The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-06-27

same price for other commodities
when the cost OF production varies
Any fool can make high prices. but
II takes brains 10 get prices down TO
the lowest figure and still make a
profit. IL the council thinks We are
charging too much for ice. let IL con-
slider the prices In other cities. The
minimum price OF ice. per 100 pounds.
In Detroit, Is 10 cents, the maximum.
SO cents; In Buffalo, the minimum is
20 cents, the maximum, so cents; IN
Toledo. the minimum is 20 cents. the
maximum. S5 cents. and In Cleveland,
the minimum is I'm cents, and the
maximum is 3S cents. Weighing each
piece OF ice is not compulsory. either.
in any OF these cities.
There is absolutely no agreement
as to the apportionment OF territory.
We deliver Ice TO all sections OF the
city. from our seven ice stations, ex-
cept In the old Delray district. We
are not the only ice company that de-
livefs TO the northeastern section OF
the city. Call up the Pittmans & Dean
Ice Co, and ask II they will deliver Ice
TO you In the northeastern section"
The reporter did so in the presence
OF Mr.. Brown. giving a name and ad-
dress In that section Of the city. Back
came the reply:
we would be pleased TO have your
deliver any Ice In your part OF the
city just now"
Mr.. Brown did not suggest any more
tests, but he ascribed the condition
to the fact that all the ice dealers are
pretty busy, just now"
There Is strong competition among
the ice dealers" said Mr.. Brown.
He cited a number OF cases, show
ing there Is competition In the CEN
trail portion Of the city. and the other
Ice companies substantiated this state
ment
Would Cost 100000 Extra.
I'VE are prepared to weigh every
piece of ice the day after the oBrien
ordinance goes In effect" continued
Mr.. Brown. But. let me tell you, the
consumers will pay for 1t. The aver
age family now pays $3.50 for SUM-
mer's supply OF ice. II the ordinance
goes In effect, the average family will
pay SIS. The people OF Detroit win
ray 100000 more this season for
their ice than they would pay under
existing conditions"
The ice alone is one OF the small
ends of the business, II is the delivery
and service that cost Take for in
stance, the report of one Ice wagon
ara 20 MAnAax, oh fhot fhAu
left the station at 6:l2 a. m. and re-
turned at p. m, visiting l20 houses.
Now, IL they had to weigh each par
ticle of ice they delivered, that crew
would not return 10 the station until
Z 80 p. m. Out OF 10000 daily deliv-
cries, there are not over 25 complaints
a week made to Us regarding the
weight of Ice, but there will be plenty
OF complaints II the service is inter
rdpted and the people don't get their
ice on time. That ordinance would
require SO much extra time, | doubt
If the ice companies could serve all
the public.
we have an agreement with the
union, paying the peddlers $3.50 a
week during the summer season and
the helpers $3.50. Just as soon as
this ordinance was proposed, a delega-
ton OF ice men came in here and told
me that agreement was based on con-
ditions as they existed at the time the
agreement was made. There are 5000
men engaged in handling the ice IN
the city today. and II the ordinance is
passed, the Ice companies will have
to pay the ice men for the extra work,
or the men would strike"
Mr.. Brown showed the reporter just
how the ice is handled and how 1t
would require extra time to weigh 1t.
The company manufactures It's own