Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-08
READY FOR BUSINESS.
Men Who Will Have Charge Of Ice
Company's Work.
Houses Will Be Prepared for FiIlinu If
Season Warrants Il.

With the removal of the Office OF
the American Ice Co. to Gardiner
comes the work of preparation for the
winters cut on the kennebec. This is
Il matter which for many years has
been of great interest to the people
along the river, especially to the labor
ing classes, to whom it has annually
afforded employment at time when
other classes of work We're scarce, and
has been the means of bringing 10 the
kennebec valley, each winter, hundreds
OF thousands of dollars.
Of course. in these days of plate ice
it is not to he expected that there will
be a recurrence of the good old times
such as were enjoyed along the river
when the ice was put up by individual!
operators. and every house was filled
10 the rafters each winter, only to be
emptied during the following summer.
for with the advent of the ice trust.
the kennebec river, as We'll as the Pc
nobscot and other places in Maine
where ice is harvested. became an
emergency ground, as it We're, and since
that time the kennebec crop has been
and the South.
Last year, for the first time in the
history of the ice business In Maine
not a cake was run into n house and
not a fire was started under Il boiler on
the Kennehec. Following this came
the cold summer OF the year now draw
ing to close. and while :scr'e ice was
shipped the total amount Will fall far
short Of what it would have Leen had
the weather been seasOnablr
1t is early yet to say anything about
the winters work. for the rivers which
furnish ice are all 0ron. ana shipping
is still SCing on along ,he EeI4nebec, a
vessel having been lowed 10 sea from
the Deering houses, Friday A number
of houses have not been opened since
they were filled, but others have, and
some are empty, and in all proba bility
these will be filed. However, the diff
ferent places will be put in readiness,
and should there be 4 mild winter on
the Hudson, there will be something
doing around here between now and
the month of March.
When the time for action comes, the
WORK, ulltel Tie tliStttpll VI l.. I.
lard. the Maine mana ger of the hmeri-
can Ice Co. viii be in the hands OF
men who have long been associated
With the ice business on the river, and
who are Well known 10 every man who
ever handled an ice pick on the field
Or in the house.
All the houses. on both sides of the
| river down TO and including South Gar
diner, will be under the superintend-
| ance of ID. G.. Shepherd of Farming
dale. Mr.. Shepherd was for years the
superintendent Of the KnickerbockeI
| Ice Co, Of Philadelphia, and has grown
| old in the business. r. II. Barker OF
, Cedar Grove. will be superintendent OF
| ell the houses on the east side of the
| river below Goo1win's Point. and Capt
| c. 4. Hewitt OF ali the west side below
| South Gardiner. w. D. Haley of South
| Gardiner. will have charge of the In
| dependent houses at Pittston, and vii
make his residence there.
The names of the men in charge is {
| guarantee that the work will be done as
| it should be, and it is earnestly hoped
| by all that the winter may be a busy
one for them.