The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1880-01-31
ICE

Talks with Dealers ON Next hummerb
PrOspecIs-The supply ON Hands I'm
This City and Vicinity at Present-The
Lakes and other Old Reliables Have
Not "Pannedi Out- Yet This Season
February and March Their Only Hope.
The ice interest in this city has become
O very large aud important one, and the
is much larger than one
would suppose. Hotels, boarding houses,
butchers, saloons, breweries, bottling
houses and many private families useit to
the extent OF several thousand tons annu.
ally. The ice trade was rather small and
insignificant several years ago, but 1t has
gradually increased until 1t is now very
large and constantly increasing. Two
firms are engaged solely in its harvesting
and sale and many small dealers give Il
much OF their attention. Wheeling Is
very iayorably situated for the harvestihgof
this crop and in seasons favorable 10
It, the river and Wheeling Greek, both on
this side and on the Ohio side, furnish the
splendid ice that Is consumed so largely
in this city. Last winter was one long 10
be remembered by the ice dealers, and
the more provident ones took advantage OF
It and filed their houses TO their utmost
capacities, and as consequence are toler.
ably well prepared against the prospective
"ice famine" The weather Of this sea.
son has been anything but favorable TO
the dealers, and those who are "short"
are decidedly blue over the matter. To
ascertain, however, the true status OF the
supply for our next heated term an INTEL.
IIdENcER man has met in the last few days
several OF our prominent dealers, and
from them cleaned the following: .
Frank Walter was sitting In Siebke's
Sky Parlor discussing "pretzel," and, in
reply to our question as to his condition
said: "Well, guess | have none to speak
OF, and I don't think any OF the other
smaller dealers have" ~.
"What do you think Of the prospects for
freezer"
1--WE all look little out for one in Feb.
ruary or March, but you can't tell"
We have since learned that what little
ice Mr.. Walter has on hand will be used by
the Nail City Brewery.
Robert Luke, Esq, was the next dealer
called on. We found him talking ice 10
Mr.. Joseph Bedilion, an old dealer.
"Well," he said, when we asked him
about hisCrop, ~ have no ice to speak OF.
can hardly be called in the business
when compared with some OF these other
dealers?
"What do you think Of the prospects?"
~ cannot tell. Dealers in a season as
adverse to their prospects as this one is,
generally hope for freeze in February
or March, and in this hope they have
scarcely ever been disappointed"
Capt. Henry Seibert son OF Conrad
Seibert, OF Pleasant Valley, was encounter
ed on the street, and very readily gave us
the following information:
ave have probably three quarter
stock and what we have | tell you briefly
we are nursing. lam in daily receipt Of
letters from all over the country asking as
to the crop. Persons and firms from
whom ice has heretofore been purchased
rcport.an utter dearth, OF it, and are very
dependent ae to the prospects for the
season ahead. No ice has yet been
hayersted on tho lakes in Northern Ohio OF
Michigan and II this thing continues, our
supplies that we purchase must come
from Canada. We confidently look for q
light crop in March or February. 1thas not
missed in an experience Of many years,
and we do not think it@ill this year, Xou
would be surprised to see the demand for
this commodity that has grown up in this
city in few years. It's consumption Is
general. Wpsell anywhere from several
hundred pounds day TO one person
down to two or three pounds 70 Q small
family. All classes use it and tell you
all are apprehenstye about this prospects
and prices"
nPriees have been very reasonable the
last season, have they mott"
Every. Ice sold anywhere from
eighteen cents hundred pounds to one.
fourth OF cent per pound, and the de.
mand was tremendous. Butchers and
others grow very respondent at the
gloomy outlook, as their successful opera,
tons are largely contingent upon the ice
crop.
"How will prices be this year,"
~ can hardly tell. 1t will range from
one.haif cent 10 Q cent per pound, and
maybe more. That also 10 contingent
upon the results OF the next eight or ten
weeks weather. The prices, think,
however, will be double ifnot more"
Mr.. seibert further told us that they had
several large Ice houses at Pleasant Valley
and would. II necessary, increase their
capacity. This firm is by all odds the
largest dealers in the State, and employs a
large corps OF !aborers, besides large
number OF wagons to deliver their ice in
this city.
We did not see Mr.. Kuhn, our Bridge.
port dealer, but learn on good authority
that he is well fixed, having 8 large
quantity Of last seasons crop on hands.
Mr.. Kuhn haryests his ice from the back
river and 1t is of superior quality.
Mr. Heinlein, OF Bridgeport, has none
on hands worth speaking Of.
The butchers Of thisCity are accustomed
to store ice in their own houses, but last
season and the warm winter. has about
exhausted their supplies and unless some.
thing favorable turns up they will "be
left"
The Nail City brewery has erected q
largo and convenient ice house, which we
fear will be merely ornamental this sea.
son, but should freeze occur will be OF
great service to them as 1t is OF great
capacity. They have very little II any ice
on hand.
Reymann's Brewery is furnished with
an ice machine OF large capacity, which
will be increased the coming season.
From orr advices the prospects are poor
in Michigan, Ohio, and other northwest.
ern States. Some ice has been harvested
up the Hudson river in New York, and
considerable ip Maine, but the universal
dearth will make this commodity very
scarce and very high next season, unless
something in the shape Of a solid freeze In.
tervenes in the meantime.
RELIGIOUS NorEs.-InternationSl Sun
day School lesson tomorrow: Matthew
V. Liz the tnnic hainn MTrna Discinlaan