The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-03-29
Esarycsttng lee.

| Harvesting lee.
ACTIVITY AND EXCITEMENT IN MAINE EFFECT
OF FAILURE IN THE CROP ELSEWHERE
IMMENSE AMOUNTS STORED AND LARGE
! PRICES DEMANDED.
BANGOR, Me-, March 24.-Ali Eastern
Maine is just now IN fever of excitement
OF unprecedented magnitude, caused by the
sudden rise in the price OF ice in New York
and other large cities. In Bangor especially
every one thinks ice, talks ice, cuts ice,
stores ice. Meet man on the street and
his first question is, 4" How much ice are
you cutling?" Even the women have
warmed up to this very cold subject, and,
like the mothers and sisters OF the Revolu-
| tion, urge husbands and brothers on 10 the
work. Children who have never had play
things before now see In the near future a
whole toy.bouse full OF trinkets which will
be purchased when the paiernal parent sells
his thousands Of tons OF ice.
PROGRESS OF THE WORK.
A number Of parties have been cutting
ice here since January with no expectation
OF gainiOg more than the usual profit, and
nothing in particular was thought about the
matter until two weeks ago, when word
came from New York that the Ice crop had
failed, and that SO, "a, and S5 per ton had
been ofieI ed for commodity which could he
obtained in abundance at our doors for tif-
teen cents per ton, with parties standing
ready to give dollar in advance on every
ton OF ice The moment it was placed in the
storehouse, with another dollar or two
per ton for il when delivered or
board OF the vessels which are 10 take
it to New York. At once every one who
could raise a few dollars got together
.o1 4. of tkas,
staked out lot on the ice in the harbOr and
began work. Since that time work has gone
on nights, days. and Sundays without ceS-
sation, each crew being divided INTO a night
and day squad. This made great demand
for men, horses, and lumber. Men end
horses were plenty. and lumber seemed TO
be at first. The demand has been so eX-
ceedingly great. however, that in this city OF
lumber hemlOck boards have more than
doubled in price within week. until
finally the supply has been almost
entirely exhausted. In fact, one of the
parties most largely engaged in tho
ice enterprise told the writer that ne
should be obliged to stop cutting in very
short time for want Of lumber 10 cover the
ice. Sawdust, in which the ice is packed,
was two weeks ago moi only without value,
but was in the way at the mills. Now it
readily brings So per cord, and the supply
In this vicinity il exhausted. 50 that ice
men are hunting up the sites OF burned saw
mills, miles away, and digging out saw
dust many years old. That source OF sup
ply is now about used up, and several par
ties are stacking the ice without sign OF
packing material. lce-tools cannot be pur-
chased, the supply in New York, Boston,
and other large cities having been bought
.I,A,, He,tNn Yft mt
tool breaks the unfortunate concern pos
sessiDg it is obliged TO diminish its work
by Just so much as that tool would accom-
piish.
GREAT AMOUNT OF ICE.
Several OF the companies engaged take
out ton Of ice every two minutes during
the twenty-four hours, while few succeed
in getting in ton per minute. This at the
rate of $3.50 or SO per ton makes very
profitable business. Much more rapid work
would be done but for the fact tlat all the
apparatus used is OF the most temporary
nature, and time is too precious 20 allow OF
waiting for any improvement. Almost
every concern has method OF its own for
getting IN the ice, but all succeed in Sc
curing an immense amount.
PRICES OFFERED.
AS to offers aud sales, several parties have
been offered as high as IS per ton, and $500
per ton has been freely offered, with no
sales. Every one seems 10 think that he
shall do well to hold On for higher price.
but shrewd observers aie OF opinion that
so much ice is being put in here and else
where in the State that prices can 90 no
higher, and may drop II tie present favor
able weather for ice-gathering holds, as 1t
is likely to until the 1st OF April.
No such excitement in business matters
has been known in Eastern Maine for half
century, and the hope OF the community
here Is that the investment may prove as
profitable as present circumstances would
seem TO indicate.