Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-17
ICE AND ITS SOARING PRICE.
Dealers Say Il VIII be High, but that
They Won't Profit.

From the New York Herald
The season is fast approaching when the con-
sumption of ice becomes a question Of vital
importance 10 most housekeepers.
During the past winter there have been MANY
conflicting reports about the ice crop at various
places. The supply which interests the people
of New York. Brooklyn and Jersey City is that
which comes from the Hudson river. At many
points along its banks there are reports OF
shortage in the crop. many large houses being
entirely empty, while several others that were
able to get ice are far from being full Some for
:unate ones were able TO fill up. but large
percentage OF the crop is not very desirable,
being thin and much Of il. because il was
housed after the thaw of February 10, IL, Is,
very badly STRUCK
This struck ice will cause much loss in
handling, beside entai,ing the services of moro
men at the icehouses 10 load boats and more
time TO load Ii will make much more loss
from breakage and waste when delivered 20 the
wagons in the city than has been the case for
the last two years. During 1857 and lSSs the
crop has been the finest In quality, and. tho
lce-dealers claim. poorest in price. This year,
with poor quality ice. there is probability %
a great advance in price.
The ice cut ranges from six 10 twelve inches.
and some of il has goodly share of snow ice.
Being cut late in the winter. II has not the
-
December or January. The sun is high and
days lengthen when February arrives, decress-
ing the nights. the time when most of the
freezing takes place. and increasing the ability
of warm sun 70 destroy the work Of cold
night.
VERY SHORT CROP.
The shortage in the ice crop is variously esti-
mated at from three-eightEs 10 one-half. The
majority of the dealers are inclined to the
opinion that there is about ive-eighths of a
crop, but qualify this statement with the
sertion that tins iive-e.g hths is not equal 10
more than one-half crop OF good ice put up
earlier IN the season.
The Maine supply is slightly short No ice
has been cut on either the Schuylkill or Sus-
quehanna rivers, and from many points come
reports of shortage. This will cause a greater
run upon the Maine supply.
An idea Is prevalent that Ice can be brought
from Maine at moderate rates to fiji up the
shortage IN the Hudson river supply. little
investigation. dealers saw, will convince one OF
the failacy of this idea. Maine dealers are
loath to sell their stock at less than II 80 per
ton on board vessels. Freights this season will
probably range from 81 Is TO q. 80 per ton. ac-
cording 70 the demand for schOOners. The loss
by wastaSe on Maine cargOes is generally esti-
mated at 40 per cent.
Calculating -. IS for ice and freight" said
dealer, 40 per cent for the wastage viii make
the ice upon Its arrival in New York harbor
cost $3.50 per ton. When the cost of unload
ing, wharfage. rents. marine insurance. &c..
are added, 1t will easily be seen that Maine ice
this year cannot be handled at a price lower
| than - per ton wholesale. and the dealer come
out without loss. Thus we find that we cannot
look TO Maine to help us out much this year.
unless the prices go SO high that dealers would
be warranted IN bringing Maine ice to this
market
Several of the dealers in Hudson river ice
have partially supplied their deficiency by pur-
chasing what they term outside ice or more
properly speaking, ice that is put up by men
having no means OF delivery, and storing il on
speculation. These spectators have made out
well this year. several disposing of their
stock at from three to four times the price they
received last year. while others who have not
sold are waiting for warmer weather, when
they can have the dealers at their mercy.
1T is not very surprising. with the foregoing
facts in view. that we find icemen looking for
greater remuneration for their merchandise
than for some years past"
At meeting of the Retail Ice Dealers Asso-
citation, held on Tuesday. April 8, the following
list OF prices was adopted:
THE OFFICIAL TARIFF.
PRICE or ICE. PRESENT TINE oSLH, APRIL Is, 1883.
/ Butchers, Lager Beer,l
49,, Porter Houses,
,l'-'-',' Fish Dealers. 0-O' ~ ''"
Drug Stores, Confectoners, per hundred pounds.
| Restaurants.
PRICES OF Ice, PRESENT TIME ONLY, APRIL u, 1889.
4 Fanatics.
- pounds 30 cents per week
3 pounds and upward daily so cents per 100 It's
PRICES OF ICE, PRESENT TIME ONLY, APRIL IL, 1859
II to Il pounds daily 90 cents per week
20 pounds and upward daily cents per 100 lbs
| These prices are to go into effect on the 18th
| April, and are to be for 1.-The present time
only" thus showing the probability of a future
rise. The dealers claim that these are only
living prices with full crop of ice, and very
cheap rates when il is evident that there is not
much more than half crop. For the past two
years there has been great depression in the
! business. owing to disagreements between u
few of the wholesalers. These disagreements
have affected the whole business, and made u
general reduction all around, until, as the
dealers claim, they did not get back new dollars
| for the old ones they had put out.
This depression" said an iceman, "has led
many people 10 believe that the ice business
must be very lucrative when the product could
be solo as low as for the last two years and the
| companies still remain in existence. If they
could have private talk with many of the
dealers they would very soon change their
! ideas on this subject, one and all united
in their cry of poverty, brought about by being
Ill