South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-02-13
LOCAL ICE QUESTION.
South Bend. Ind. Feb. 9. 1914

South Bend. Ind. Feb 8, 1918.
! Editor News-Times:
We were very much interested in
your editorial in the Times OF Feb.
/ S, regarding the ice situation.
We do not desire to take issue
with you on the subject but we feel
/ that the public has a right TO know
/ the situation with which they are to
be confronted in the coming sum-
mer
So far as your editorial applies TO
the general conditions the country
over, it is reasonably correct, and
the points are we'll taken.
| AS TO the lake ice situation, we
| know from the trade reports cover
| ing the entire country, that there is
a great harvest of natural ice. Every
ice house is filled. or being filed TO
its capacity, and hundreds of ice
| houses are being built, or rebuilt
and filled with ice.
Locally the lake ice dealers are
assured of a supply Of ice. provided
the railroads are able 10 haul it
from storages There is very little
natural ice stored in the vicinity Of
this city, and practically all the sup
ply is shipped in, each season, as
the demands require, if the rail
roads are operating in a normal
way, lake ice users need have no
/ fear of a shortage. If not, the lake
ice situation may be very serious in
extremely hot weather.
The manufacture OF artificial ice
! the country over will be hindered
somewhat by the difficulty in secur-
ing a supply of ammonia, as plants
which are not operating efficiently.
or that are using too much ammonia
per ton of ice made, will have diff
Guilty in getting supply, and ac-
cording 10 the government informa-
tion we have. some Of these plants
viii not De allowed to operate at all
as they must file reports with the
department of chemicals at Wash
ington, and the government viii pass
on the supply of ammonia for all
such plants.
As 70 the artificial ice situation
locally. This company has just fin.
ished the expenditure Of 100000 10
take care of the trade in this city;
our big new plant is more than 100
percent efficient we are able TO
make close 10 100 tons Of ice per
working day, we have our supply of
ammonia on hand for next season.
and same has been reported TO the
government. We have our oils and
calcium bought. and our power IS
generated by the Indiana & Michi-
gan Electric Co. at their hydraulic
dams. so that we are not depend
ent on the railroads. or on any sup
ply that is crippled bv the war for
cur successful operation this wear.
We believe that there viii be an
unusually heavy demand for lee this
year. owing 10 the conservation
movements. as every economical
housewife knows that ice is cheapter
than food. and viii endeavor 10 save
all food possible by keeping il cool.
but this company VIII bee able 10
supply any demand made on il by
the trade. and viii. no doubt. be able
10 help the lake ice dealers iu case
of emergency. However. If the rail-
roads fail in their delivery OF cars
Of lake ice we would not be able 10
supply the entire city in hot wealth
er.
Now as 20 the important part Of
the editorial. The Price OF Ice.
The price 20 the housewife viii not
Ice higher this season except whe1
an unusual condition requires some
special service. such as special d.
liveries, OF sunday service.
The cost OF delivery this year VIII
be higher than usual, but We feel