New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-25
TELLS HOW NEW TRUST
HOLDS ICE BUSINESS
Mr.. OIer, Head Of Knickerbocker,
Admits Old Concerns Methods
Are Still in Force.
AT THE MERCY OF BARGeS
Saws While Other Boroughs Are
Served by Railroads Manhat-
tan Must Depend on Water
Carriers for Supply.

entire afternoon yesterday in the Ice in
Nostigation going on before Magistrate
Appleton. Wesley NJ. Oler. president Of
the Knickerbocker Ice Company, gave
I'm detail the ways in which the so-called
trust stll dominates the ice trade in
New York In practically the same man
ner il did before an effort was made to
dissolve it by the courts in 1906. His
testimony of yesterday carried out the
general plan of the ice situation which
he had sketched in his testimony last
Thursday.
rs il true that the American Ice Com
rany, at the time II was put out Of
business in this state. had an agreement
with George NJ. Best, who owned two
see houses. that 1t would take all of his
ice provided he would sell to no other
company and would acquire no more
nouses?" asked Mr.. De Ford. Assistant
District Attorney in charge of the in
ouiry
1T is" Mr.. Oler replied. But that
agreement was abrogated at the time
the American Ice Company withdrew
from business in this state. That agree
ment no longer exists"
rs II true that the Knickerbocker Ice
Company still buys all Of George NJ.
Rests ice?" Mr. De Ford asked.
1T is Mr.. Oler answered. For this
year"
rs II true that Mr.. Best has not ac-
ouired any more ice houses, and that he
sells TO no one but your company
.- 1T is true" Mr. Oler agreed
Mr.. De Ford then named other ice
dealers who had similar contracts with
the American Ice Company at the time
the trust was dissolved. and who, like
MIR Best. were still voluntarily carrying
out practically the same terms which
the court prohibited the American Ice
Company from enforcing
Admits "Gentlemen's Agreements
Then is it not true that the Knickert
booker and these dealers are carrying
out the agreements and contracts Of the
American Ice Company, by gentlemen's
agreements as the phrase goes?' Mr..
he Ford asked
1T is not So" Mr., Oler declared. He
cast no further light on how it was that
such condolences continued.
In response to many questions by Mr.
u, Ford. Mr.. Oler proved to he
yeritable encyclopedia as 10 the New
York ice business He not only carried
All Of the details Of his own companys
business in his head. but was able 10
answer with scarcely any hesitation
questions as to the way in which the
other dealers were carrying on their
business.
He revealed the fact that although the
other boroughs could he served with ice
brought by railroads. Manhattan, and es-
reciallv the congested districts, was at
the mercy Of barges. ...-..
The American Ice Company, the
Rnickerbocker Ice Company or the
American Ice Securities Company said
Mr.. De Ford. naming the component
parts of the old trust as they are now
called. owns the Knickerbocker Towing
COMPANY. which does the towing for the
Knickerbocker Ice Company, does 1t
not
e.. Yes" Mr.. Oler said. explaining that
they had found it more economical 10 do
their own towing than to have it done
by another company.
The Knickerbockor Towing Company
also does towing for the National Ice
Company. docs it not?' Mr.. De Ford
asked. naming one of the biggest Of the
so-called independent dealers.
Why It Helps Its Rivals.
we do all Of their towing Mr. Oler
replied. going on TO give numerous limo
cent reasons why his company should
help it's rivals in getting ice to Manhat-
tan i'm the only way in which il could
~ got here. 5t|
= IN the boroughs Of Brooklyn and The
Eronx. Mr. Oler said, his company was
IN a competitive basis with the Noun
tain Ice Company and the Berkshire Ice
Company. which We're able to bring in
their supplies by rail. They bought from
each other, he said by day-to-day agree
ments whenever their respective trades
needed it He denied emphatically that
they had any working agreements, writ
i'n. oral or NllutISlooO.
Does your company bring any ice
from Maine for the New York trade"
Mr.. De Ford asked
1t does not" Mr.. Oler replied.
aountipg al the factors involved in
eeftiug it, it would increase its cost 1o0
pr cent We could not sell il AT a profit
here for less than 81 a ton. 1t is not
practical to bring Maine ice to New
York"
Does the American Ice Company get
any Of its ice in Name Mr.. De Ford
asked At later stage Of the proceedings.
Yes il sells Maine ice in Philadelphia,
Washington and Baltimore Mr.. Oler
replied
What price is charged there for
Maine ice" Mr.. De Ford asked
Three dollars a ton Mr.. Oler replied.
How is IL possible 10 sell ice from
Maine i'm Washington for So when you
can't seIl 1T here for S42' Mr.. De Ford
asked
- Use Empty Coal Trains.
Nb Oler explained that pier facilities
mere made II impracticsble TO bring ice
'argoes from Maine To New York, but
mat since they could use empty coal
trains going back 10 the Pennsylvania
districts they could get GO-cent rates TO
Philadelphia and 7j-cent rates 10 Wash
lnston, as compared with S0-cent rates
70 New York. And even then, he added,
ID. Il