Evening journal., 1919-08-01
cnIINCIL TAIKe ne
UUUlvUIL InLuU vi
SHORT.WEIGHT ice
Solons think City Should
Break Up Alleged
Practice
TWO COMPLAINTS
ARE DISCUSSED

Declaring that his statements made
In Council chambers last week rela-
tive to the ice supply here being ade-
quate TO meet all demands was cor
rect, depite denials by ice manu-
facturers. City Councilman Kane. OF
the Fourth ward, last night Informed
City Council that he considered the
boosting OF local fee prices to be un-
fair TO Wilmington consumers.
This statement was made by Mr..
Kane after Council had referred, on
motion OF Councilman Mearns. several
complaints of alleged short weight ice
being sold hers 10 the attorney gen
erals office.
in speaking OF the ice question Mr..
Mearns said that while patience was a
virtue, there were times when such
was not the case, and he thought that
Sine had arrived. He said that people
throughout the city were complaining
Of short weight Ice being sold, and he
cited an instance at his own home
when driver had endeavored TO leave
30 pounds for a 80 pound piece. He
said that he thought the city should
81 al tti tlt CtiiiIdultc.
Councilman Murray agreed with Mr..
Mearns and his complaint as well as
one from Councilmtn Abrahams for
II. L. Prettyman, OF No. 1908 West
Eighth street, was referred 10 the at
ttorney generals ofllce for investigation.
In reference TO my statement that /
fraw no necessity OF raising the price OF
family Ice, for the reason that there
ksas enough ice in storage TO take care
of their needs, | meant TO imply with
what was made during the next two
months, although II Mr.. Stradley Is
quoted correctly in last Thursdays
papers. contend my flrst statement
holds good.
I'm the news article OF that day he
was quoted as having said that they
mad about three thousand tons In stor-
age and that the domestic trade reps
resented only about 70 per cent OF the
isales. which meant an average increase
az about cents per hundred pounds in
price. also in the same ISSUE in their
advertisement, they say that they have
no guarantee OF receiving any addi-
ftonal shipments over and above the
1900 tons now In transit and that 10
will cost SIC per ton delivered.
III these statements are correct, then
all the ice that Nye can be assured of
for the next two months as far as this
company is concerned, is the 1000 tons
now in transit, 5000 tons in storage
lplus their daily production, which ]
understand is go tons a day, or total
of $1,000 tons In the next sixty days or
a grand total OF 10000 tons.
III the family consumption Is only
e per cent OF their sales, and 10000
tens is all the ice we can be assured OF
from this company. then, II my calcula-
tions are correct the family consump-
lion would be 2,800 tons (although am
frank 10 say that ! do not believe itI
will cover no then my statement based
upon 5000 tons In storage) that there
is enough ice stored 10 take care OF
the family trade was no exaggeration.
Let us do some calculating regarding |
this Increase and what II means IN 1
the way OF extra profit to this company. 4
As stated before, the production Of
Ice in the next two months plus the
stored ice, amounts TO 1900 tons, and
II the family trade only amounts 10
200 tons at 20 cents per hundred or
- per ton increase, gives them $500
additional profit. Deductlng the 2.lOO
Ions from the 1900 tons. leaving 1900
Ions at > cents per hundred. or 81 per
ION increase, gives US Si5,6O0, plus 81. 800
Or total OF 600.
They made the statement in their sd-
that the ice they are bring
ng in by boats viii cost Si2 per ton
Ilongside the wharf and that It will
'ost 81 per ton to unload and deliver.
accepting these prices as correct and
ssuming that this entire quantity IS
sed for domestic purposes. there would
'e loss OF 81 per ton or $1,000: de-
ucting this from the $40 200 additional
roht they make upon their ice pro-
uced or in storage, leaves net extra
roht OF $1,000 Some extra pronti
ASIDE from this reasoning let US look
u from another viewpoint and as /