The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-29
r he ICE CROP.
HOW THE ICE is HARVESTED.
Prospects Of the Present Season-The Ice
Houses Nearly Full.

me readers OF the HERALD have been kept IN
Formed throughout the season regarding the ice
crop OF the present winter but the manner Of har-
vesting the crop is little understood. The short sup
ply OF last brought home to every reader Of
the HERALD the unpleasant experiences consequent
upon a dearth OF ice. This season. thanks 10 the
ne long continued cold as well a. clear weather
the ice harvest has progressed rapidly, and al the
present writing the different storehouses and
tbe Hudson river are nearly all filed.
one WEEKS GOOD WEATHER
win insure the finishing OF the ice cutting The In
PRODUCTION OF the Croton In the city IN the year
1912 rendered the taking OF Ice by our people not
luxury, but necessity. Before that the
Arinking water obtained from the different pumps
ana wells was cold and pleasant But
bhe Croton during the warm months came 10
Inc thirsty householder Of tepid warmth, and with
, nauseous and sickening taste. The cooling OF tins
drinking water was rendered Imperative and the Ice
business, from small beginnings has risen to it's
present enormous extent. The almost only 10
which II was put before the Introduction OF the Gro
hon was for preserving the meats OF butchers and
packers, and some small quantities were also used
by confecrioDers IN the freezing OF creams and ices
The supply OF Ice for these individuals Obtained
from the numerous ponds along The line OF the Sec
end and Third avenues, In the neighborhood OF sew
entieIh street. the largest being known Sun Fish
Mr.. A. Barmore the first man who brought
load OF ice TO the city for sale ana consumption
He was born near RocKland Lake. and came TO this
city and engaged In the boot and shoe business
In Hudson street, near Canal His father, still liv-
ing on the homestead near the lake, written
TO- and he In company with some OF his neighbors,
cut anc packed 900 tons OF ice. From this humble
beginning arose that wealthy corporation known as
Me Knickerbocker Ice Company. Your CORES
poDdent selected Rockland Lake owned by that
company, the scene Of his labors from the fact
that Is the nearest TO the city, and having the
longest used OF any ice reservoir the machinery
would be more apt TO be Of the most perfect character
Starting Tuesday last the coolest day OF the
son, but one most favorable for operations In the
Ice, your correspondent stepped on one OF the
trains OF the Northern Railroad OF New Jersey for
Nyack, on the Hudson. After two hours ride
through cherries yet still lovely landscape. we
arrived at our destination, but were yet some six
miles away from Rockand Lake. The snow OF Mon
day lay like q blanket over everything, and he
branches or the trees bent down ward by the weight
OF the now moistened snow. Procu ring sleigh at
Eyaok starred 10 the sound OF the Jnging bells
on our cold ride The ten miles was done in an
hour and fifteen minutes but the ride being right
ibe cheeks and two fingers OF your correspondent.
VIGOROUS SNOW RUBBING
although occasoning much pain, took out the frost
We arrived at Rockland Lake at about six 2. NJ.
Putting up at the nearest hetel we partook OF a
hearty supper and soon marched or to bed. Having
left word TO be called al sharp six II seemed but the
shortest Of maps before the raps were heard routing
breakfast took departure for the lake, half
mile distant and, early as we got on the ground,
we found q large force already at work.
The lake Is sheet OF wafer not over SIX miles In
circumference and lies nesting In perfect ampni
Ui es oVar a. s ne * e
Hook Mountain, lying toward Nyack. These are
but bare cags Invested OF trees. and present to the
eye nothing but heaps OF rocks and stone, piled
Peion on Ossa heavenward The ice we found
when walking the frozen surface OF the lake TO
rsI operation is to get rid Of this Here are twenty
horses at work at this. Each horse is attached to
Tor the driver TO the outlying ends the whiiletrees
fastened, ana the horse steps out brskly SCOOP
ing and scraping of the snow as he proceeds. This
pcraplng is repeated again and again until the face
OF the ice is reached. Now comes one Of the fore
men, and with straight edge lays out the course
for
THE IRoNNAaYER
space o. three acres has already been cleared OF
snow and the teams stand with their drivers await
Ing with Impotence the laying out OF the 'landh
After the first line is drawn py the straight edge the
boys sled. without the Top, however, and
ner gdes along the line marked by the straight
acres Is marked out. These lines run say, from
north 10 south As soon as marked one way the |
machine is turned, and the marking done from east
70 weet. Following in the groove made by the |
marker come the plough teams. The ploughs are /
near Elk feet in length, and consist OF series OF
steel knives, set one behind the other, and each |
cropping an eighth OF an inch lower than the knife
front Of It. kS9 p sse 0uga sSs
Of Them as at work ea Il e Tine In
Eharp cut and scrape sound on the stll aiI ike |
the escape OF steam from dozen boilers, all |
Missing al the same time. The cut Is made down |
into the Ice, say two and a hall three inches |
After the marking and ploughing is fairly under |
from east to west The rapidly OF the continual |
as ,e and sepas eao other
ceres resembles Ia its marking the
s9cARIsss o. 9 f BOARD nDa n,ec..
sawed. say eight squares deep and from fifteen to
swenty In length The ice houses are distant from
the scene OF the cutting a. least quarter OF mile
or these there are two. the Oldest is building 240
feet deep by 2b5 feet 'front.' In IT are eight rooms
with hall through The centre Thf capacity q tins
h delivered to the houses by means OF elevators
OF these there are Ave. nifty feet ppart these run to
rlned plains extend from each oil these elevators to
she houses and are used successfully as the houses
Sy stationary engine alongside Of the storenouse.
The new South house ts q building three hun
ned s nun q aH nn s 1ee ana ar n0ds
ths IL by the came system OF elevators and inclined
planes as the older mousse, but the length OF the
BnaftnQ Ia some seven hundred feet. large canal
is cut from cleared farm OF three acres TO near
The ice houses Smaller channel cut from
the main canal 10 each Of the elevators. A huge
piece containing two hundred blocks, Is
Eartec OF the main body and propelled a. ong the
Cahai. III taxes lour or HVe men 10 start IL, Dut
wnen once In motion one man keeps 1t going
Nearing the elevator channels. q man springs upon
H. and with vigorous blows with heavy Iron spade
the implement resembling Jersey farmers post
spadethe blocks are split OF after another and
delivered TO The elevators. stands the foot
OF each elevator, and one block Is seized and carried
up and shot along The inclined plane al Whatever
height is desired. These
BLoCgs
average In weight two hundred and twenty five
pounds. When working with heavy force two
cakes taken by the elevator instead Of one.
within the house men are busy with PIKE poles or
boat hooks; Selling the cakes as tues come sailing
Into the different roous they stow them away side
by side, Tier upon tier, until the il full. An
other stands al the top OF the elevator, along
side OF Inc shaiting, and tends 10 The brake which
works each separate elevator; stopping or starJng
the same as occasion may require. Climbing up tue
ladder that leads 10 the roof or the Old house
view from this high standpoint the scene below
upop the lake. Three hundred and bfty men and
toys toUetner with ufty horses are moving randy