The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-11
THIRSTY CITY FACES
SODA QUEUES NOW
Fountain Makers Unable to
Meet Sudden Demand for
Fixtures.

One month before war time prohibit
ton went into effect only a few pessi-
mists believed that II really would go
into effect. whereupon the drinking
folks went on drinking their daily drink
or two and the soda water fountains
tinued in summer normafity. The bar
, keeps union had its monthly meetings
and the soda ierkers kept on being the
lowly butt of summer jokes.
But war time prohibit ion did so into
effect and the indications are that it is
| going to continue in effect until the con-
| stitutional prohibition amendment takes
over its responsibility on January 1.
AS a result we have with us:
A tremendous demand for soda water
cannot be met by the harried manufac-
! turers because of the lack Of materials.
| manufacturing facilities and every other
| component necessary to the manufac-
/ ture of soda water fountains;
| The probable succession OF soda
water clerks union to the defunct bar
keeps labor organization
The possibility OF a letter OF warning
from His Honor the Mayor calling for
| a more economic use OF the Gays water
supply.
| a reporter for THE SUN dropped into
Perry's drug store in Park Row yester-
| day for soda. The soda bar was
thronged three deep and thirsty late
corners wer turning away discouraged.
We're trying TO have n new soda
| water apparatus installed" walled the
manager, land we're going to have one
| installed just. as soon as We can. But
the manufacturers tell US that they can
not deliver for months: that they are
so far behind on new orders because OF
the rush as result of prohibition that
they can see themselves wear in ar
rears of orders pretty soon"
| A little investigation demonstrated the
fearful truth OF his complaint. The
United States Soda Fountain Company
admitted that the demand for such wares
as theirs was far in excess OF the imme-
date supply possibilities
we are not behind as far as a year
yet. however" they said. 1--WE can make
, deliveries now in a couple of months, but
we can't predict about the future"
| The American Soda Fountain Com
pany corroborated this. Braunenstein
Bros had the same comment TO make.
There's no use naming any others. The
conditions are UNIVERSAL. Inc ice cream
machinery manufacturers are facing the
s;,sae dilemma.
|, With the wholly inadequate foU1-
tains already installed in the places That
have always dispensed soda water work
ing overtime serving their regular
patrons plug the gents who were wont to
sneer at anything that did not possess
| a kick II is now almost impossible to get
a soda unless you can afford to wait
q half hour for II. In addition TO the
, limited facilities of the old fountains Is
linked the shortage of soda clerks and
the already numerous demands OF the
present clerks for higher wages and
shorter hours.
Although the soda clerks union ha'
not yet been formed, the boys who USED
to be SO polite about your evening sunda'
and banana split have suddenly grown
Bolshevik whiskers and are looking W
the definition of proletariat and bour
geoisie. Therefore you need manifest NJ
surprise IL within the near future yol
, find your favorite soda water bar shu
down and your morning newspaper an
nouncing the coming Of the Regular
Army troops TO quell the rioting Inter
national ard Amalgamated Soda Water
and Ice Cream Gentlemen"
And inasmuch as everybody mus
drink something once in a while. yo'
I can see for yourself the tremendous de
mand to which the Kaatskill Aqueduct II
= going TO be subjected. You can dope /
: out indefinitely. 1t isn't without tn
l pale Of possibility to expect a letter from
Mayor Hylan asking US to forego GU
8 weekly bath that the city may hav'
n sufficient water to drink