Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-27

cial cases In writing. and we are faithfully
abiding by these contracts or agreements.
There are only few such cases and there was
no such understanding with the public"
| Stdr:-"What amount OF ice is consumed
here, and what is the condition of the supp,y?f'
Ansrer:-..It takes about &c. 900 tons for the
Others for their own use. The supply now here
is quite low, but in few days there WIN be q
sui1iciency here, including cargo BY the four
with j, 400 tons OF Ice"
The Cooperative Ice Company's establish.
ment IS on Water street, foot Of sth street, and
Is In charge OF Mr.. Richard Rich as general sl-
reporter called In discharging cargo of ice
from large schooner. The company have but
one iee-house here, which is quite large and
conveniently arranged Calling his attention
TO the recent publications on the subject of a
rise In the piice OF ice in this District. he re-
m ma s6di Yes can tell you all about it in
liable TO variation in price, according to the
supply and demand"
81. Star:1"Have your company entered into con-
tract with your customers to furnish them
through TIE season at fixed rates?"
R:-'No; can recollect of but one instance of
&C, consumer. doing business requiring much Ice
man nno oU,fafo n exists ;so Tns is restaurant
promises to housekeepers to supply them
lhIough the season at fixed rates, which prJmi-
ste re gard as contracts"
S,oF:IWhat are your rates to consumers?
ADout the same as other companieS-40
cents delivered at the wharf per 100 and GO cents
I on Ine street; when delivered at houses and
places OF business by the wagons our rates are
the same as the other companies charge
- @dT;-"Mhat is the price Of ice now on the
R::-"The Cooperative Company Is selling it
Today at s. per ton by the cargo Here Is Just
the way the case stands: Ice is worth So on the
keInebec; 1t costs 81 per ton for freight; IA
discharging, this makes altogether 1894 Der
ton: now we calculate that one-half is lost by
melting-in other words, every ton of ice de.
1yered is Washington represents two tons on
the Kennebec, and costs, delivered here to Gus
toners, SlS6S, so you can readily see that there
is not so much margin On ice after all.'
Stdr:-"Do you mean to be understood to say
that thls Is the actual cost OF every ton OF ice
you sell here?"
R.:-"O, no: we put up or store our own ice
In our houses at Farmingdale two miles above
the city of Gardner, Me-. otherwise we could
not sell it so cheap here. We sell here at
wholesale at about the same rates as they do on
the Kennebec"
Sar:-"How many compose the Cooperative
Ice Company"
R.:-"Only two of us-lnyself and a brother,
who attends TO the business at Farmingdale.
His name is Abraham Rich. remain here and
do the business at this end
SGr:-" You two, then, own the site on the
hennebec, aud all the appliances connected
with the business both at Farmingdale and
heIe?''
r." Yes; and we have the best site on the
kennebec; store more Ice, and OF better quality
tueII any OthtI cOHpdHS, eACeptluS perhaps
the Nnfcker booker Company
Stoi':-"Do you sell to dealers in other
cities?"
R." yes; in New York. Philadelphia and
Baltimore, and some in Richmond and other
places"
StGr:-"Then, am not to understand that
your ice costs you, delivered at the wharf In
this city, s1s.6S per tOn?"
R:-"No, because we harvest our own ice. l
give you what the actual cost would be, cid we
have to purchase our ice on the KeunebtcD
S0r:-'What is the capacity Of your houses
in Maine?'
R.:-"1OO,OG0 TONS and we fill them every
year. and generally clear theR out every sea-
son.
Star" Do You have to cultivate ice on your
site?"
R.:-"Yes certainly, every year. We take
our crop from the center or the stream, Wkere
it is purest and freezes thicker. We were par
ticularly fortunate the last season. The first
came light snow several inches. We got our
force together and removed the whole OF this
snow blanket, and Immediately there came
another hard Freeze making our ice twelve
inches or over thick, while all our neighbor5 let
their snow remain on the ice, and therefore lost
to work ploughing and storing our Ice, which
was as hard as could be and clear as crystal,
and had our best Ice III store, while Others
could do nothing but wait for the lext freeze,
SOD"
Nar:-"How much have you In store there?"
R.:-"I don't know; my brother has not In.
formed me, but fear we will not have enough
TO carry US through the season. We could f1d
outside dealers"
Star:-"Do you supply dealers here?"
R.:-"Yes; when they are in want of 1t, for
an accommodation. Our purpose Is to work no
wholesale trade