St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1891-05-28
MISCELLANY.
ICE BUSINESS IN NEW YORK.
A Letter with Moral for Vermont
Boys.


Correspondence of the Caledonian.
About 1850 New York had but
few ice dealers and the docks, called
"bridges," were few The facilities
for shipping were so inadequate that
drivers were often up all night to
secure a load. Customers were only
too anxious to see their iceman in
those days, small ones coming to
the ice wagon and getting their ice
at your own price. Dealers could be
easily named, wagons easily number
ed and everybody was thrifty
In 1860 new companies had been
formed and shipping facilities had
been enlarged. Customers became
independent and business was brisk.
Another decade found a slight corner
in the market Some dealers had
but little ice in store and others con-
trolled the price. This of course
made more business. In 1880 there
was visible competition. There was
a good winter trade and all the
basis
The year 1890 brought a mild
winter and a regular ice famine. Ice
wholesaled at one cent pound. Ice
was shipped from Maine, Vermont,
Canada and even farther. An ice
famine was caused by delays in ship
ments and disastrous competition
set in. What was the ma tural result?
Factories started up and prices were
fearfully cut. Several large COM
panies that handled natural ice fail
ed and many today are at a stand
still moping over last years ex-
perience. One company has $780,
900 in last years debts yet unpaid.
The great problem today is: Which
is the safest to handle, artificial or
natural ice. 1t is question of vital
import to all who expect to make a
living in the ice business Within a
few months prices have been reduced
from $1.OO to Is cents a hundrod
pounds. Al this price there is no
margin for independent dealers. A
short time ago the quantity con-
sumed in New York could be named
in thousands of tons. Today the
capacity Of the ice houses on the
Hudson alone is three and one-half
million tons. The business has out
grown the increased population.
The outlook for the future is simply
fearful. Bows, don't come here with
the idea that there is a fortune in the
ice business There isn't any.
That time has gone by. Don't come
where rich men stand side by side
with the poorest men in the metropo-
lis Stay in Vermont where you can
enjoy alike natures glorious gifts
that are so lavishly bestowed on
your fitlv-named Green Mountain
state" A. F. MASON.
New York, May IS, 1891.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE cow
BOY.
Where the cowboy comes from is
mystery. He is often of Mexican
origin, and more than half Indian.
He is a democrat always; he lives
under the flag Of a republic, and
knows it. He recognizes no social
superior in any man; but, on the
other hand, to those he considers his
interiors, as the Indian or negro, no
aristocrat of aristocrats could be
laughter. He is brave to fool-hard-
mess, and will take chances of his
life that it would seem none but a
crazy man would. He takes no
manner of care of his health. When
long way from the camp or ranch,
he sleeps where the night finds him
on the open prairie, with only the
stars for light. He battles when he
has time, and eats and drinks any
thing he can get. He can be depend
ed upon to do his work well, be it at
camp or when driving in big bunch
of horses from the ranges to the
ranch. He is strong as an OK, has
an unbounded love for gay trappings,
and is generally gay and free from
care. His chief characteristic is
profound contempt for the denizen of
the East, whom he calls tender
foot. The cowboy might not shine
on Fifth avenue, but he is found just
the proper person for the rance, and
he is withal very picturesque, very
useful, and very natural man. The
wages paid him are small, and are
usually expended as the first OPP
portunity presents itself. He thinks
not of the morrow. He is a creature
of today. He is the same cowboy
that Mark Twain knew, and he is
no different when driving the beeves
in Kansas or the bunch of horses on
the prairies of Dakota and the North
west.-[Harper's Weekly.
SILENCE IS GOLDEN.