Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-17
PROSPECTS FOR THE ICE CROP.
What Our Local Dealers Say.
THE MAIN SUPPLY OF THE WASHINGTON MARKET
COMES PROM THE KESNEBgc RIVER AND PONDS IN
MAISE-HoPEs AND FEARS.

COMES FROM THE KESNEBgc RIVER AND PONDS IN
MAISE-HoPEs AND FEARS.
In describing the prospects for the Ice crop for
the coming season the Baltimore sun OF the 18th
instant SAYS:
"New York ice dealers disheartened by the
OUTLOOK for this winters ice crCp the Hudson.
IF cod weather doesn't set in SOOn,' said one
dealer. 'ice VIII be both scarce and dear next
son. No ice worth speaking about has been ielded
yet On the Susquehanna, largely used for the
supply OF Baltimore and Washington, no ice has
been harvested this season for the trade, and the
prospect OF making crop at this time of the year
is not at all encouraging
CHURCH HOPEFUL OF A.sUPPLY.
The above paragraph having been brought to the
attention OF Mr. c. B. Church. of the Independent
Ice company. that gentleman said: GAS the three
leading ice companies 10 this District do har-
vest any ice e.tner On the SGsquehanna or the
hudson rivers, failure at thOSe places can only
affect few government departments here, the
heads Of which contracted with Il ScSGuehanna
river ice dealer fer that lee which very few people
In this city use for drinking purposes The hide
pendent Ice company, tue FRAT Fails lee COM
pany and Rich d Co, all OF this city, ali depend on
tne henneoec river, in Maine. I0r their supply,
where they have large store houses, which they
I'LL 10 their utmost capacity whenever they have
good crop, but have never entirely failed yet OF
gathering fair supply for this city's use In ad-
dltion 10 the kennebec these companies have large
ponds on the coast OF Maine that they can fall
back on. and where vessels can go and get their
carEoeS OF ice at all times OF the year Should the
kennebec break up under the mild winter the Ice
III these ponds would only soften, but could not
meet with the same fate as the river ice, which is
sometimes affected by the under current breaking
up the ice In mild seasons; hence this necessary
prtcaution by the companies mentioned TO insure
their needed supply OF ice. The Hudson and Sus-
qleha.nna rivers do not affect, the market in
Washington al all, and Baltimore but little"
MR. FENwICk'S HOPES AND FEARS.
a STAR man this morning dropped into the head
quarters OF the Great Fails Ice company sol 9th
street, when a brief conversation was held with
Mr.. j. T. Fenwick, secretary and treasurer MI
Fenwick, in reply TO question as to what are the
prospects OF good supply OF ice, said: Every poor
at present, although we have the month OF Feb
ruary in which 10 make one harvest on the Ken
nebec. This month may set us all right. as 1t som
times does, but must say that the prospect at this
IIne Is exceedingly gloomy The ice there at
present Is ABOUT nine inches thick. which is good
start to build upon Our company have three large
plants on the kenneDec, one at Green LeQ2eS one
at Haley Houses at PittstOn, and the other at
Booth bay. These are all In the neghborhood Of
Gardner City, Name the head Of navigation for
vessels OF large tonnage"
This city does not depend for its Ice on the sus-
quehanna or the Hudson rivers"
Certainly not" The Kenne bee furnishes nearly
all the ice for this market The Great Falls
company gets all its ice from the Ken
neoec river, as does the Independent con-
pany, and SO do Rich 81 CO. There was
some little ice brought from the Susquehanna last
summer at the instance OF the government depart
ments. but general thing our citizens prefer
the Kennebec article for drinking IL being made
purer than any other"
"Have the Great Falls company much Ice held in
reserve on the Kennebec from last year,"
Not Suf1icient for supply Tor It's customers In
TINS city should there DO total failure which is
not anticipated"
"How about your capacity for storage?"
Never was larger and in better condition than
at present, nor were the companys teams in better
CONDITION 10 work when the harvest is ready We
have hopes and fears both at the present time;
hopes that we may secure d good cr0p SO that IL
may be reasonably cheap, and fears, as the season
IS slipping away with no harvest as yet, that the