The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1858-01-22

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would support them.
The Judge took the papers and reserved his decision
The Mild Weather and the Ice Trade OF New
York.
The remarkably mild winter which We have thus far
had has created considerable among only
who are engaged directly indirectly in the ice trade,
but among the consumers Of that indispensable ar
Gle Since the year 1897 have have not had such
nuance Of warm weather at this season, and the winter
ofthat year was so exceedingly mild that the dealers
were unable To procure the usual supply Of ce It would
seem from present appearances if this tn
be made remarkable in the way, for according to
the elegraphc reports the weather has been unusually
temperate all the country. Ice TO the depth Of eight
and ten inches has formed Lake Champan and
OF the ponds in the vicinity Of Troy and Albany,
but at Rockand lake and other points from which New
York has hitherto obtained its supply, the indications
asvery unfavorabe. 1t feared that Of the two
dred and fifty thousand tons required for the New York
market not than hundred and twenty five thou
sand be procured. The deficiency the supply vi
Of course be attended with rise in the price which, IS
believed, will be more than doubled. All this, however,
is at present merely speculation the month of Februa
ry may be cold enough 10 afford crop sufficient TO fill the
sorehouses TO repe!ion Under the most unravorable
circumstances, however, there is for serious
enouRu oe supply
wants Of the city during the approaching summer
The ice dealers themselves Still hopeful
regarding their prospects, and are well prepared
spell with which they may be favored. With the
exception Of the year which have alluded they say
they have experienced such temperate winter.
and have theory of their by which TO for
the remarkable phenomenon now presented. The ex-
PLANTATION which has been given in regard 10 the diver
gencc of the Gulf Stream from its usual course does not
appear meet with much favor from them, does it
account for the midness of the Europe
well as in this country. In England informed,
the weather unusually moderate and except in OF
the most northern parts, they have not even bad
nights frost In the county of Somerset ripe raspberres
gathered last December and of a second crop
of barley. The beginning bud while some
were bursting into leaf and spring flowers in bloom
in the gardens. But this s not all, for IL appears
that the birds have hatcbing and butterflies
of various kinds have unolded their delicate wings.
What does all this mean2 Is TO be attributed the di-
vergence of the Gulf Stream IL Of those freaks
which nature sometimes plays for the purpose of zzDg
the weatherwise and setting the heads of the scientific
wool gatheringp Whatever may be the OF II
two things ccrtan-tha If the winter continues IL
began the poor will have much easier times and there
viii be no Ice crop
According TO the calculations of those engaged in the
ice trade short supply expected about in every
tve years. but If the theory which has been broachei
about the Gulf Stream prove true may expect TO be
placed on short allowance for many years TO come,
this change in the course Of the great river of
the Atlantic, ~ is sometimes called is to
he attended with q corresponding revolution in
the temperature Of our climate. We are to
have what rs termed cycle OF years, that will
knock all the calculations and speculaons Of the deal
in the head and leave dependent upon Canada fo
our summers supply Ice Will then become almost =
luxury and the monopoly Of the trade will fail into tn,
possession Of friends the other side OF the border
But after all, think there is little danger Of such
change and that the present phenomenon will become
a nycf The t,uf Stream exhibit
position but II s doubtful whether IL will le it's OH
course and upset the calculations and rules Of navga
tors But leaving all this aside would not be singula
If the mild weather which have hal penetrated up
far as the Arctic regions AMI breaking the ice in which
Dr. Kanes exploring ship the Advance Is imprisoned
her drifting down, like the British ship Resolue, into
more Southern latitudeY
To return to the subject with which this article has more
Immediately TO do We have learned by inquiry at the
proper that there about eighty thousand
storage the different houses the dc6cency having
10 be made up from Lake Champlain and some of the
small lakes and ponds in the neghborhood OF Troy. Of
this amount, the Knckerbocker Company has about
hal while the other half is divided between the New
he obtained from lake Champan, but account Of
the want OF proper facilities for storage and ansport
ton. cannot be sold ai so low rate the consumer
has hitherto been able to purchase H. New storehouses
must be erected, and will have 70 be sent by canal
distance OF scventytwo miles 10 Troy, and from
thence TO New York by bargcs The waste by this
means Of transportation viii be very large and win pro.
baby exceed hundred per cent; whereas II stored
and transported usual the loss would not be than
10 be Of inferior quality although the water Ia Of tho
purest kind and the bottom consists OF gravel and fine
sand, while the bottom Of Rockand lake. which Affords
the best ice, Is Of muddy, Shiny character Here ls
seeming contradiction for the scientific 10 reconcile The
ice that from lake Champan viii keep long,
ard when exposed TO the becomes porous while that
cut from Rockand preserves s compacness I'LL the last
particle Is melted
The edeslcrs hopes that the month Of February will
give them crop, and, have said prepared 70
take advantage Of the first protracted cold spell They
have all their implements readiness and the ice houses
cleared FAR they be for the reception OF the
expected crop Although heretofore they have seldom
the ice before II has attained thickness of eight inches
they will commence operations az IL Is siI
inches thick to avoid the consequence OF sudden thav
Sh 1ud their expectations however Dot be realized
thousand men will be thrown out Of employment by be
deprived Of their regl liar work, while about four
i've hundred drivers n the city and others who par
tally dependent upon the sale OF ice will also suffer by
the failure Of the crop In this event the Southerners
must be prepared for n reduction in their supply,
ard consequent increase in the price, and
the expectation TO England, not altogether stopped
" be cons idcraby lesscned However the greatest
part d the ice exported from Bostoe, dealers have
but little any, interest In the matter In conclusion
may state that the knckerbocker Company have Just
cargo Of four hundred tons TO Hong Kong
and Intend sending rome time within the tso
or three months
s,~plsh Naval Osscrsssopa IN, ne (.uIr rs