New-York tribune., 1882-02-07
PROSPECTS, F0R IcE on THE HrpsoN

There was smile OF satisfaction and content on
the face of the ice dealer when thc cOli snap h"
had been oaeiug for set in. There was prospect
of a fair crop Ol Ice and good weather III WhIch to
harvest IT, All along tho Hudson the lee cutters
had whettcd their Cnttlng gear and stood on the
banks of the river mpItiCntly. But the recent
snow storms danpencd their ardor and abbreviated
their smile. The ice houses along the Hudson RlNcr
mr.. tccfning with activity. but not with ice. The
larr forces of men emp Dyed by the different COM
panieS are now engaged IN sCTdpIn0 the snow from
The ice In some PAGES the snow Is so deep as to
nine TO eleven inches hcb and is covered " ith snow
fom twelve 10 twenty-five inches IN depth. In
Gulry was mad" yesterday al the oice oi the hnck-
erbockcr Ice Company in Canal-st., 10 the elect
upon the lee crop OF the recent snow storms. Robert
Macay, the president OF the company, Shd that III
some places the quantity oi snow would he lh)IrohS
to the ice, while III other places uttr II dHA lury
VII" In some places" said Mr Maclay 4" the snow has
AL got To be- removed; il is 50 heavy IN wlnarOws
that il SINKS the ice and Hoods the whole field II
YOU want an idea Of how dIficht II IL 10 clear an
icc-feld you can get il by obs rylnF thc difficulty
with which the snow is cleared from our streets"
" What arc the prospects al present! inquired the
reporter
Hudson RIVER before this storm were very COOL II
we are successful IN removing the snow without
flooding he fields Oi lee We may SaNca ialr crop.
The ice has never been tl!ci enough TO cur Ou the
tower Hudson. Mcu are being employed now ~
scTaping the ice. Very niue zee VIII be gathered
WAS he report in regard TO Il strike among your
no. we've had no STRIKE. When you'yc heavy
fall of snow YOU can't he taking IN ice; 50 suppose
some one happened TO be gong Dy our ice houses
and not SEEING the engines at work thought We had
had strike. The men were out on the ice scrdpiug
away the snow. That's the way the story must
have originated.
Have YOU had any trouble with your men,
NO: there's been no occasion IOT strikes. There's
only a strike when there more Incn than cm-
ployment There has been scarcity of help all
aong the Hudson this year and every man has
found employment
- How do you keep posted ab mt the ice and its
coudtlonW
Il generally have one of our men telegraph me
every morning the condition Of the zee ana the nycr
In his locality. The men = Out Gt daylight, make
tneIr observations IN regard T. the lee. III" river
and the weather. and then telegraph 10 me the
result If their observations.
Has the snow fallen III such quantities as 90 be
disadVantIgeous in cutting the Ice!
It's terrible the way thIs thIng has worked tins
wear. The snow Is an advantage. and at the sInc
tine IT'S "A disadvantage. The large quantity on
the ice prevents the suns rays from tnG the lee,
aud Is in consequence an advantage. But We dare
moi uncover the lee any faster than can house II.
Here continued Mr. MacJy, " is one II the dis
patches To which referred a moment ago Ihls
come, from ROndout. ana TcIds: Ice ~ TO 10
inches thlck. snow loot deep. RpndOut Is an
important place iOr u, as We have a good many Ice
ht flteT.