Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1893-01-01
PLUCRING THE ICR.
sCvygS ON THE BACK RIVER DURING THE
GATHERING OF THB CAKES

u
One Hundred People Engaged IN The Gath-
.riDo-Ics SIX to Seven Inches Thick.
Daily ConsunP'r AID Pri'a
The cold snap OF s.. week was hail
ed with delight by --sure lovers who
secured the full measurement OF enjoy
mept out of all Of the beautiful" and
the freezing Of the water In the river
and creeks in this vicinity. But there
is a large proportion Of our population
who do not indulge in the expensive
luxury of slelgh-rides, or the more haz-
ardops bnt less costly diversion Of skat-
ing. who also tindreason to give thanks
or the Drotracted. siege Of cold weather.
To them il means bOuntiful supp ly OF
ice for next summers use, and the
eheaper cost which always accompanies
big supply.
his the first time for four years that
the ice bouses will be filled with the
natural article, and the manufacturers
OF artificial ice will be forced into COM
netition with Il, which Of course means
lower prices for the summer OF '9S. The
artificial product, however, will still re-
tain its supremacy for domestic use, on
account Of its purity.
The ''Back" river froze during the
early part Of last week, the ice forming
first near the new steel bridge and ex-
tending TO the lower part OF the Island.
The ice near the new steel bridge is
consequently thicker than at other
points.
ICE EIGHT INCHES THICK.
Several Bridgeport firms are Just now
gathering in a rich harvest OF the con-
gealed aqua and filing their houses with
IL. The Ice varies in thickness from i've
To eight inches. Two butchers, Fred
Adolph AMI Fred Ninenger, have filled
their fee houses within the last few
DAYS. They gather 1t, however, FOR
their own use, while Messrs. Nick Kuhn
and Koehnlein Bros. sell it at retail.
These two firms have large forces OF
men at work aud are making an effort
30 FIJI their houses before the arrival OF
the anticipated thaw.
Koebnlein Bros. are gathering ice
below the new steel bridge, and will
have no difficulty In storing as much as
thew can accommodate. They are I'M
fortunate in having lest one large ice
house by fire some time ago. Inc re-
naming one will hold about 500 tons.
Mr.. Kuhn has 40 or so men at work
under and below the covered bridge.
His large double fee house at the mouth
of the creek, when full, will contain
about ], 500 tons. Mr.. Kuhn estimates
that it will cost about $500 TO I'LL the
building, so IL will be seen that there is
some profit In the business.
The process Of gathering the large
cakes is very Interesting.
HOW ICE IS GATHERED.
Mr.. Kuhn, and the Koehnline Bros.
commenced work in Back" river last
Thursday. 1t was first found necessary
to carefully sweep all the snow from
the surface. An fee pillow, drawn by
horse, was then taken over the smooth
surface, making burrows about an inch
depth, and crossing each other az
right angles; thus making the CAKES
about two and one-half or three Feet
SQUARE. Then the men with saws went
10 work aud cut the ice in parallel
lines, each piece taking in four or hve
cakes.
long channel was cut leading TO
the chute at the mouth OF the creek,
and the large pieces floated through the
water until they reach the chute,
where they were cut into the cakes
and conveyed by means OF the endless
chain with capacity for carrying SUI
to l. 200 tons q day into the ice house,
where a large force of men was kept
"hustllng" storing 1t away In the saw
dust.
After working three days Mr.. Kuhn
succeeded in filling one OF his Ice
houses, while the force OF men was aug
mented on account Of the advent OF
warmer weather and the fear OF thaw.
If the weather continues cold Mr.. Kuhn
will have 1900 tons Of the frozen liquid
stored away by Tuesday. The Ice
houses have been empty for for four
years, aud the present supply with such
emand as that OF last season will
last several years. The two firms men
toned above are the most extensive
garneres Of ice in the vicinity.
CONSUMPTION AND FRICE.
1t is almost impossible to approx
mate the annual consumption Of ice in
this city. Four of the greatest classes Of
consumers are the hotels, butchers, sa-
looms and cream parlors. Last year
most Of the ice used in Wheeling was
manufactured by the Wheeling Ice and
Storage Company. That plant, with
capacity Of 65 tons day, could not sup
ply the demand, and considerable lake
ice was used. in addition to q consider
able amount sold by the Reymann
Brewing Company, which operates an
excellent plant. The natural article
last summer sold as low as $500 ton,
probably the lowest price ever paid in
wheeling. Artificial ice brought 81. 90
q ton, owing to sharp competition
among Dealers. One dealer remarked
to REGISTER reporter that
th9re waP no money in the business
lastNsumheIi as dealers paid $500 a
ton al dko stand all losses, inclnd-
Inc mel delivery, etc. HatAhauaht.
the larr nouut ~ foh ,o||e&&| Will.