Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-07-28
TONS OF ICE.
Kennebec Companies Doing a
First Class Business.
Estimate that 100000 Tons Will Pe
Shipped, This Year.
Visit TO the Haynes & Dewitt Co.'S Plant at
lceb0r0.

ana makes SoTt VI WoIlu dll ny IL
self along the banks of the now beau
tiful Kennebec. One. who passes
is struck with the number there are
and the scene of BUSINESS which al
this. the shipping season, pervades
them. =
Sehooners and barges pass up and
down the river. and tugs go putting
on before. looking homogeneous enough
amid the rural surroundings. The YES
sells bring coal and take back with
them the ice. or sometimes lumber.
1t has Il rather interesting exist
ence. this really peculiar formation.
From the very thinnest layer, at the
first cold of winter it accumulates
into masses which are cut into squares
These, now merchandise. begin their
ephemeral career by a stately march
up the groaning.- clanking runs, and
are stored away for another day, to
await their turn. Great is it's mission
and in this age of comfort and civiliza-
ton, a world without ice would be a
mierable one indeed. We could stand
it, but it would take a long while to
get used to it.
1t is now about the height of the
shipping season, they say The river
certainly indicates it. for all along the
ice harvesting section the river Is
busting with the sharp proved
schooners or clumsy barges. This is
an especially busy year on account of
the poor ice crop on the Hudson, Ken
nebecs being far above the average
of the other crops through the coun-
try--in fact. very satisfactory.
Yes, said one of the ice men along
the river the Hudson river people
are little bit out of joint, eand the
call for Kennebec ice has been heavy.
this year. Charles w. Morse, the
w hlioN ltc hlliS, has SIllDDtu
large quantity from the houses of the
Consolidated and New York Knicker-
into the Hudson companies territory
This is unusual but easily accounted
for in the shortage and poor quality
Where they usually get a crop of
100000 tons, this year they only
housed about 100000. With some
ZOO tons left over from last year,
they had a short supply. Maine ice
has, consequently. been in unusual de-
mand and has been largely sent to the
tables of the 400
What was the Kennebec crop, this
Year,"
About 100000 tons We're cut. In ad-
dition there were 1000 tons left over.
This is about an average crop
What are you getting now?"
"All the way from so cents to 81 a
ton. 1t depends. When the ice is sold
on contract and in large quantities,
the price is naturally less than in
small lots. The shrinkage in the large
lots is less; then. too. the distance of
shipment makes a difference"
What are the rates now?'
They are charging about As cents to
New York, Philadelphia or Baltimore.
You see, most of the ice is shipped in
callers. which return to the two latter
ports. On this account vessels bound
for New York are few and far be-
tween. and the price there is about
the same, although the distance
wouldn't implyit The first of the season
the price to Baltimore was 5 cents. The
competition of the barges brought the
price down to 45 cents. where it has
remained during the season.
What are the prospects for dispos-
ing of the Kennebec ice crop?"
Good. very good. l think everyone
is feeling pretty well on that score,
and the companies have been making
fair amount of money"
What is this combine we hear SO