National Republican., 1880-11-11
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There has been no positive lee famine IN tho
city Of Washington during the past year There
has been plenty Of ice. but at such advanced price
to the consumer that its cNpcn.c has greatly added
to It's character as Il luxury IN this warm climate,
where It has become an Indispensable art cio OF
comfort IN living. II has become a serious quci-
ton with ice consumers ofths city how they shall
escape continuance of the high prices that have
been charged for this article Of health aud comfort
during the past heated term. The Inquiry lshas
there been any good reason for any cdyanOo in tho
cost OF this article beyond TINT which has been
produced by the wonders themselves? Is II the re-
sult Of absolute scarcity IN the ice crop, has tho
great advance resulted from arrangement, combi-
nation aud Cupidty2 II the supply has been
short aud the demand has advanced prices then
consumers must patiently submit to IL as they do
10 nn advance in b.eadstuns, provisions and gco-
Ccries But II the stock has been ample and prices
hdyO been forced because wonders have had tho
power to force them to enlarge their profits, then
consumers should protect themselves In the future
iren prices that have become nccdcss!y severe
and oppressive to those Of limited means.
cOtempOrGry IN u neighburing state IN treat
ing this subject refers to the uct that during the
war, when prices Of all articles Of necessity wero
greatly enhanced, ice was sent from Boston to
bumu river to Montgomery or Selma, or across TO
Meridian In Mississippi. Ii was an article Of cons
mon use at sll the headquarters and the hospitals
fed out with no stin2y hand in the heats of July
and August. Packed in sawiust In crockery hogs
heads It was dry as u bono when II reached Cen.
trail Alabama There was really no Ogpreciabls
percentage Of loss IN the shipment. Aid tho leo
at that time In the region Of tho Black Warrior or
the Alabama rivers was cheaper than IL has been
during the past season In the city Of Washington,
1t cannot be denied that the demand for ice has
boon increased, but the sources O;Suppiyare ample
II they are only worked up tU their capacity The
butcher shop the meat safe in the cellar, the re-
irgcmtor IN almost every family and still moro
largely the b'cweres all combine 70 make heavy
demand upon the ice supply, but the northern
rivers and lakes have only to be worked 10 AFFORD
much larger supply than can be exhausted, and
upon their Working depends in lGrge degree tho
fact whether or not ice Is 10 BECOME an expensive
luxury. Tho expense of gathering the crop is not
material under any circumstances, nor Is there
any material fluctuations in lrc!ghS to justify an
advance OF ilty or sCvcnty-ilve per cont OH tho
value OF the article IN market. Maine has an OK.
h0ustcss supply and the ocean rolls constantly be-
tween that pjiit uid she national capital to Boat
ships laden with the cooling product.
lii Wow Of the past Il Is 10 be hoped that the poo
| pie OF Washington Will take measures during tho
coming winter to protect themselves against an leo
famine and cXOrbtant prices relating 10 this in-
| dspcnsabic article OF comfort In not climate.
| They are as much interested in the ice crop as in
| the wheat crop and should watch IL rs closely.