New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-09-11

No article of consumption 50 generally used and q
essential the health and comfort OF our citizens -
Improperly valued as Ice.
Tea Coffee and Sugar have long since been rccsonee
among the neccsssres OF life and essential 10 the com
fort Of our Ice Is no, only luxury. and ~ suci
one Of the most inviting but IS uneuestonsby much
more essential to health and comfort than either Of IN
former especially in = climate subject 10 the extreme
and continued DO, weather. 3 the case With ours
Much 10 said in behalf Of The Croton wsier, in pro
noting the general health OF our citizens but no"
much of this would be drunk during the warm months
of summer. when disease IS most 70 be spprehended
and Is most fatal il no; for Ice. which sone make
na beverage to alisy thirst
The genera and abundant use Of this article together
with the invaluable Crotch has undoubtedly done more
to prevext couiseion and preserve the heaih- OF ON
e,xens thsn al other prevenves adopted Tor sucn pur
poses IL has also assumed Importance a. an article
Of commerce being exported IN large qusntics - ia
rope the West Indies and COMMISSIONING the I'M
portsnce and value attached it by the inhabitants
these countries
Our attention has been directed ioths more particular
w. since OF late and during the excessive hot weather OF
the summer complaints have been preferred against iht
Ice dealers Of our City charging them with furnishing
bur stnted supplies with taking advantage OF ,nt
scarcity Of Ice increase very considerably the rss
heretofore charged That this may have been the case
is BIZ no mean. improbable since the quantity secured
by the dealers during the last Winter was as we are IN
formed. much less than their usual supply.
This arose from the very mild snd warm WINTER ICE
not freezing TO the usul thickness and the season al
fornr but limited period in which could be secured
This together with the excessive and almost unprcce-
dsntrr hot summer and the continued dry weather,
which seemed 10 asgravaie the suerngs from hest ma
teraly increased the demands much beyond any iofe'
season.
The cause OF failure in supply il seems, IS not from
want Of ability or effort the part Of the Ice deslers
but causes beyond the control Of human agency.
And upon the simple and natural reason that demand
and supply in all cases govern prices X u MOI eAtrso
nary that under the present state OF affairs they snou
advance somewhat beyond the ordinary rates snd mort
especially it be looked for since the competition IN
the trade has reduced the prices from one dollar per
which readily paid for the Rocsand Lake Ice wnen
fret introduced into the cy in 1888 but ten years snce
TO twenty I'VE and even 10 eighteen and
ter cents per cwt. which % now the maximum price
when sold in considerable quantities from one hundred
pounds and upwards.
The same complaints and causes have existed in all
the cities and places in the Union where Ice to any CON
siderable amount is consumed.
Even Boston. heretofore the great mart Tor the ice
trade and where supplies have always been reserved
for the trade has not been able to meet the demands Of
customers
Much more in proportion has been offered by dealers
than they have demanded from their customers the
consumers If reports made are reliable and OF when
we have no doubt
But present indications and movements among the
Ice dealers forbid the apprehension that for the future
this scarcity again exist.
Two large Ice houses in progress OF being
erected at the Rockand Lake which together will con
tain more than 10000 tons OF lee These are so con
structed afford the greatest facilities Tor storing
Ice and contingency arise. but want OF TEN
peraure sufficiently low CONCEAL the water 70 pro-
per knes for preservation 20 prevent these enter
prisng individuals from being prepared 10 meet all de
nsnds and supply all wants for this choice luxury
that may hereafter arise
The men and horses requisite, and that are now most
~ engaged for the next Ice upon the Roc<and
Lake, would make in size respectable army FROM
700 to 1900 men, and from 200 to 800 horses, viii be IN
daily requis,ion during the season for gathering Ice
These with the various apparatus for cutting hosting
lowering hauling &c cannot but secure supply equal
to all demands and will enable consumers hereafter 10
dictate and to suit their own notions OF night
If competiiion il any security for low prices
But independent OF these. others already in the bust
ness are making similar arrangements in other places
increasing very considerably their present means and
will no doubt be equally prepared for furnishing their
quota making security douby that from henceforih
there shall not be found psrched tongue or burning
thirst for OF a cooling and inviting beverage to
supply the remedy With the Croton water and the
Rockand Lake lee the good people OF our Gotham have
fountain cool and refreshing from which they may
qus,f nectar cordial. if less spiritual than ever
arafa al tho ,ynrshfpper. pf Hacchus