Norwich bulletin., 1913-04-19
THE ICE SITUATION.
What c. E. Leonard Has to Say Con corning the MuddIe-Facts and Near-Facts.

What c. E. Leonard Has to Say Con- 1 corning the MuddIe-Facts and Near-Facts.
 has been playing the part of the lead ing man in the ice melodrama in this city since Tuesday night. with head
 quarters at the Hooker house. left
 Thursday evening for the City of
 Films. He told The Bulletin represent
 atlve Thursday he was in full control
 of the ice situation in Willimantic and
 that he now owned the Eaton ice
 stock, but he did not state whether or
 not he was in any way connected with
 the Berkshire Ice company of Bridge
 port, to whom MT. Eaton has sold his ice. Tuesday evening, when MT. Cum mfngs. the New Haven ice magnate, came to Willimantic, at the request of the mayor. as he (Cunmings) states, he went with ex-Senator Gates and Mayor Dunn to interview a teami+lg contractor who had the refusal of L. N. Ayers 4.000 tons of ice, as the con- tractor told The Bulletin man, at $3.50 a ton. The local contractor also stat ed that he was also considering the purchase of the ice at the municipal plant. MT. Cummings is reported by the locan contractor to have painted high colored picture of the possibili- ties in the local ice situation. Sub stantia1ly he said: T have come to Willimantic to straighten out the diff fculty and am to receive $1,000 for the job, but His Honor Mayor Dunn must have all the credit Cummings as sured the contractor of his (Cum- mingsO ability to furnish auto trucks, finance the proposition and be of in estimable value to the local contractor in case the Willimantic teamster took hold of the project Thursday morn ing c. E. Leonard. who was about to take the train for Worcester to learn of ice dealers in that city the practi- cal workings of the ice business, was Haven told him he (Cummings) had decided to handle the ice business himself in the Thread City. MT. Leonard decided to continue on his mission to the Heart Of the Commonwealth, but in his own mind practically decided to take no further business interest in ice for Willimantic. Thursday afternoon MT. Cummings made the announcement political machine that he (Cummings) was prepared to furnish Willimantic with ice this summer at 30 to 40 cents a. hundred at wholesale and 50 cents a hundred te family trade consumers being requested to advise the New Haven iceman of their probable frozen water needs by mail at the New Ha- ven chamber of commerce. Friday Hartford paper the Willimantic cor being understood to be the municipal rings press agent, who, re- l oublicans claim, never represents the |
 
 ng these statements
 Many people are beginning to think | hat the recent actions of Fred B. l Eaton and Louis N. Aver in retiring han the first step in movement 1 started by the ice trust of Connecti- i ut to kill any movement towards | having the right to | ice and sell it to it's inhab- tants. Willimantic. it is believed, is he only city in the state which has his legal right by charter amend nent but it never used this right un- he people have been at the mercy If Messrs. Eaton and Aver They were the only dealers and every bring, after conferring, these two lealers announced what the price of ce would be, and the people paid
 This year there was no talk about 'oing out of the ice business on the art of either MT. Eaton or MT. Aver lecticut ice dealers. It is believed by many people here that the retirement f both Messrs. Eaton and Aver and he sel1in~ of the ice crop owned by 1r. Eaton to the Berkshire Ice com amy was nothing more than part of
 general scheme decided upon at that neetfng.''
 MT. Eaton says to The Bulletin rep l. the above article are absolutely alse. He says: T sold my stock of ce without the knowledge of a single erson connected with the Connectf- ut Ice Dealers association four days efore that association held it's meet ng. As to the statement that MT. F " CT and I had agreed on the retail rice of ice N'eVery spring it is abso- lte1y untrue. Several years ago, when here was a shortage of ice. MT. Aver nd I talked the ice situation over and greed on price for that season only, aising the price the same percentage L. he supply of ice that year and in a ormal season." At the meeting of the business Mems association Thursday vening one of the members said that f the poor people in supplying them 'ith ice free of charge than MT. Eaton as been. Talk about Mayor Dunns eing a. friend of, the poor people, MT le Good Samaritan to the needy in applying many a family with ice -fthout charging them cent" Citi ans are asking this pertinent ques- lend, why should he and his col , ague in this matter MT. Gates, not 1 s ave insisted that there should be no ltside interference? If c. E. Leonard ere inclined to supply the city with e at a fair profit why not let Will mantle man have the profits instead allowing a New Haven promoter to f
  lere might be on the top of the local : e situation. Yesterday the treas Ter of one of the local banking insti- ttions telephoned the chamber of . ommerce at New Haven to secure in concerning the business rec q of c. N. Cummings and his finan- al responsibility. An official of the ew Haven chamber of commerce gave reply that shows that the versatile I'm City iceman has had many strings
 his business bow. He is in the lee f Isiness at present. has been in the ! owing picture business and many r her lines, The chamber of com cree official stated he could not give ! " information concerning the finan- E al responsibility of Cummings When ayor Dunn was asked by The Bulle- oe . n reporter why he did not attend 1 . 5mpany LIS hurdy gurdy dance at Il Il c new armory Thursday evening" he . piled: My God. I've got troubles \
 my own. and I've got a headache!" .
 Join w. C. T. U. Singing Class. i. Nearly a dozen young ladies have 1: ined the W. c. T. U. sewing class Ie local union have been offered the e of a sewing machine for this arficaJ and beIpfl11 work aJuaoo tba G