New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-07-25
SLENDER BEGINNINGS.

about the year the Astor House was built the
business commenced 70 amount TO something ana
then II was all downtown. There was big poHu
up near Canal-st. called sun FISH Pond ou' Of
which some ice had been cut by butchers' ana
once for expor. to Charleston bat, while three or
four wagons were enough 10 serve all, you must
know We did brigh- WORT: in those days. man
who couldn't pur cut forty tons week dIdh
brag much. and II he wasn't back 10 the dock Ior
& second round by a. m. he was ashamed OF
himself.
"When I was young. though Things were differ
ent We left tho Ice q. the doorwa" or area gate
we didn't leave a load standing outside wasting
twenty pounds In waite while went in TO put
ffteer pounds in a refrigerator after gettIh5 al.
the things out and putting them al back Inc"
in saloons the bartender always opened the 'front.'
door for US. 20. all the things OFT OF the box ana
nat them away himself: ali We had 10 90 Wa ~
leave the ice Now things are different as S'.u'
for Won have TO open the door yourself gel 'H'
the things and pu. them back after s'o"i"S TIC
ice 49,
''Nhat does II cost YOU ask? Well that is I''e
hardest question you could ask for the cost wares
each year month. week day. hour ana inD'e'
according &c the temperature. II 1t ddn mo- -
could ge; AZ IT, for out CT TWO thousand tons oil zee
chi a. one place. half OF 10 woull cost one l''~e d.
the other half another. according 70 wAeh anu ~"
II vas shipped and whore Il vas "-ttI"a'" ~
iivcrnd We used 10 charge sl&ponce a Gay ior Ten
for the last forty years that's been tn" average
urice excep: in ore two years o. comp ''l-''"
when # got lower. and a few yoars when 'Ae crop
failed and II went higher, because IN those ye"IS
re had 10 bring ice from the East as lar as Han
fax and even seine from Norway. The folks thAt
manage the ice business now, however. VIII never
$50 "a % for ice further than Maine. where they
own their oxn houses. II looks now as Il IN Ire
companies are equipped that we VIII away"
haze n fai- supply OF ice. and judge they can
get fair returns their capital by their Improved
methods Things have been reyolution7ed by the
.,a,.otors and machinery they have been putting
I'M and their new methods OF slowing and hosting
and their system Of transportation ana dlstrlpu-
zion around the city here. we never thought We
ID cover .xucnscs OF wheeling ice round from
49,, 80 Tho customer under s. a ton. just for rent
ga food and wages besides the first cost Of the
Toe hut I think they'll find way TO bring down
the cost The Consolidated Company alone has
nearly TWO and one-haI millions capacity OF stor-
age houses. That's quite an increase over the
u,ile accommodation house that Wa hrss put up
to supply this city
THE DEFICIENCY SUPPLIED FROM MAINE.
.rhsn again. Instead OF one soop to bring down
Tho eco the company now has n hundred bargcs.
bIe and Ilttle and there Is no telling how many
tugs II takes to keep such lot constantly on the
a., while navigation is opcn. They have. besides.
.choorers and Llg barges which used In bring
inc ice from Maine. for lots OF ice comes from
tbcre this year because the crop was short along
the Hudson last winter. The price per hundred
Mounds IS = cents stores and 20 cents TO families
Inst the same the average Of the last fifty
,ears but you possible shortage was
guarded against by opening up immense fields in
Maine in good season. where big house are al
ready established. You don't see much Ice sold at
20 much a week nowadays The common practice
heretofore where less than twenty-five pounds was
sold at one delivery has been to have price by
The week for a fixed quantity per day. which has