Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-12-26

The man who can perform the miracle
or cutting down the time OF doing the
days routine is hero. We worshipped
the first woman to swim the English
Channel. and soon after. the first
mother to achieve the same feat.
| Wesley M, Oler, veteran business
executive. is In this favored class Of
champions. He Is unQuestionably
Americas first ice man. He entered
the business Of selling the idea of re-
frtgeration 81 years ago. and as preSi-
dent of the American Ice Co. heads
the largest ice distributing company
In the world, which, through gubsidi-
aries. supplies consumers and dealers
In the cities on the Atlantic seaboard
between Boston and Washington.
Three thousand icemen are on his
staff.
Prosaic work-selling ice-you would
think, but Mr.. Oler believes II is the
most exciting Of all trades. with new
improvements steadily changing the
course Of the industry. Mr.. Older. in
cidentally. is not one OF those who be-
lieves that the new popularity OF elec'
trtcal and gas refrigeration machines
for the home is going to put the ice
man out Of business. He says that
thus far the widespread propaganda
for the new invention has promoted
the sales Of the old -fashioned ice com.
panies by broadcasting the idea Of re-
fr1Geration. .. .
Has Progressive Ideas.
Mr.. Oler is in his SEVENTEEN year,
but bears the distinction Of being an
old.timer with progressive ideas. He
perpetually encourages his engineers
~ nj ~ acNnnpainol
processes. and novel ways of stabiliz-
Ing the business. The company was
the first to devise practical M ans. for
example. for storing artificial ice in
Winter for the peak Summer demand.
Mr.. Oler followed his father into
the ice business in Baltimore. The
third generation Of the family IL repre-
scented In the industry by Wesley M.
Oler. vice president Of the company
his father heads.
In 1904 Mr.. Oler. who had been head
of a bank in Baltimore and owner Of
a newspaper, was summoned to take
charge Of the American Ice Co, which
Charles w. Morse had promoted in
1898. and subsequently wrecked. At
the time, the common shares were
quoted at 81 and the preferred at So.
Mr.. Oler at the outset had to work
with worn,out tools in the face Of
widespread public opposition. The
common shares are currently quoted
at approximately $132 a share and the
preferred around $50 a share.
In 1928 the American Ice Co. had
its peak year. from the standpoint OF
sales and net profits. Mr.. Oler told
me that he believed the company has
done nearly AZ well in 1925. i
Outlook Is Bright.
"As for the future" Mr.. Oler re.
1.-The outlook Ia bright. The
only element Of uncertainty Is the
weather. Like the farmer. we put
our fate in the hands Of Providence.
We manufacture and store up Ice in
the Winter. beginning late In Novem- |
Der. in anticipation Of a large SUM |
mer demand. the magnitude Of which |
depends on the temperature: AS a
result Of our new storage facilities. we
are able to take care OF all the ex.
cess demand which other ice dealers
are unable to meet.
Our sales have no relation to bust. |
ness prosperity. Some or our most
successful periods have been in times
of financial panic. People who are
accustomed to use ice do so In good
times and bad. and increase their con- |
sumption during hot weather. Our
prosperity taoIIs o0pCltUa ~ HA@AAJ o1
the temperature. E
There is a great opportunity for |
expansion In the ice business. In |
spite Of the rising standard Of living, |
there are at present only 100000 |
ice boxes in use, compared with TO- |
0O0, 900 automobiles. There is a
great need for a. cheap refrigeration
box. which win function properly. for |
who have mono at present. |
I'm the recent period OF good times
there has been increasing use OF ice
in Winter. This has been a factor in |
our effort to wipe out Winter deficits |
in earnings and we have succeeded in |
doing so. Another factor has been |
our Increased activities as a vendor |
Of coal. Perhaps the most important |
however. has been the |
placing Of our business on a sound |
basis. 1t is necessary
In order to keep up the character OF
our organization to keep men on the
poy roll in dull as we'll as In busy |
season.
Natural Ice Demand Conc.
1.-THE demand for natural ice has
disappeared. Manufactured |
Ice is Of a standard size, which con.
forms to the size OF the refrigera'
ton cabinet"
ABkCu Wklhk PA0CO lAAC AASW C4OtSA tNTA
machine for the home.
which automatically eliminates the
Ice man. has In the American home,
Mr.. Oler said:
''The machine. which really supplies |
through the employment |
Of chemicals. rather than electricity, |
IL all right for those who can af-
ford the luxury Of increased cost OF
The ice man can sup
ply Ice cheaper and give better Ice.
Ordinary ice performs its service by |
melting as It absorbs heat. turning |
to water and out through the drain. |
carrying with 1t bacteria.
MANY previous attempts have
been made to sing the funeral dirge
of the ice industry. but. In spite OF |
new devices and inventions. it has
continued to move forward. First.
the breweries, who used to be our
largest customers. began to make |
their own Ice and compete with us
In selling their surplus. Then hotels
began to make their own ice. Then
Az O. matter Of fact, II |