The Washington herald., 1918-06-04
PLENTY OF ICE;
DISTRIBUTION
NOT ADEQUATE Z
Food Head Wilson Confers
with Dealers and ]
Makers.

Some Ice manufacturers Of the
District are not operating their
plants TO the limit of their capaci-
ties. charged District Food Admin
istrator Clarence r. Wilson yester-
day afternoon.
The Food Administrators state
ment was made at a meeting in his
ONCE of all the ice manufacturers
and many of the ice dealers Of the
city. called by him to discover
whether or not there was danger Of
an ice shortage in Washington.
In agreements made with Mr.. Will
son last March. the ice manufactur-
ers promised to operate their facto-
ries at the full capacities this sum
mer. The Food Administrator now
alleges that they are breaking
these agreements. and that II has
resulted in the production lately of
a smaller amount OF ice than should
be produced to supply the needs Of
Washington.
The ice manufacturers defended the
decrease of their production by de-
claring that the shortage of labor
caused by the war, and the diff-
Guilty of securing a sufficient guam
tity Of ammonia, prevented them from
operating full capacity. Mr. Wilson
promised to consult with Federal
Food Administrator Hoover regard
ing the procurance OF a greater sup
ply OF ammonia. and suggested that
the shortage of labor might be re-
lieved In the case of at least one
reproducing company, by the re-
duction of that company's profits
from 20 per cent to 10 per cent. the
loss in profits to be given to its
employees in an increase IN pay.
There Is No Shortage.
That there is no ice shortage in
Washington was the conclusion reach
ed by both Mr.. Wilson and the ice
dealers. at the conference. The dis
cussion resulted in the declaration
by Mr.. Wilson that the difficulty
experienced in some sections of the
city in getting ice the last few days
resulted from faulty distribution, and
not a shortage in the ice supply.
Figures presented by the ice manu-
facturers. regarding the amount of
ice held by them in storage, showed
that there Is now in the District
40.O+6 tons of ice held by the differ
ent iCe-manufacturing companies for
mand
The ice men stated that they did
not care to draw on this supply until
absolutely necessary. and that there
was now no need to do so. They de-
clared that IL their daily production of
ice was not sufficient to satisfy Wash
ington requirements. an additional
supply could be secured in nearby
towns Of Maryland, Virginia and
West Virginia.
Hagerstown. Frederick, Winchester
and Martinsburg were among the
towns mentioned by the dealers as
being able and ready to supply Wash
ington with ice If called upon to
do so.
In addition to the daily production
OF the ice plants and the quantity
kept in storage by the ice manufac-
turers.- Washington Is to receive this
week a large amount from PhiladeI-
phia. This ice. which will be brought
by water on barges, will be placed at
the disposal of the ice cream and soft
drink manufacturers at a higher price
than is charged for the ice produced
in Washington. This will place q
greater amount of the cheaper Ioca!
Ice at the disposal OF the Washington
people
Mr.. Wilson expressed the opinion.
arrived ut from the discussion at the
meeting yesterday, that the difficulty
OF the manufacturers in supplying the
needs of the wholesale customers was
due to lack of labor and facilities for
the pulling of the ice out of the ice
houses and onto the ice wagons.
Pay Workers More Wages.
The only remedy for this he found
was the expenditure by the dealers of
more money.
He also stated his belief that what
was needed to better the ice situation
was better Cooperation between the
manufacturers and the dealers. To Sc
cure this. he directed the ice commit
tee. consisting of representative man.
ufacturers and dealers appointed by
him last March, to meet at his office
Thursday night at o'clock, to make
Plans for getting together the manu-
facturers and the dealers to provrIe
means Of insuring an adequate ice
supply throughout the summer for
Washington.