The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-24
The Winter So Far.

The Winter So Far.
From all parts Of the country we hear OF
heavy falls Of snow, which throughout New
England and the northern and western coun-
ties Of this state now lies deep and we'll
packed, and promises to remain until the
spring thaws 1t out.
SO great il the quantity that slcighing in
many places, especially where the snow had
drifted badly, has been difficult and even
dangerous. OK teams have had to plough
through the deep piles to make path for
travel and relieve the farmers from block
ade. Sometimes the roads are fairly impas-
sable, and they must be left for the fields,
where the snow is less abundant. But at
last most Of the paths are thoroughly
beaten: and the snow facilitates the trans
portation Of heavy loads, and is a boon TO
the horses which drag them.
IL seems certain that we are not TO have
another open winter and the people In the
country, at least, rejoice that it is so; for
though the driver for pleasure alone may
find sleighng tiresomc after he has had a
month Qr two Of it, and may at last long for
the coming of the day when he can exchange
runners for wheels, a winter of good and
continuous slcighing is welcome to the
farmers, and all who use the roads in the
way Of business. Besides, in our climate
snow is by no means necessarily the enemy
Of health. and we can hardly look on win
ter as normal one unless the ground Is
covered with white.
Ono Of the many advantages we shall reap
from our winter Of continuous cold will be
a splendid supply Of ice. The water has
frozen to n remarkable depth, and we read
OF ice gorgcs Of enormous thickness even
so far south as Richmond, while through
out the North the streams are closely
locked, the lee being from fifteen 10 twenty
inches thick Above Albany three thousand
men are cutting it from the Hudson. and
many new Ice houses have been built; and
from that city down 10 Poughkeepsie the
river swarms with men and teams engaged
In the same business.
No finer ice than that now being gathered
from our lakes and rivers has ever been
stored up for summer use; and the quantity
Of il attalnable being practically beyond
limit, there Is no reason why the price
should not be lower than it has been for
many years. The ice companies will have
no excuse this year for raising their rate Of
charges when the dog days come, for what
ever the demand it is not at all likely to be
anywhere nearly equal to the supply, which
will have been secured at an unusually
| small cost, wages being low and the album
dant snow furnishing admirable facilities
for transportation to tho storchouscs.
Moreover, the leo is not only remarkably
thick, but it Is also firmly compacted, Of
such soldity That its lasting quality is
great. We congratulate the people on the
| prospect Of cheap and abundant leo next
summer, for nothing contributes more TO
their comfort in the warm weather.
Tho most noteworthy feature Of the Janu-
airy markets Is the large and tempting dis
play Of tropical fruits and vegetables.
Florida oranges and lemons are arriving in
| considerable quantities, and thoir quality
makes them especially przod The lemons
| from that State have much improved during
| recent years. either because a new variety
has been brought forward or because the
methods Of cultivation are better. They are
| fresh, large, and uncommonly good. The
| oranges also, wrrc never finer than now
and they deserve the favor with which they
are regarded, readily selling at from 10 to Is
cents n dozen. II is feared, however, that
tho Florida orange groves will suffer from
the severity of the winters frosts, as we are
told those Of California have done. The
Valencia oranges are In less esteem, and sell
at from 40 cents 10 30 cents dozen for the
better qualities, aud from ~ cents to % cents
for inferior qualities. Jamaica pincapplcs
arc t. be had, but at pretty high prices
from 50 TO rs cents pair
Tho largo and handsome pears of Cali
fornia, many Of which, however, are not SO
luscious as they look thcr flavor not equal
ling that Of tho Same varieties Of Eastern
growth, yet fetch from Is cents to 81 a dozen
Fresh tomatoes from Florida and Bermuda
are in good supply and sell at compare
lively low rates about 30 cents quart !;
and some raised in hot houses are also 10 10