Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-09-06
SCARCITY OF ICE
WORST EVER, SAY
LOCAL DEALERS
Actually Praying for Cooler
Weather to Lessen Demand
for Product.
SOME SELLING AT A LOSS
Those Depending Upon Outside Sup
ply May Be Compelled to Dis
continue Deliveries.
SOME SELLING AT A LOSS

ers Of the three cities, in common
with those all over the country, are
actually praying for cooler weather.
Unless It comes quickly. they say,
the ice supply will become entirely
exhausted. A number OF companies
in the city are now on the verge OF
stopping deliveries. The famine is
said 10 be much worse than that of
1901-worse. in fact than has ever
been known here. Cooperation of
the consumers In economizing in every
way possible is asked.
Only two or three companies in the
three cities have any ice left from
that stored last winter and this is
being husbanded against the time,
which is almost at hand, when none
can be obtained from outside sources.
The Union Ice & Coal Co.. which does
a Wholesale business only, could sup
ply its customers for about 10 days
more out of fits own houses at Moline
and on Rock river. However, it is
using this supply sparingly and buy
ing wherever it can.
MAY QUIT SUBURBS.
The Moline Channel Ice company,
which retails the commodity from its
own houses, has enough on hand for
possibly 80 days, provided the utmost
economy is observed. This company,
It was stated today, plans to deliver
in the outlying districts only a few
more days. Then 1t will call its
wagons out OF the suburbs and supply
only its downtown customers. Butch
ers and other retailers will be looked
after when necessity compels the drop
ping of other customers.
Ice manufacturing plants all over
the country are working to their
capacity. but are not able to make
much of a showing in view of the
general scarcity. The Davenport
Plate Ice company is unable to take
care OF its own customers, let alone
come to TIE rescue of other concerns.
FIGHT FOR WHAT THERE Is.
c. A. Schoessel, general manager Of
the Union Ice & Coal Co, returned
last night from Chicago, where he
went 10 investigate the possibility of
securing a supply from the north. He
found many others from all over the
country there on the same mission
There never was as little ice in this
country as there is now" said he
There is some in the north, mostly
along the Wisconsin lakes. Deale s
are fighting for every car of this that
IS available, and they are paying
fancy prices for 1t. One Rock Island
firm bought a carload yesterday. 1t
cost SO per ton and the freight is
$1.6n per ton. This brings the cost
up TO % cents per hundred, not in
Guiding shrinkage, which is heavy, and
the labor of handling. Butchers are
being supplied at the rate of 20 cents
per hundred. so you see that the ice
men are actually losing money. At the
price they are compelled TO pay there
is no money in It for them selling to
householders at $3.50 per 1000 pounds.
However, all are doing their best to
take care of their customer5.
at is Of greatest importance that the
people appreciate the situation and use
ice as sparingly as possible. Many
users are ordering more than they &C
tually need, because they fear they will
not get any more when what they
have is exhausted. This is wasteful
and wrong. 1t makes it harder for
the dealers.
LOOK TO THE SOUTH.
I'VE are all hoping for an early
frost II we have cool weather soon
It will cut down the demand. During
the hot weather the south has been
drawing heavily on the north. for the
manufacturing plants in the south are
being overtaxed. That is one reason
the supply in the north is so low. Il
the weather turns cooler the south
will be able to make its own supply
and can be depended upon, besides
to ship an occasional carload nortt
TO help us out"
]. P. Pearson, manager or the Moline
Channel Ice company, said: "St. Pau
is the only city on the Mississippi
river that has any ice to sell. Th,
price there is SO per ton and the
freight to Moline is So That make,
the cost almost prohibitiYe can
see how those dealers who have to bu,
their supply can continue deliveries
much longer. We are doing the yer,
k.,s "a