Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-07-26
The ICE BUSINESS.
Very Promising Outlook for Good Season
on the kcnnebcc in SO.

Gardiner, July 25,--tSpecial.)-Jus al
the present season of the year everything
connected with the ice business on the
kennebec IS. rs it We're moving along
swimmingly July ice shipments are as
good as they have been for years, and
unless a cold and early fall should come,
every house on the river will be empty
by the time i. closes. The average daily
shipment along the river is at present
10000 tons, although the fog for four days
past has caused considerable delay III
the movement of vessels.
As result of the general cleaning out
of houses, there Will be lively WORK
among the ice cutters next winter, dhc
with any reasonable outlook for a gnoa
season in 1899 there Will be a big harvest
the largest, without doubt. for years.
excepting that of 1870, when fortunes
were made on the frozen product. and zee
was housed in every conceivable nook
and corner.
Within another month fully half the
houses on the river will be empty ana
drying for repairs. The work of repair
ing and getting them into readiness '2r
next seasons harvest is no small item
and the work to he done on them the
coming fan will cost in the nelghporhood
of $4,000.
The majority of the concerns are at
work shipping the Kniekerbockers run
ming TWO crews all the time indepen,A-
ents. one; Great FAILS one: Cochran-Oler.
one: Consolidated, three, Haynes " De
Witt one; Hancock ana Commercial, one
each three and four days of the week;
Russell one; Deerng and the Consumers
one each part of the time.
Freights are low. lower than ever on ice.
being down to - cents They started IN
April at that figure, but during the latter
part of the month, owing to the war
scare and visions IF the Cape Verde
fleet, they advanced to 60 cents. where
they held until the 2oth Of May when
they dropped TO % cents. IN" first OF
June they took another tumble and
dropped to - cents whore they nave SINE
remained The same is true OF coal
trcighfs Early in the season some few
cantalus were able to Get cargo at
from M.io to 81. -. but thar price was only
an Illusion. and now coal Is brought ~
Boston for 10 cents and to Gardner tor
90 cents.
There is no trouble in getting help on
the ice ana a leading authority on the
ice business told The journal that he nov
err knew men to bc 50 plenty.
The wages run from $L3n Jn SIS ana
$500 which is better than the lumbermon
are doing THOR figures ara N.23.
There. is not much prospect Of any
thing being done at the old Rich plant.
unless it be in the form of stacks, and ii
houses are ever erected there ii VIII not
be for ten years From careful study OF
the seasons for many years past ii mas
been found that big ice seasons have oc-
CURED once in ten years. the dates being
those in which WAS a ciphe:, as 1879 ana
1870
1t is doubtful if there is ever seen on
the river again such Il craze as that 81
1890. as the ice machines are graduAllN
producing a change in the ice business
and will eventually seriously affect th'
market Of the natural product during nc
spring and fan months, leaving to inc
latter only the short season of extreme
heat. But there is no need of eros Inc
the bridge until you come to IL and LEI