New-York tribune., 1918-02-26
Odell Announces
There Will Be No
Ice Famine Here /
Contracts for Harvesting of
100000 Tons on
the Hudson

Former Governor Benjamin B. Odcll,
the new Ice Controller of the state,
announced yesterday that he had made
contracts for the harvesting and stor-
age of 100000 tons of ice. He said
also:
There will be no ice famine in
New York City the coming summer.
There will be no iceless days.
The price of ice to families will be
kept at the regular price, so cents
a hundred pounds, or thereabouts.
The cost of ice to the large deal
ers may be a little more than in or
dinary times.
"The State of New York has been
forced into the ice business because of
a threatened shortage of 20,000,00O
pounds OF ammonia needed by the
United States government for refriger-
ating on supply ships, for use at can
munitions" said the former Governor
"By largely increasing the use of nat
ural ice from the upper Hudson it
looks as if we shall be able to keep
down the production of artificial ice by
more than 100000 tons. with a con-
sequent saving Of ammonia of at least
$50, 600 pounds
"To the unthinking the question of
shortage of ice in year when the
cold has been so severe is surprise
1t Is fact, nevertheless, that since
1901 the production of artificial ice has
been increasing, so that now of the
total ice consumption the artificial con-
stitutes about three-fourths, the total
being about 4,5000O0 tons.
There is at present cut and stored
on the upper Hudson a total of about
100000 tons. | have contracted for
an additional supply of above 1,O00, 900
tons. Counting 100000 tons as nee
essary aggregate, it leaves 100000
about half the annual production of
artificial.
There is capacity in New York
City for the storage of artificial ice of
more than 100000 tons, and it is my
intention to license these plants for
the storage to their capacity of arti-
fetal ice until the peak of the hot
weather in midsummer is reached,
when this stored product can be used
as an emergency supply.
My intention is to license only those
plants that can demonstrate econom-
lcal production both in the use of coal
and ammonia.
"The state has authorized contracts
for ice cutting to be made at cost of
harvesting, storing and incidental cx-
penses, plus profit of 10 per cent. The
state, if the provisions of the agree
ment are carried out, will have no pc
cuniary sponsibility in the way Of a
loss.
eve are amending the new ice bin
so as to more fully safeguard the in
n III
Will be no increase in the cost of ice
to the family trade, but there is q
possibility that the large consumers
will have to pay more.
"The plans under way will conserve
coal as we'll as ammonia. 1t takes a
ton of coal to make from six tons up
ward OF ice. On this basis we shall
save about 10000 tons of coal on a so
per cent reduction Of artificial ice.
Il expect to begin day to issue
licenses to local artificial ice makers.
but the issuance of license Will de-
pend on the efficiency of the plant op-
Grated by the applicant for license.
ut ls understood the new ice law ap-
plies to hotels, apartments aud other
plants making artificial ice, including
skating rinks. For this purpose and
until we can arrive at more accurate
understanding Of the amount of ice
harvested temporary certificates only
VIII be issued"
The United States food administra-
ton. through the Federal Food Board.
appealed TO owners and operators of
icemaking and refrigerating plants to
do everything possible to stop waste
and leakage in the use of ammonia
"A saving Of 25 per cent in the am
monia consumption Of ice and refrig-
Grating plants would mean several mill
ion pounds annually for munitions" it
points out. Each pound will make
twenty hand grenades."
Owners and operators of plants are
urged to institute a bonus system bv
which employees will be rewarded for
bringing about economies. The admin
istration Will ask every plant 10 state
each month the amount it has saved, it
- announced.
at is questionable just how long am
monia can be spared for refrigeration,
and plants most extTavagant in It's use
naturally will be closed first the ad-
miuistration states.