Of the country.
That he is not having any easy time
of it breaking into the field here was
q idenced last night at the Centre
street docks, formerly occupied by the
Union Ice Company, of this city. For
a number of years the latter COM
pany has used these docks under a
lease from Arthur Haslam, owner. This
lease, which expired today, called for
a ninety-day notice in case 1t was de-
sired to have a renewal. This notice
was not given, and Mr.. Haslam gave a
lease to Mr.. Clark.
Last night Mr.. Clark arrived with a
barge of ice. and at IL o'clock attempted
to tie up alongside OF the docks he had
leased. He was met, however, by a
large force of men who claimed to be
private detectives and three policemen.
who stated they had been sent there to
keep the peace. The private detectives
refused to allow Mr.. Clark to tie up, but
the latter foiled them by placing the
barge in a position directly in front of
the dock, but with the ropes tied else
where. Thus matters remained all
night. with both sides ready to fight,
but the police there to stop them.
Another side of the fight the former
tenants are making to discourage their
new competitor is the effort 1t is max
ing to interfere with John j. Clifford. a
retail Ice dealer, who stabbed his horses
and wagons at the dock under the care
of the Union Ice Company. A short
time ago the latter company. 1t is said.
served Mr.. Clifford with a notice to get
out on the first of April, claiming that
he was helping Clark.
This morning Mr.. Clifford went to the
stables to get out his horses and wagons
and deliver his ice, but was met by
employees of the Union Ice Company,
who said If he took them out he could
not put them back. He nov finds him.
self homeless.
This morning Mr.. Clark retained the
legal services of Colby, Sommer &
Whiting and will tomorrow institute
proceedings in the district court to dis
ossess the Union Ice Company.
Incidentally Mr.. Clark told a unique
story.
1T suppose the first cry these people
will make" said he, Twill be that I am
representing the trust. Well, I won't
deny that I am working under a con-
tract with the American Ice Company,
but tust the same I will produce the
ice at a lower figure than Newark has
ever had before. 1t is a simple busi-
ness proposition with me.
st am not in love with any trust,
however. To prove this I will tell you
a short story and let you judge TOT
yourself.
INV father was the controlling
power in the Ridgewood Ice Company
which you know a number of years g
operated In Brooklyn and New York.
That was n of the largest
in this part of the country at that m
In 1890, when the Hudson river was
wide open and no ice was taken from
it. my father was one Of the many
who were forced to make a contract
with Charles w. Morse to get ice from
Maine. The season was so severe that
the firm undertook great obligations.
after Morse had created a situation
whereby everybody. including my
father, would nave to buy from him,
he went into the market and gathered
up all of the obligations Of my fathers
firm. He then sent ice into the market
at practically the cost of freight. He
broke the market and my father could
not meet the obligations which Morse
pressed. The result was that the COM
pany became insolvent, and my father
died four months later from a broken
heart. Do you still think that | have
any great 1--we for the trust?'