Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-01-14

tiitt vi ColulnD!2 can ever meet TINS popular
demand; nor ought it to be expected.
For detailed information in regard to the
public schools reference if made to thcappended
report of the board of school trustees"
WILL THERE IsE AN ICE FAMINE,
The Present Situation Gloomy A
Freeze Badly Needed-very Littlc Gce
Gathered So Far.
The mild winter thus far causes considerable
solicitude among the dealers and consumers of
ice in this District as to the prospects of a sup
ply this coming summer. Thus far there has
been none gathered. and the present prospect
looks gloomy. Heretofore considerable ice has
been stored in this vicinity by the butchers and
brewers for cooling purposes by the first of
January.
WHAT TUE ICE MEN SAY.
The Independent Ice Company, which owns
its own site and ice houses on the Kennebec
river. and supplies the larger quantity of ice to
consumers here has made full arran rements to
gather sufficient supply should there be q
freeze. Dir. Church OF that company left for the
kennebec river Monday with the purpose of
stopping there and supervising the filing of the
companv's houses. Fir. VIM II. Yerkes. SUPER
intendent of that company in this city, states to
STAR reporter that the company have in store
on the kennebec only 1900 tons left over from
last season, and but 21} tons gathered from the
Potomac river in their bOuSeS at AnalOstan
island.
The changes in the weather are most anxious
~ watched, and lot 2 moment will be wasted in
storing ice, should opportunity be presented.
tie states that it requires usually about six
weeks Of cold weather to fill their houses and
that the season is fast slipping by in which this
work should be done. At most there is not
above six weeks remaining in which they can
count With certainly upon making a crop. Their
site on the kennebec is now almost free of ice
The freeze on that river during the latter part of
December found the river in BAD condition as
there was much snow mixed up with the ice
and the rain and thaW about the first of January
broke the whole surface of the river, and most
OF the ice and snow went down stream and
what is left is in a ch0nped-up state and will re-
quire much labor for its removal i'm order that
the field may be in proper condition for another
freeze. He also states that what is said Of the
kennebec river applies to all other places
where Ice is gathered.
GENERAL SCARCITY.
AdVices from other places are to the same eff
feet. In New York few thousand tons of ice
has been gathered by the brewers for cooling
purposes, and so of Philadelphia and Baltimore.
On Monday, the I'd instant, the kennebec was
entirely clear of ice, and thousands Of men were
busy In small boats breaking up and sending
night before. and the river closed that night,
leaving the Fields" on the whole in bad con-
dILlOn. Some OF the companies are more fOrtu-
nate and have as fine prospects as ever in the
event Of steady cold weather for few weeks.
This is about the condition of the Kennebec
river and while the outlook is gratifying to some
who are favored with good fields the general
prospect at present cannot be said to be very
favorable. In any event. the cost of cutting and
harvesting will be increased above the ordinary
ct &C hn 1ah ,x-ho
into short time for its operations. Mr. Yerkes
says he expects to receive advices from Mr.
Church as soon as he looks over the ground
and he hopes to have more encoura ring tidings;
but. judging from present appearances, ice will
be scarce and high the coming summer.
THE REPORT OF THE GREAT FALLS COMPANY.
Mr. John Van Riswck, the president of the
Great Falls Ice Company, replied to question
by STAR reporter as to what his company had
done towards obtaining supply, "Why nothing
as yet other than to arrange for gathering the
crop when Dame Nature will give it to u.s.
Eyes" said the reporter, 1.-The season has been
backward"
Mr. Van Riswick:-''Much more backward
than usual. Last year by this time we had nearly
our entire supply in"
STAR:-"And none now?"
MIR. Van RlSWick:-''NO: not a pound has
been gathered that we know of as vet, but we
are hopeful. The outlook Is not vet cheering
Tor the last accounts were that on the ponds and
the kennebec river but seven inches OF ice had
made. and the weather being warm II could not
we'll be harvested, even had it been of first
quality. We will require ten days o. two weeks
Of good freezing weather for a good quality of
ice, and should that come we have our men en-
gagged and will go right to work. One result of
the late season is
THE ADVANCE IN LABOR.
Of course we have to look ahead and engage
our force conditionally but the season having
been open. giving men work at other industries,
and the ice season being curtailed. the prices of
labor during the ice season have advanced
Usually there are plenty of men to be had at 81
per day, but offerings of $50 per day are made,
and many have been engaged at 81 25. We are
waiting for the ice to make. and hope that it
will reach foot in thickness, when we will go
in. Should the crop fail, the artificial ice man
win have an excellent opportunity to try his
scheme"
"Have you extended your works on the Ken
nebec?" asked the reporter.
'Oh. yes" Mr.. Van Riswick replied eve
have about doubled our CAPACITY tor storing and
handling ice. We have at Booth bay pond
with 50-hOrse power engine, and on the river We
have two other places, one with 30-horse
engine and the other with two engines OF the
same power. We are fully equipped with all
the modern appliances, and Will work in the
season about 100 men at each place. As | stated
in the beginning, We are expecting freeze. and
rs soon as the ice is thick enough 1 Will hurry
on"
LIVELY TINE IN A KENTUCKY COURT RooM-Dur-
ing the progress or trial Wepdnesday at Mount
Vernon, Ky, John Mullins, witness, applied In
dered him To be arrested for contempt. He ran
out or the court room, pursued by the 1afler and
deputy sheriffs, who brought him back. His
father interfered, and the two Mullins and the
officers fought their way out OF the court room and
arrested and placed IN JAIL Judge Bradley, as
soon SIS the disorder began. left the bench. and
shouted 81 call On every man in this house to
help arrest these men, and viii assist MYSELF
and he did.
ssNo, ma" she said ttCharies can never be
anything to me more. He has come ont In his
last seasons oyerceat and oh, ma If IL onlg