Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-02-12
the weather In New York, and reports from tho

the weather In New York, and reports from tho
Hudson have been conned with as much interest
as reports from the Potomac in war times. We
beg our people on the kennebec to keep cool and
let the ice form; not to get their expectations too
high, and then sorrowfaly sit down to see them
melt away. Yesterday we were shown letter
received by gentleman in this city, who is in
communication with shrewd business men in New
York, who have sharp eye on the thermometer
in the ice markets. The first of the season, he
says that the prospect forspeculaton in ice looked
favorable; but the middle Of last week cold
wave swept along the Hudson river, and in less
than twenty-four hours shut up every open spot
and from that time up to Monday, 9TH, ice had
made fast every hour Of the day and night. They
have been cutting ice on the Hudson by moon.
light even, SO anxious are they to keep the Ken
pebecers from earning an honest dollar. The
Poughkeepsic Eagle of the 9TH says that Several
gangs have been filling the houses in half the
time usually required. All doubts in relation to
the usual full crops of ice on the Hudson may now
be set at rest. To be sure, it is not Of the thick
ness Of last year, but it will run from eight to ten
inches, and in the main clear, good ice. There
will be much larger amount stored this year
than last
But on the other hand, gentleman informs Us
that the ''ice" they have been putting up on the
Hudson, is half snow, and will hold no COMPARE
son in the market to our Kcnnebec ice. Perhaps
however, it will answer a substitute in dull
times No wonder that amid these conflicting re-
ports, there should be anxiety among those who
have ice to sell or buy, those who have full houses
or empty houses, those who don't know whether
to stack, or build new houses and fill them. 1t is
wonderful how heat d and excited men will get
on so cool subject as ice. Here is one fact that
may Tor may noD indicate something stock in an
ice company on this river that last summer was
offered for 50 cents on the dollar, is now refused
to be sold at par. But that is substantial COM
pany, and may possibly be an exception.
Philadelphiars and New Workers may entirely
miscaculate in regard to the amount Of ice that
will be needed to carry them through the summer;
and may find that the stuff upon which they are
depending, cut from their own rivers and ponds,
will cave in. If that should be the result, (apd
the next week or two will determine how much
they will secure there), then there will be de-
mand for the solid, substantial product Of Maine
waters and Maine winters. But we don't antici-
pate big prices; people will 60 without ice this
year, rather than ent TO be bled too profusely
and possibly some of our ice dealers may repeat
the folly Of some of our farmers, who withhold
their butter from the market when it commands
a reasonable price, but who afterwards, with
heightened faces, peddle it out at sacrifice. Not
a ton of ice on the Kennebec has been contracted
for this year at higher price than Sl.50
per ton, eand that by the Sagadahoc Co. Of Rich
mond, while most of the skrmishng (not bona fde
oEers) has been in the vicinity of one dollar.
There is yet time enough to put up ice on the
kennebec, and we think that those who have
empty houses will iud it for their interests to fill
them.