The New York herald., 1878-12-15
ICE PROSPECTS.

NO FEARS OF SHORT SUPPLY ENTERTAINED
BY THE TRADE-A LATE CROP PROBABLE
BUT EVERY PREPARATION MADE FOR HARVEST
ING QUICKLY.
In view of the mild weather which has prevailed in
this section up to the present time aud the almost
total absence of frost, many people have doubtless
been led to regard with more or less anxiety the
prospects for ice during the ensuing year. For the
purpose of having some light thrown on the situa-
ton and of ascertaining what effect IL any. the mild
fall and thus far open winter may have on the supply
of ice for next season. HERALD reporter yesterday
called upon few of the gentlemen connected
with some of the most important ice COM
panies in the city. From the opinions OF
these parties given below. it will be that the
moderate temperature which the people OF New York
and vicinity have been enjoying not by any means
exceptional and also that apprehensions whatever
felt in regard to the ice crop running short.
WHAT
Mr.. r. M. McClay president of the Knckcrbocker
Ice Company in answer to the writer's inquiries
saidI cannot tell what the prospects for next year
are. The for making ice is not unusually
backward. you may by this printed table
which shows that III no year from ls46 to
1878 were the canals closed in this State before
the latter part of November or some time
in December and Of course the ice season
commences until after the canals are closed.
do not think there is any reuson to apprehcnd
scarcity of ice this year. because the cutting season
has not ,mmenced on account Of the open weather.
We should not begin to feel uneasy about gather
ing full crop before perhaps; the middle OF
January or the lst Of February. We have gathered
our ice crop as late March for good many years
Yon may state, if you like. that did something
this year that had never been done in the ice bns
ness here before We have shipped large quantities
Of it by rail to Chicago, St. Louis and other Western
cities showing that ut Chicago which depends for its
supply Of ice the Northern lakes the people did
not have as cold weather last winter as we
exp here Now although last winter
what we call an open winter we got quite as heavy
ice on the Hudson was taken ont OF the kennebec
In Maine. Last we commenced cutting ice on
the Upper Hudson the 1st OF February and before
the end Of that month we had gathered our full crop
Although the prospects for crop at this time last
year were worse than they at present it is alto
geher too early yet to think of scarcity OF ice. Our
facilites-including machncry--for the cutting and
storing OF ice present perfect that 1t only
quires a short time to secure full crop
Mr.. $. b. Colgate. secretary of the Consumers Ice
Company. said Although the winter has been very
mild SO far, that cannot be taken a criterion of
what the weather may be. have seen the Hudson
closed as tight jug in three days. We may have
noticing the effect of the fine weather we have not
commenced to think about it yet and you might as
well ask what the prospect is for the wheat crop
next summer. II cold weather should set in now it
would be three four weeks before we could cut
ice. 1t is possible that We may be cutting ice in
ten days from now, but this could be done only IN
the temperature tell to twenty degrees below
zero and SO remained for ten days. state OF things
which, Judging from the past, is extremely improba
ble Thus far the fine weather has not worried any
body in the ice business in regard to the prospect for
full crop Last year commenced cutting about
the latter part OF January. Should this weather con
tinue until the 10th 18th OF January might
then begin to think that the crop would be little
short In regard to the weather. every winter is diff
ferent. l have been up the river for fifteen years
and during that time l never saw two winters alike
SO that you cannot judge OF one season by another
FEAR OF A FAMINE.
1.-The prospects very poor at present. said Mr..
William Kemp. vice president Of the New York City
Ice Company. The weather continues unusually
fair and the river quite open. Whenever we have
such late fall the just past the winter is gen.
orally open and the chances for getting ice thereby
considerably lesscnel but still have seen good
crop OF ice when the fall has been open as
this one. We never look for the closing OF the
river while there is such a ireshet as that
existing for the past few days. We have no fears,
however, in regard to getting a full crop of ice.
About the first week in January we usually COM
cutting and last year did not begin to take
in ice until the Attn OF February. don't think there
is much danger of a full crop, we now lay up ice
in such quantities ut Albany, Troy and further north
to make for any deficiency in the lower part of
the river that ii the crop this year should be short
in the usual places there would be fear whatever
OF any thing like an ice famine