Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-12-20
Daily Kennebec 3ournaI.
AUGUSTA LOCALS,
THE ICE SITUATION.
Everything in Favorable Condition for EarIv
and Good Harvest.

Though of course no ice has vet heen
cut on the Kennebec river, it NAV AZ
the same time be said that the wo,l,
of harvesting the crop of 1901 has he
gun in earnest, for all along the rive,
from Gardiner to Richmond the scrap
ers have been busy, this week. ramoy
ing the snow from the fields in order
that the ice might gain more RAPIDLY
in thickness. The places at which work
is being carried on are at Randolph
John Hancock, Smithtown. Lodges
South Gardiner Weeks, Hathorn. Rer
~, Cedar Grove, Iceboro, Modoc and
RusselrS Village houses, and at all
places the fields are in excellent con-
dition. 1t is doubtful if there was ever
a better freeze on the Kennebec.
Among the up river houses there is
considerable ice that was carried over
from last season, but many of those
situated farther down the river are
empty, and it is estimated that about
the usual amount will be housed this
winter. The reason that so much ice
was carried over up river is said to be
the inability to secure light draft yes
sells. Further down, where there is a
greater depth of water, vessels carry
ing from 1900 TO 1900 tons could be
used, and consequently the shipments
for the season We're larger. Over on the
Penobscot, where vessels could load
3000 tons. everything was cleaned out
with the exception of one house.
The ice ranges in thickness from
to 10 inches. 1t is unusual to have such
heavy ice so early in the. winter. and
if the weather holds cold, harvesting
will begin much earlier than it did last
season. The capacity of the houses now
empty is about 400, 600 tons, and if the
average conditions develop, these
houses will all be filled.
The past three years have been very
disastrous to ice houses on the Kenne-
bee, and during that time there have
been destroyed by fire the Dresden
houses. the Haley houses, and those at
Goodwin's Point and at Iceboro, hav-
ing an aggregate tonnage Of nearly
100000 tons. To offset this, the Rich
house was built last year. with a ca
pacity Of 10000 tons. and the Halo
well houses, which had been empty for
several years, We're filled with $4,000
tons.
for labor, and all able bodied men who
are DESTROYS of obtaining employment
can find it on the river. The wages
paid will be the same as We're paid
last winter.
Relative to the purchase of the Ros-
ton Ice Co., by the American. and the
plans of the latter company for the
future supply of the city of Boston
with ice, the Globe of Dec. IS had the
following. 1t was shown TO and pro-
nounced correct by a leading authority
in ice matters on the Kennebec river,
as well as the entire State:
Augusta Me, Dec. 17.-About month
ago a representative of the American Ice
Co from the kennebec visited Boston
and made careful examination oi tIe
property of the local ice company with a
view of its purchase by the big concern
He is an expert in the values of ice prop
erty and it was largely on his Judgment
that the business was purchased.
1T is stated in ice circles here That there
is no city in the country that uses any
more ice in proportion To ltS size liittl
Boston. it's annual consumption BONG
nearly 500, 900 tons This assertion Is made
On the authority Of one Of the best-lh-
formed icemen in Maine
While the American ice 20 Will HirNtSt
the usual amount Of ice on the kenneDec
this season, about JJO,Uo tons, IL IS prop-
able that Il portion OF the Name pfouutt
will be shipped to Boston consumers sup
plementing the supply which. under the
present arrangement. is carried lnto tlc
city from inland points: 1t IS clalmeq
that ice can be cut on the Kennebec ana
Shipped to Boston by water cheaper than
it can be brought by rail, even from Il
short distance. 49,
The American lee Co. does not own any
docks in Boston, nor has it any under
lease. The company must have WharNcS
il ict, is to be received ~ water. But IL
Is not necessary 10 have any extensive
storage capacity at the water 'front.'
Instead OF this the company VIII I'M
doubtedly in the future own Meet OF
barges which. loaded with ice, VIII DC
towed to Boston harDOr. There they can
be kept tap as long as wanted pelIlE
moved about and the ice being trans,
ferred directly from them to the retail
carts. This will save not only the cost
of storage on land, but the expense OIL one
handling.
This is the method followed by the
company in Philadelphia. Baltimore ana
Washington, and is found TO be yer!
economical one. The company owns Il
house at BootHbay Harbor. from winch
winter shipments can be made, ana Whell
the river is closed this would be acceSsl-
BILE for any ice called for in cold weather
The Bangor Commercial says that
the prospects are that little Will be
done on the Penobscot this season
there being but two good fields, one at
the Aver houses and the other at of-
rngton The capacity of the first IS
about 10000 and the latter 5000 tons