Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-12-15
VIII the Ice Crop be Large.
New York Tribune


New York Tribune.
The advent Of winter naturally sets
many persons thinking OF the proba
bic extent of the ice crop, and sug-
gests to prudent housekeeper specula-
ton as to the prices that are likely to
rule next summer. The recent cold
weather, coming as it did at the very
beginning of abe season, would seem
to indicate that a long winter will
follow There is an old saying that
when there is a good crop of chest
nuts there is sure to be a good crop Of
ice. If this be true, ice will be both
plentiful and cheap next summer, for
there has been a rare crop Of chest
nuts this season. Last year the ice
vas very small. but there had been so
great a quantity left over from the
previous winters supply that there
was no scarcity and prices were com
parstively moderate all through last
summer. There will be no such sur-
plus to fall back upon this year, for
the stock on hand is small aud the
supply will depend altogether upon
the crop that is to be gathered. A
Tribune reporter called upon some Of
the principal ice dealers recently to
get an expression of their views upon
the subject.
Robert Maclay, President Of the
Knickerbocker Ice Company, at No.
432 Canal street said: 1T is altogether
too early to express an opinion as to
the probable supply Of ice this winter,
and, Consequently, as to the prices
that will prevail next summer. There
has been very little cold winter yet
and a cold day or two at this time can
produce no ice. Agentleman who has
just come from Albany informs me
that it is not so cold there as here,
and that all the ferries are open on the
upper Hudson. As to what sort Of a
winter we shall have, | can only guess
likeany other man. | study the Signal
Service reports and Vennor's predic-
tons; but as yet we can only forecast
the weather for a few days. believe
the time will come, however, when we
shall be able to know what sort OF
weather there will be for a month
or two ahead; but at present we have
no guides but old women's fancies."
What is the amount Of ice on
hand?"
Practically there is none. Last
year there was a light crop, and the
stock was so we'll cleared out that
there is no surplus. We shall depend
upon this winters harvest for our
supply. and what that will be it il
impossible to guess now"
Alexander NJ. Earle, President of
the Consumers Ice Company, at the
foot of Horatio street, North River,
said. While | do not think there is
a very large supply Of ice on hand,
there is some ice stored in the houses
up the river; perhaps as much as
100000 or 100000 tons. There has
been no cutting yet, except on shallow
ponds in a private way, and | have
heard Of no ice that wal thicker than
four inches. The fats were frozen
over up the river. | cannot attempt
to say what kind of a winter we are
likely to have. Weather is very I'M
certain"
John Milford, President of the
Mutual Benefit Company, at No. SO
Ninth avenue, said: Anything that l
might say at tie present time about
the coming ice crop would be mere
conjecture. | do not think an early
winter is promisingfor a good ice crop,
and for this reason: II the river freeze
10 November or early in December,
SHOWS or freshets are pretty sure to
follow end break the ice up. To find
any ice in the river now you must 20
above Catskill, and there it is just
thick enough to impede navigation
and not nearly thick enough to cut.
The water is very low on the upper
Hudson just now. and ice that could be
got from it would not probably be very
good 0fthe stock left over from last
years crop there is, | should think,
about 100000 tons or less. But il is
poor ice aud dirty. If it had been in
good condition it would have been
sold last summer. The supply for
next summer will depend entirely
upon the crop that we harvest this
season In another month. perhaps,
we shall have some idea Of what the
crop will be-"