The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-03-31
Advanced Price or Ice in New York.

The president Of great New York Ice
company gives the following explanation
(Which, however, dossn't seem satisfactory
to consumers) in regard to the advanced
price OF ice In New York:
"Thc reason that We have been obliged
10 increase the price OF ice is on account Of
the additional expense Of gathering, hous-
Ing. and transportation. We have large
ice-bouses on the Hudson river, which at
light expense we can usually flIl at the rate
OF $4,000 tons per day. But now we are
obliged 10 90 elsewhere, to unusual and re-
mCte places, for our ice. Besides this, IN
these new localities we have bad 10 build
new ice-houses. Here, on the Hudson, we
have our own barges built expressly
for transporting our ice. and so ar
ranged that melting Is in great part
avoided. This feet OF barges, representing
between $500 600 and $4,000 Is lying idle,
and our large ice-houses along the river are
OF no use. Together with this is the con-
slant expense Of some 300 men who have
them in charge. Much OF the ice that we
are now getting comes from ponds IN dif-
ferent parts OF the State, which makes
transportation by railroad necessary. That
which Is procured In other States must I'M
dergo transportation TO tide.water, and then
a reshipment 10 New York. We are cut
ting now on Saratoga lake and on Lake
Champlain. All this adds largely TO the
cost, as you can see. In fact, the additional
expense OF transportation Will make the
cost OF ice four or five times greater than In
an ordinary winter" -. s-..-e----
"Do you anticipate scarcity Of ice durir 6
the summer"
81 can't say that do,' was the reply ;
"there Is ice enough TO supply the demand
OF the country, but the additional cost OF
transportation will make it cost more. You
say that the people are wondering how it
becomes necessary for US 10 charge $40 a
ton for ice when shippers are selling it for
S. a ton. | have already given you some
reasons. To family CONSUMERS there must
be seven deliveries each week. Teams OF
borses and workmen must be employed.
The ice must be carried into cellars after
waiting for slow servants TO attend TO the
call. All this time there is an enormous
meltage going on. A family takes 100
pounds OF ice per week at the expense OF
81, or ii cents a day. Is this such
terrible high price for the trouble that is
caused? II q man will purchase ice OF us
at the dock it is an entirely different
thing. We prefer to sell at wholesale, and
we are selling ice to-day at 80 ton at the
dock. But when you come TO cut 1t up into
ten- and fteen-pound pieces there is Of me-
cessity very great waste. We are not spec
ulators, endeavoring to make all the money
that we can for Il year because the ice croI
is short. But we are in business FOR both
good aud bad years. and we must treat al
our customers fairly. Our larger customers
come to Us and understand this. Oul
smaller ones would cry out less against hal
they term the ice monopoly il they also hac
statement Of the facts OF the case. In
year like the present, Notwithstanding th'
higher prices, we do not make as much mo
ney as usual, for we are obliged to sci
| clOser.'