Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-06-03
ICEMEN ARE CHEERFUL,
Prospects are Good for Unusual Ship
ments Later on.
Although the Business lust Now is Below the
Average.

co.
there are fewer schooncrs in number on
the river than there have been 70"
some time, the prospect is very bright,
the local ice men think, for unusually
large shipments. The bright prospects
are due to the scmi-failure of the ice
crop on the Hudson.
When April came the outlook for the
clearance of the ice houses along the
Kenncbec was decidedly dark At that
time the weather was extremely cold
for that time of the year and in addi
ton to this the war scare was so
prevalent that it was extremely diff
cult to find schooners to carry the ice.
on account Of this war scare ice
frcights took an unusual jump and
even then at advanced rates it was
difficult to find captains of schooner5
who would be willing to leave port.
The ice crop on the Hudson river was
something of failure during the Win
ter, only about half of the usual
amount having been harvested. Fo"
this reason the orders began to pour
into the companies whose houses are
located along this river. These orders
in addition to the regular orders that
have been received made promise Of Il
busy season.
When the orders for ice first began to
come in the dealers did not then make
an attempt to fill them. AT that time
the freights were much higher than
usual, and in addition to this a COM
bine has been made by schooner own
ers to force the frcights still higher.
On account Of the high freights and
crease them. the dealers held off IN
filling the orders. After thcrates had -
mained at the high point break was
made, about two weeks ago, and the
dealers had not the slightest trouble
in finding all the schooncrs necessary
forefillinS the orders.
The reduction in frcights came 50
suddenly that a good many of the cap
tains of schooners who had refused -
move their vessels unless the carrying
rates they demanded were paid. were
left without a cargo, and many We're
glad to take freights for half Of what
they had asked the day before.
There was one thing more that made
the schooner captains reluctant 10
carry ice cargoes from this river and
that is the mines III the harbor OIL
Bath
y week ago all those difficulties had
been overcome ana more than the usual
amount of ice business was being done,
on account of the cold weather the
fallen off
lii spite of this it is the opinion IF
some of the leading ice men that the
prospects for good ice shipments ara
better than usual Ii anticipation of
those orders several ice houses have
been opened that were not opened last
year and in the case Of others prepare
TONS have been maze 50 that the
schooncrs may be brought alongside
the Wharves near the ice houses.
. The orders from the regular places
supplied by the ice companies whose
plants are located on the Kennebeo
started in about the same rs usual, and
in addition tn this The orders from
companies supplied BY the houses along
the Hudson have been larger than is
usual at this time Of the year. AMI
then too this is during unusually cold
weather.
With The usual run Of warm weather
during the coming summer, the ice-
men think the business will be 50
rushing that nearly all the ice houses
will be cleared out
4 week ago the shipments were I'M
usually good on the river. Daring the
past week they have been rather light
and have averaged about 1000 tons
day. Taken as an average 50 far this
season. the shipments have not been
as much as during last season when a
hot weather furry in April kept the
ice men busy for time hlling orders.
Tho condition of the ice as taken
from the ice houses is unusually good
in spite of the fact that during the be
ginning Of the past winter it was
thought the season would bring forth
irn II l,n11sulllN moor NualilN