Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-02-09

month for the ice in the kennebec river
to reach a degree of thickness that
would warrant the opening of the fields
in front of the houses along it's shores,
was able to announce today, that the
time for the commencement of the
harvest had arrived, and that by
Monday morning there would be
an army of 1900 men and many horses
at work on the river between this city
and the head of Swan island.
The wait has been long one. and
perhaps to those who are unacquainted
with the reputation of the old kenne-
bee as an ice producer, a discouraging
one at come periods of the winter.
Noticeable among these periods was the
week commencing Monday. Jan. -,
when with fog. rain and mild weather.
the ice wore down until but little more
would have been necessary to carry 1t
out.
AS it was the current wore the ice to
such an extent in many places that
some Of the fields showed open water,
and the heaviest ice in the river, which
was along the shores and in sheltered
places, was less than nine inches in
thickness.
Indeed, it was the opinion of many,
and an opinion that was strengthened
by the continued mild weather. that the
ice really would go out, and that there
would not be enough form in the river
again during the winter to cut. Those
in charge of the business on the river,
however. did not worry bit. They
had been connected with the ice bust
ness on the Kennebec ever since the
days of the independent operators.
and their experience was backed up
by a knowledge that nothing has yet
been found in the history in the way
of record that would show that the
river ever failed to bear ice since the
first white man came to Maine.
Two weeks ago. when the ice seemed
almost ready to break up, the gentle
man who has charge of the ice opera
tions in Maine. smiled when asked if
he thought that the ice would go out"
go out? No. said he. We shall
get ice enough. We may get it late,
| but we shall get it. l am firm be-
| lever in the old Indian saying that
| winter never rots in the sky and we
| shall get enough of it before we get
| through
And il would seem, in view of the
present conditions that the gentlemans
faith had not been misplaced. The en-
| couraging outlook for the ice harvest
| was brought about by the cold weather
of the present week. Up to Friday Of
| last week the ice had not gained much.
| but with the coming cold wave of Fri
day night. and the zero nights of the
present week. the longed-fOr freeze has
become manifest. The ice has gained
steadily. until an examination of the
fields on the lower river. from Smith
| town down to Swan island Thursday
showed from IL 10 II inches of clear
| black ice. While the fields further up
| the river showed from nine to 10 inches
| This is all that is necessary for the
commencement Of operations, as 1t was
announced two weeks ago that the
work of cutting would commence as
| soon az the ice had reached thickness
of IL inches. The manager of the
company was seen Thursday afternoon,
| and announced that the work OF har-
vesting would commence Saturday
morning. A crew of men will be at
work at IcebOro this morning. but the
real opening of the season will be in
| augurated Saturday morning, when
when crews will commence work at
| Smithtown. at the HathOrn houses
| and at Swan island
| On Monday morning more men will
| be set at work at some of the up river
| places, and the list of places at which
| operation will be in progress on that
| day will be Randolph, Smithtown, In
| dependent, HathOrn. Cedar Grove. Ice
| bOrO, StearnS Point and Swan Island,
and the total number of men which
will be employed at the above places
! Monday will be 1900.
| At the up river houses the ice is not
yet thick enough to cut. but it is
| gaining, and as soon as it has reached
| II inches in thickness the work will
| commence. These are the Rich house
| in Farmingdale and the Old Orchard
| and Chelsea houses in Chelsea.
Other houses which will be filled are
the Nahumkeag. South Gardiner. Berry.
Modoc. Sagadahoc. Underwood and
Hodges. and likely the Lincoln houses
With continued cold weather there will
be plenty of time to fill all of the places
mentioned, but delay on account Of
mild weather would bring operations up
to the hustling point and work would
be carried on day and night. The work
planned will take big army Of men,
and word has been sent out that every
one who wants job on the ice can
have it.
Reports received from Bangor Thurs
day, stated that the ice in the Penob-
scot was ~ inches in thickness. and
and that the outlook for harvest was
good. Ice is also reported in New York,
and some sections of the Hudson river
is said to have five inches of ice of good
quality. This. however. will have no
effect on the Maine crop. and the or
ders to cut all the ice possible on the
| Two will