Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-05-21
ZOE BUSINESS ON THE KsNNEBEc.
Review Of the business during the year
Old Ice and New The Fluctuations and
Uncertainties Of the Bu .iness.


We are called to the duty of our annual review
| Of the ice business on the Keunebec river. The
, figures which are enabled to present are not
q satisfactory in any respect as those given in or
| record O.. last year The sanguine hopes aud ex-
pectations of several spectators melted away like
the ice in which they were centered, while others
have transacted fair, but by no means extra
ordinarily paying business.
After the immense call for ice last season, Oh
account of the failure of southern ice fields to
yield their usual harvests, requiring q constant
feet Of vessels to take the ice to Market consid-
cradle amount still remained unsold. Contractors
proved untruthiul, or companies held their stock
at too high figure. From an actual survey,
made on the first of September last, it was found
that 200 600 tons of ice, in round numbers, re.
NAMED unsold on the river. A considerable guam
tty was sent away after that time, later in the
son. Our readers need scarcely to be reminded
of the favorable weather for the formation of ice
that prevailed last winter, not only in the north.
but throughout the southern States as well. This
discouraged individuals from putting up ice on
| the chances of the market. The ice cut and
housed last winter (not u cake was Stacked and
we believe no new houses were built), belongs
mostly to foreign companies who have q regular
market to supply, and who are no. at all de-
pendent upon the fluctuations of the market in
that commodity.
1t is estimated that about 900 tons of new
ice were put up last winter on the Kennebec, be-
tween Augusta and Richmond.
We will now proceed to mention each compa-
ny in detail, giving the amount of ice held at the
present time by each.
Page and Wall, Hallowell have 5000 tons of ice
The Hallowell Granite Company have 1900 tons
which have been sold.
McClinch & Brock, Hallowell. 1000 tons, sold.
A. Rich, Jr. Farmingdale, 5000 tons, probably
sold, or bargained for. Mr.. Rich ha, put up dur.
ing the winter 900 tons, for which he has
market 10 Philadelphia supplying the Butchers
Ice Co.
Berry, Checseman & Co.. Farmingdae, $1,000
tons.
The following houses in continuation OF our
list, are either in Dresden. Pttston or Gardiner:
Great Falls Ice Company Of Washington, ID. c.,
IL, 600 TONS not on the market.
Independent Ice Co., of Washington, d. C.,
Is 900 TONS not on the market.
The three companies last named, are expec ted
to send all their ice to the Washington market.
j. S. Barker, $4,000 tons, also for the Washing
ton market. Not tor sale.
Knickerbocker Ice Co., Philadelphia, IS, 900
tons. None of this will be used the present sea-
son, the company depending upon their local sup
ply. Not on the market.
Centennial Ice Company, 5000 tons.
Jewett & Co., $500 toes.
Cheeseman, 5000 tons.
Consumers Ice Company Of New York, d id not
put up ice last winter, as they have large
supply on the Hudson.
Oakland Ice Co., 800 tons.
A. C. Stilphen, 5000 tons.
Old Orchard Company, s. B. McCauslaud &
Co., 500 tons.
kennebec Land and Lumber Company, 1900
tons, to be shipped to Philadelphia, Baltimore
Savannah and Richmond. The same company
have 5000 tons at Wiscasset; all sold.
Kennebec Mutual Ice Co.. 1000 tons houses
damaged.
Gardiner Ice Company, 1000 tons; sold.
Dingley Brothers. Is, 900 tons.
Lawrence & Atkins, 1000 tons.
Dresden Ice Company, 5000 tons.
Cheeseman's ice houses at Cedar Grove, Il, 900
tons; sold.
Sagadahoc Ice Company, Richmond, 10000
tons, new ice.
Orient Ice Company, Richmond, 1900 tons.
Russell Brothers, Richmond, 10, 900 tons.
We do not claim that the above figures are alb
solutely correct, but they are nearly so. From
them we gather this recspuaton: amount of
ice in store, 2S1 900 tons; amount sold "A, 500
tons amount pu, up by companies for their own
use, and not in the market, l2i, 900 tons; leaving
for sale at the present time IS 500 tons. The
market for this will depend upon the intensity OF
heat of the coming summer; but with the large
cities of Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York
already supplied, the sale must necessarily be
slow and at low price. The average price of the
sales this year will not exceed one dollar a ton
and to sell it for less than this including the cost
of packing on board vessels, would be losing
business.
Practically, the experience on this river has
been that there is no money in ice to those who
enter the business for the purpose of specu lat 10
solely. There are disadvantages in obtaining
cheap freights, the seller being compelled to COM
pete with Boston in that respect. In fact the bus
mess is coming down to "hard pan," the specula-
tors retiring pocketing cody their losses and the
stable, substantial companies who are willing to
figure on small margins, establishing leg tim ate
business in the putting up and sale of ice. 1t is
better for all concerned that the traffic in th pro-
duct of the Kennebec should be in the hands of
reliable gen tlemen and responsible corporations.
kennebec ice is a staple product, bound to sell
where ice from other sections becomes drug in
the market. The local business on the Kennebec
on account of the ice yield. has been immense,
nine-tenths of the money paid out being tor help,
which has gone straight into the pockets of our
industrial population.
The Western Union Telegraph Co. make large
reduction in their rates this morning. The new
rate to Boston is only 80 and to Chicago rs cents
and SO on. The public will be glad of this
change.
"a friend in need is friend indeed Adamson's
Botanic Bdisam has proved itself friend TO the
suffering, and Its best recomme ndation is that
where it has once been faithfully tried no other
remedy will be used for hs md cnlds