The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-07-13
PEOPLE SUFFER
ALL over STATE
Offer Fabulous Sums of Money
for Ice and Then Fail
Utterly to Get 1t.
PRICES DRIVEN skYWARD
Letters From Various Parts of
Virginia Tell OF Shortage
in Supply.

Reports received in Richmond from
dinerent parts of the State indicate
that the suffering. caused by the short
age in the ice supply is The mos, Sc
we're experienced ir years Because
OF the sudden fam!ne in many of the
larger cities, dealers found il impos-
slole to ship to the interior, and con-
sequently there was none to be had at
any price. Within the past day or
TWO. however. conditions have been
somewhat relieved. and later reports
show that while the market has not
reached normal again. many people
nave been able 10 secure small blocks
But in a great many cases exorbi-
tant rates have been charged This
was due largely to the fact that peo-
pie offered fancy prices for small bits.
Ihey were willing to pay anything.
provided they could get a chunk suf-
hciently large to drive death away
from some Ill child or woman
Small Shipments Only.
Life in the country is beautiful
enough. but the beauty soon fades
when the temperature hovers around
Moreover. the shipments which have
been sent in reply to the most urgent
cries, melted more rapidly than usual.
as result of the terrible heat Let
tiers received here yesterday stated tina I
one dealer in a small town was offered
SIS for 100 pounds. and that he even
refused TO sell at that eXorbitant dx-
ure 1t is not stated whether he per-
mitted it to melt while holding ont for
higher bids.
Never in the history OF Virginia has
there been such long spell of oppres
siVe weather. 1t created an abnormal
demand for the one product which is
absolutely essential in such times. ana
the small supply sent out had TO be
guarded just as if it were gold instead
OF an article which is cheap and plenti-
full in ordinary months.
Prices Sent Skyvnrd
While no direct charge has been
made that manufacturers in Richmond
or elsewhere. advanced the wholesale
price, there have been numerous
charges-right here in Richmond-that
small dealers shot it up 100 per cent
y colored waiter, who lives in Jack
son Ward. said yesterday that on sun
day he was asked to pay so cents for
little block worth less than 10 cents
according to the regular scale Of
prices. Even a member of the Police
Board who drove to factory on sun
day got for % cents Just about rs
much as his family buys week after
week for 10 cents. There have been
numerous complaints. the famine Gull
minating in the resolution in Council
by Mr.. Blake that the city investigate
the cost OF municipal ice plant.
According to reports yesterday the
city was being supplied without diff
ficulty but in the country the wall
that has gone forth has been bitter
enough to melt the heart of the most
cold-bioodcd ice magnate The little
relief in the weather which was ex-
rerienced on Tuesday and a gain yester-
day is no guarantee that the worst OF
the summer is gone. and a return OF
continued high temperatures would
mean still greater suffering. Right
now there is enough accumulated hea,
in the earth hereabout to turn the
Arctic Ocean into a frst-ciass Turkish
bath