Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-07-20
The Ice Trade.
NO PROSPECT OF RISE OR OF AN ICE FAMINE
WHAT THE DEALERS SAY

NO PROSPECT OF A RISE OR OF AN ICE FAMINE
WHAT THE DEALERS SAY.
There appears at present no likelihood Of
scarcity of ice at any time this year and no pros
pect OF rise in price. which is only One-half of
what was asked last year A reporter of THE
STAR to-day made inquiries among the leading
ice dealers as to the state of the trade.
At the Independent Ice Companys office he
was informed that the company had SO far fur
nlshed double the quantity of ice furnished up
TO the same time last year: that it had E two
years supply stored on the Kenncbec and did
not contemplate any rise in price. The season.
owing to the hot weather. was pretty hard on
men and horses: in order to protect them extra
men and horses had to be employed. The COM
pany had been very fortunate in not losing any
horses this year I've think said Mr.. Church.
THAT if the people would use little less ice it
would be great help to the ice companies
during the heated term" Speaking of the price
of ice. he said They are getting higher prices for
ice at Lynn, Mass. by 10 cts than we are getting
here. The price here barely pays for delivering
to customers" The SHOWS of last winter, Mr.
Church explained had greatly increased the cost
of cutting and storing ice. so that although the
harvest was abundant the cost was about the
same. IF there is any scarcity at all i'm the
supply" he said, lit will be because there are
not men enough on the Kennebec to load the
vessels. During the harvest season they have
TO work on their FARMS
The Great Falls Ice Company have as vet seen
no necessity for advancing the prices. which now
are 20 cents per 100 pounds at the wharf and Is
cents per 100 delivered. with prOpOrtiOnate in
crease for smaller quantities. The amount of ice
furnished this year is about 25 per cent over any
preceding year. The weather has been ey-
ceedingly severe on the horses employed, quite
a number having died from the effects of the
heat Counting the loss on this account out of
the profits there will be but little or no profits
available at the close of the season.
At the commencement of the season
the loss on this account could not be fOreseen
and, although there was large crop harvested,
owing to the frequent SHOWS of the winter. the
cost of cutting was increased-it being necessary
if frst-class ice is wanted to keep it as free as
possible of snow. Notwithstanding that the in
dications are that the dividends of this company
viii be small on account of the trade of the pre-
sent season. unless the remainder of the season
should be excessively warm and continue so till
late in the fall. the supply will hold out, and
there will be probably no rise in prices.
I'VE have any quantity of ice on the Kenne-
bee river, said the manager of the CO-Operatiye
company; enough to supply the city for two
years" He did not expect any rise in price or
scarcity in the supply. The prices. owing to
sharp competition. were very low but he thought
the company could stand it. Ice sold at the
wharf this year for 20 cents, while last wear the
price was 40 cents The business for the com
panies was bad, as there was no profit i'm if