New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-01-27

The waste, Of which 30 much is said, Ia hexA
to nothing in the ice-hcuses and IN transD0rts-
ton. Ice is transported by sailing ~esses from
Boston to Calcutta, in bulk, with ytyy slight
loss by tbawing, and the product of Maine was
sold last season to private Consumers, in snali
quantities, in Atlanta, Georgia, and the inland
towns of Central Alabama and Mississippi, for
81 cents, the wastage being hardly perceptibls
and the trade confcsscdly profitable. The real
waste, when properly handled by the dealer,
falls upon the consumer, who il usually with
ont efficient means Of protecting it from tho
heated air around. In our opinion, short
weights in delivery cover the whole loss By
thawng, and that short weights have been the
rule is amply proved by the practice, newly
introduced, of largo daily consumers insisting
upon the delivery being weighed upon their
own scales.
We caution orr readers not to believe tho
story about short crop this year. IL it IL
not equal TO the demand, it il because TIE mo-
nopoly has neglected to harvest it IN q re-
markably fine season, which may yet Lest
month or SIX weeks longer. They have no
right to plead the weather against the consu-
mers. and we look upon it az mere prctense
to keep up the enormous prices OF last year.
Nor viii they succeed. The whole country
around us abounds in excellent ponds, and
many considerable consumers have gone back
to the old and substantial luxury OF an ice
house Of their own, finding that cheaper than
the monopoly supply, while they have Ito
added advantages Of convenience and lavish
use Aside from these, there are hotels, steam
boat Ines breweries, slaughter-houscs. and
markets which are putting in large quantities,
and by so much decreasing the chances Of the
monopoly. We are likely to have more small
ice-houses and fewer ice-wagons.
There il a bit of political or social economy
connected with this subject which ought to be
mentioned. The first effect Of the Introduction
OF aaucduet water in oar cities WIS TO mako
bathrooms possible. They and the lavish sup
ply Of water " all over the house, induced the
abandonment OF the wells. SO tina. SIC had
nothing but tepid water 10 the Summer season.
Then came ice az the alleyiatOr, but ice once
in the household froze7 to it. 1t vas found
convenient in the preservation OF perlshabia
household food, and the refrigerator followed
That accomplished, the whole style Of city ar
chitecture was changed the high Lasemens
superseded the deep, cool cellar; fresh meats
took the place of salt; the hand to mouth
system of daily supply was adopted, ard all
modern houses were built adapted to two ideas
an ample supply Of hydrant-water with ice to
cool it, and refrigerator instead OF cellar.
The refrigerator was enlarged into the pre-
servatory of the butcher, the arctic.car of the
SPECTATOR, the fruit preserving house, and
even the undertakeTs got I'D marvellous cool
ers for our dead. Thus the luxury of a few
years since has become the necessity Of to-
day. 1t is impossible that we should do with
out our ice, but it is equally impossible thas
in an article of such bOundless supply the re-
cent high prices can be maintained.