Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-06-02
THE COST OF ICE.
Capt. William Rich a Witness
at New York.
Average Cost Of Harvesting Stated at
10 10 20 Cents Per Ton.
Twenty Cents Per Hundred Pounds Gives a
Large Profit.

New York. June Another hearing
was had, today, before Referee Mus
baum in the proceedings instituted by
Attorney General Davies to annul the
charter Of the American Ice 60. Pres
ident Morse was present. but was ex-
cused for the day.
Arthur Terry, secretary of the City
Trust 60, was the first witness exam
ined. The Trust 60. is the register of
the Ice co. He produced two large
books containing the list of the stock
holders. objection was made by coun-
sci for the defendants against admit
ting this testimony. but they were
overruled by the referee. 1t was de
cided that the books might be exam
ined by counsel in private.
Clarence f.. Durham, formerly Of the
Glasce lee Co.. testified concerning the
sale Of that company to the American
Ice Co. 1t was brought out that Will
liam Scott Of the Merchants Union
Ice Co, an independent concern. is an
uncle Of Secretary Scott of the Ameri-
can Ice Co. and supplied il with ice
in this city. At this point Il recess was
| taken.
The afternoon session began with
the examination Of capt. Abraham
Rich. an ice expert from Farmngdale
Me, who gave n detailed statement Of
the ice production of Maine. the cost
Of harvesting ana conditions of the
trade. He was formerly in the employ
Of the Consolidated Ice Co.
In reply to questions he said that. in
| March, 1899. there was .04S 900 tons Of
Il. - l. -,
ON the Penobscot there was 225 900
on the coast approximately between
| 100 600 and l50. 900 tons Ninety per
cent Of this was controlled by the
Consolidated and the knickerbocker
| Ice Go. Of Maine
Capt Rich said that for 20 years he
had accumulated data as to the cost
Of ice collecting.
| Under commercial conditions" hr
continued. Il should think the average
cost Of ice per ton for harvesting to
| be from u. Il To- % cents per ton"
He added in reply to another ques-
ton that the average total cost of ice
| on the scales in New York was 81. 22l /.
pr ton. capt Rich said he had sold ict.
at 81 per ton. the profit being about
$50 per cent. He said 20 cents per 100
gave large profit. In the city he
found tha average cost Of ice delivered
| to families was SID per ton
What was the total ice harvest in
Maine, this last year." hn was asked.
"on the kennebec river. 524 I3l tons.
ana there was carried over 3l3. 900 tons.
| making total Of Sd .,,:1 tons. ON the
| PenpbScot there was harvested about
| 10000 tons and 49, 900 left over. ON
the coast about 1900 tons were har-
vested
The harvest was slightly under the
| average and the witness said the rea-
! sons for this shortage was that the
crop was not harvested. He mention
cd several places where the ice was Of
the best quality. but was not harvest
| "a. continuing. he said:
The American Ice 90. now controls
all tn" houses that We're owned by the
Consolidated Ice co. / know from
hearing Mr.. Morse say SO. from Mr..
Shepard, a superintendent. and from
Mr. Ballard, one Of the paymasters."
Capt. Rich said that he sold ice to
the American Ice 60. after housing it
for about u cents per ton for 20 cents
per ton, thus clearing nearly 400 Der
cent. profit 1t was brought out that. in
1856, he failed with liabilities of $780,
900. He was then appointed superin-
tendent Of the Consolidated Ice CO.
The hearing was then adjourned un-
til Monday next.