Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-06
DaiIy ksnneber Journal
LOCAL MATTERS.
READY FOR BUSINESS.
Men Who Will Have Charge Of Ice
Company's Work.
uouses Will BE Prepared for Filling II
Season Warrants II.

With the removal of the Office OF
Tho American Ice Co. to Gardiner
,omes the work Of preparation for the
,.inter's cut on the Kennebec. This is
:, matter which for many years has
men of great interest to the people
along the river, especially to the labor
ing classes. to whom it has annually
af,orled employment at a time when
ofher classes of work were scarce. and
has been the means of bringing to the
kennebec valley. each winter. hundreds
Of thousands of dollars.
Of course. in these days of plate ice.
II is not to be expected that there will
he a recurrence of the good old times
sucb az were enjoyed along the river
when the ice was put up by individual
oprrators, 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 well as the Pc
nobscot and other places in Maine
where ice is harvested, became an
emergency ground. Is it We're. and since
that time the Kennebec crop has been
governed by the situation in New York
and the South.
last year. for the first time in the
history Of the ice business IN Maine,
not cake was run into "A house and
not a lire was started under a boiler on
the kenrcbnc. Following this came
the cold summer Of the year now draw
ing to close. and while some ice was
,a will fol 20. -.
short of what it would have been had
the weather been seasOnable.
II is early yet to say anything about
the winters work, for the rivers which
furnish ice are all open. and shipping
is still gcing on along the Kennebec. a
vessel having been lowed to sea from
the Deering houses, Friday. number
of houses have not been opened since
they were filed but others have, and
some are empty, and in all probability
these will be flied. However. the diff
ferent places will be put in readiness.
and should there be a mild winter on
the Hudson, there will be something
doiag around here between now and
the month of March.
When the time for action comes. the
work, under the direction OF l.. {. Bal
lard. the Maine manager of the Ameri-
can Ice 60. viii be in the hands of
men who have long been associated
With the ice business on the river. and
who are we'll known to 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 he under the superintend-
ance of .. g. Shepherd of Farming
dale Mr.. Shepherd was for years the
superintendent Of the Knick"rbocker
Ice CO.. of Philadelphia. and has grown
old in the business. Il. ii. Barker of
'edar Grove will he superintendent OF
all tn, houses on the east side of the
river below Goudwiu's Point, and Capt.
&. +. Hewitt OF all the west side below
South Gardiner. w. n. Haley of South
Gardner, will have charge of the In
dependent houses at Pittston. and will
make his residence there.
The names of the men in charge is Il
guarantee that the work will be done as
it should be. and it is earnestly hoped
by all that the winter may be busy
one for them.