The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-05-17
PRICE OF ICE.
Continued from Page ~


to get first class help. Oats the past
winter cost us from S3c. to SIl2 per
bushel. At the present time we are pay
ing Sl.l4 per bushel.
Cur prlce last year was 4Oc per hun
bred to the retail trade lee charged and
sold Tor cash was at this rate Coupon
books paid for in advance we sold as fol-
lows: 900 pounds for $3.50 500 pounds
Tor 81. 30 and 300 pounds for Sl.l5.
thlS year we are trying to do away
with the credit business as much as pos
slble, rs some supposedly good people
are still III arrears on their last years
bull, and we therefore are asking J0c for
all Ice charged what we sell for cash
we get 45c. per hundred, and the coupon
books until May lst we sold as follows:
1000 pounds for 81 800 pounds for $2l5,
800 pounds for SI.30, but changed all
books paid for in advance to the 40c.
rate. Our reason for doing this was to
give people with less means the advan-
tage of the discount so as to induce
more OF them to use books. The charge
accounts we do not like because of the
extra expense of collecting.
Practically everything we use or buy
has gone up in price, particularly black
smithlng and harnesses.
Very respectfully,
CRYSTAL SPRINGS ICE co.
general discussion of the ice question
was then entered into. Figures were sub
mltted by Mr.. Whitney showing the re-
celpts and expenses of the companys ice
business the past three years. They
showed a profit in 1913. In 1916 the re
ceipts and expenses were about even, and
last year the business was conducted at a
loss
In this connection Mr. Whitney stated
that the company's trucking branch yield
ed good returns and that if it were not
Tor the trucking branch the ice branch
would be given up entirely.
All the officials asked questions, which
were answered freely by Mr.. Whitney.
II was shown that while the harvest last
winter was abundant its cost was high.
not only by reason of the general increase
IN the expense of labor and teams, but
also because Of the heavy snow storms.
Nh Nanderyeer, went into some detail
aS to costs and receipts, after which he
sand that in his opinion the company
could not be charged with profiteering.
and he thought that in some instances il
dlu not charge enough
| Selectman Merrill, who had wears of
! experience as an ice dealer in New York
before coming to Brattleboro and who
/ knows all the details of the business in
/ that city. moved that the chairman re-
port to the acting food administrator that
/ III the opinion OF the meeting the CRYSTAL
/ Springs Ice Go. was dealing fairly with
the people Of Brattleboro. Commissioner
/ \. T. Roberts seconded the motion which
was carried by unanimous vote.
here was some discussion over the low
rates Al which Ice was supplied to com
mercial users like the proprietors of soda
fountains, Brooks House and other estab-
llshments a bearing on the question Of
whether there was an unreasonable diff
ference that could be construed as unfair
practice, which comes within the food
control act. Mr.. Whitney explained that
after the retail deliveries had been made
the men and teams had to be kept busy
and the company could afford TO send to
the outlying icehouses and deliver large
quantities afternoons at a reduced rate
The investigators thought, however.
that in few instances the price was too
low 1t was not in their province to or
der an increase. but it is understood that
the company will make an advance in
those instances
The Crystal Springs Co. hopes that the
householders will cooperate with the
company in putting up their ice cards
early in the morning in order to avoid
the necessity Of making second trip be-
cause some house has been passed BY. also
that they see that food is removed from
the ice boxes a much delay is caused
in lee deliveries when the iceman has to
remove food before the ice can be put
into the boxes.