Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1890-04-10
The Ice Industry at Reeds Pond,
diamond Ice from Diamond Lake

harvesting ceased on the 5th instant, the
period of just thirty days had elapsed but
that time, brief as it was, was sufficient to
harvest about IS 900 tons of some Of the
best and purest ice that was ever secured
in the country.
To understand the tull force and import
of what has been accomplished, 1t must
be remembered that Mr.. Riker came to
this vicinity for the first time on the first
day of March last, an entire stranger TO
the county, its resources, and geographi-
cal situation. He was In search Of ice;
but the winter months were already past,
and the first month Of spring was upon US.
A crop Of ice could be secured only at the
expenditure of much money and the exer-
else of great energy and promptness Of
action. To men of ordinary makeup the
case would have appeared most discourage
ing and hazardous; but not so TO the
moving spirit In this undertaking. He
went to work at once. He purchased lum-
her and machinery, including three power
: =
ings for the storage of ice, improvised
Offices, stables and boarding houses, set
dynamo at work which made the nights
brilliant with arc lights, and employed be-
tween 400 aud 500 men, and about so
horses.
In order to accomplish this herculean
task, there has been paid out through the
FIRST National Bank Of this city, about
So 600, ana through other banks more
than so 0O0, making an aggregate *
penditpre exceeding eco, 000. Considering
that Mr. Rkcr came away from home
without knowing whittier he was going
or what he would accomplish, aud with no
opportunity whatever TO arrange his fnan-
cal matters, II seems to speak well for
hi~ souuiness a. business man to say
that he has paid out this large sum with
oUt mourning pecuniary obligation.
At least two large carGoes Of Ice have
already been shipped from Mt, Desert
Ferry and the Maine Central Railroad has
been paid for the transportation of work
men and freight, between 5000 and 5000.
As we have intimated, the quality Of this
ice cannot be surpassed anywhere; Il Is
the future. To get This ice by rail to nav
gable waters j. no inconsiderable expense
AMI one to which most ice films are not
subjeCted and So unless this undertaking
possesses some advantages that ordinary
Ice firms Do not possess, it starts out
handicapped in the work of competing
with others; but It j, believed that the
absolute purity Of the Reeds Pond ice is
an advantage over the sewerage ice Of
rivers which viii more than compensate
for the additional expense OF getting the
crop to market The lake is fed by
springs and in the purity of its waters is
famous far and near a the queen Of lakes.
Upon the shores are no cities or towns
draining their filth into its waters. II i
therefore confidently believed that ice
frozen from water like this, will command
4 price when put upon the market, which
VIII show a liberal margin above the i'm
pure ice OF rivers upon the banks of
which are large cities and towns.
ID wharves IN New York
Guy e1tehdihS from NM, ------5 "a
Thirtv-thIrd street, and these harves viii
be used to facilitate his business A large
sum Of money will be expended in adyer-
tlsing his ice which has been trade-marked
the diamond Brand"
Next year, Mr.. Riker says the work OF
ice-cutting will be done by steam; and
While it may be that he will employ no
less men than before. thos. he does en-
p!oy Will be able to do twenty times as
much work
In the work Of bringing order out Of
chaos in the great undertaking which has
been inaugurated at Reeds Pond q most
faithful and efficient helper was found 10
Mr. 7. II. Stratton, the well known con.
tractor and builder Of this city. to whose
tlreless energy and good management the
success Of the enterprise is quite largely
due, Mr.. Riker makes grateful mention
Of the services Of Mr.. Strattou and desires
that his thankful appreciation of them
shall be expressed In an interview which
We had with him he also spoke Of his
brother Clarence and Of Mr. Graham, both
Of whom connected with his business in
New York. have been with him at Reed,
Pond, and rendered him invaluable aid. 1t
was only BY their assistance, he SAYS. that
he has been able to accomplish the work
which has been done at Reeds Pond.
Favorable mention is also made Of II. B
Mason Of this city Mr. Riker SAYS: 1T
was through Mr.. Mason who had already
secured the right to cut Ice at the lake
where we have been at work that was
enabled TO commence operations at once
Since that time the shore has been purchas-
ed, including the point here we are oper-
ating, and about one-half mile on either
side"
We are glad at the promise of this
undertaking glad not only for Mr.. Riker,
but for the people Of Ellsworth and vcin-
ity. The large sum Of money which has
already been expended has made times
better, and has helped many q man up the
hard and wearisome road Of March hill. -
We most sincerely hope that the good
work will continue for years TO come.
Men who naugurate and successfully con-
duct such an enterprise are indeed public
benefactors; for the helping of men to
help themselves is the best charity the
world ever knew.
The following little inciden. will show
something Of Mr.. Rikers promptness Of
action. In order to secure rapid transit
ne patronized the express companies very
largely, they carrying for him not only
ordinary freight, but steam engines, etc,
which weighed many tons At one time
he paid the American Express Co. slO5O
for express charges, the largest sum it
ever received, we are told, from any one
concern at one time.
Owing to the transition state OF affairs
at Reeds Pond, Mr. Riker has decided to
re-christen that beautiful body of water
and call it Diamond Lake" name sug-
gested by the signal purity of its waters.
This name he has already adopted and
henceforth Diamond ice from Diamond
Lake will be the watchword by the potent
charm of which this new industry expects
to signally triumph over all the obstacles
in its pathway.