Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-08-10
GOTAAn'S ICE TRADE.
Information Gained from the SuIsrin-
fcndcnt of Bi. ice Company.

tcndcnt of Big Ice Company.
In the common portable block Of ice Co
thamites enjoy during the heated term l'lx
ury which is ROW doomed an indispensable
necessity, but which was IN, rely uuthoughf
Of sixty years ago" remarked the supcr.a
tendent of one of the biggest ice companies
in New York to reporter who sought IN
formation concerning tine local ice trede
'.As u rough estimate" continued the man
of cool affairs, II should say that moro than
10000 tons Of ice are consumed in New
York alone during the three warm summer
months. Owing 20 the severity OF the weather
last winter. ice is quite plentiful this SEASON
and reasonably low III price. Il does not
always follow, however, that because We
have bracinz winter ICE for the following
summer is sure 70 bc cheap. 4 good Ice crop
depends rs much upon the proper 14>.6It.on
OF the water of which it is .,smpos,@ as 1t
doss upon the GOODNESS OF the weather"
What" asked the reporter, ARE the most
profitable months for the ICE courpaniesF
July and August. usually being the hot
test months of the year the demand for ice
is then greater than at any other time, IT,
piled the superintendent Tho best and
clearest ice continued the latter. COMES
from Maine, the Hudson and Kcckland take
That gathered at the latter place is considered
by many 10 be superior 10 any other Those
who make this assertion claim that the water
at Rockland Is seldom or ever bTnckish. and
contains fewer impurities and foreign matter
than is the case ut other stations Of ice
culture. By most New Workers. however,
our own Hudson river ice is considered equal
in quality ~ that gathered from any other
body OF water
Ice cream manufacturers brewers butch
ers. hotel and saloon keepers arc The greatest
consumers Of ice. In one ~ two instances
the latter annually harvest and store their
own supply Of ice. There is a big ice mo-
nopoly composed N several large coupaniczs
who nave joined forces and control almost
entirely the great traffic ia ice At the be
ginning Of each season "A pool s. formed
and the prices G1ed for the ensuing sum
rer Having once been established these
prices are not departed from during the
year. Our company alone supply ice 70 more
than ~ go families IN this city The aver
age ice barge has a storing capacity q from
so - 500 tons. Ten O. these barges are con-
SANITY employed in Transporting the zee to
our docks. tbs familiar ice carta, which
deliver the bric.-s Of copEealsd water u our
city patrons, carry an average " twenty
tons apiece each week
Hasn't The making OF artificial ice t-rcrT,-
tibly lessened tho sale Of tao real srvrclef'
vas asked
No. The manufacturing Of artificial ic.
has in no way iaterferef With cur bsI,iDess-
The protsss u manufacturing toe Fictitious
frozen auid is quite remarkable, but II has
yet 70 he made more rapidly and IA larger
quantities than is aow possible before II cna
Seriously injure tire trade in genuine ice.
Even the3 there ara a great many peoPse
who will reTnsn preJudsced against chssIsi-
caliy made ice and coutinue 20 pgre1aSe,
bong a. - Is Poss'bie, ustaret own pr~dncs."
New YORK Evs.ipg sun