Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-04
River Is Closed TO The Foot
Of Swan Island.
Freeze Is a Fine 0ne-..The
Best For Several Years.
Expected That Every House Will be
Filled This Winter.

Gardiner, Nc. Dec. 3.-(SpcciaD.--
The cold snap of Saturday night ana
Sunday and " hicli has been continued
today has closed the Kcnncbcc river
for the greater part Of It's length from
Augusta to the foot Of swan island
big ice fields are located, and while
ther. .lrc some who are Of the opinion
that there j.; yet in store q mild spell
which VIII once more free the river
of ice before it finally closes for the
winter the majority of the ice men
along the river are confident that the
ice which now covers its surface has
come to stay, and are much pleased
with the situation as it exists at pres
ent.
Another reason in which the opera
tors find source of pleasure is the way
in which the river closed. OftentimeS
when the river closes there is cOnSid
cradle DRIFT ice which makes bad work
in the fields but there was very lit
tie this time and it stopped where it
would do no damage. OftentimeS too
the freeze comes after there has been
n rise Of water and then the water will
be full of dirt and sticks, but the freeze
his timc was not accompanied by any
such undesirable conditions. The river
was ut it, normal height for this sea-
son of the year, the water was clean.
and coming quickly the freeze is all
that coul! be desired and is one OF the
hest for a number Of years. What
little snow came today has covered
the ice To q depth Of about two inches
hut it will d. no harm and is rather
of q benefit than otherwise.
IN authority on matters pertaining
ia the frozen product said tonight that
tho fields were in beautiful shape and
that the freeze could not be better
The iro is three inches in thickness
If which two inches is sap ice and the
rcm2ininS inch as clear as a crystal,
ANA the river is closed, with the ex-
certion Of a few and unimpnrtant
places. from Hallowcll to Beef rock
on tn" cast side of Swan island, and
on tn" west side of Swan island as
far down as the foot of the island.
The condition OF tie river ut Augusta
is also considered very faVOr2 bic. The
river above tic Ecnnrbcc dam, which
IS ordinarily operated only by local
dealers. although on account of the
short crop of last winter some fee was
stacked by spectators, is closed for the
greater part Of the distance to Water
willie. ana the fields are of the same fine
condition rs those on the lower river.
ana the ice IL of a thickness which
would seem To- Indicate that it WOull
remain until taken out by the cutters.
Fellow the dam and for quite Il dis
t1ncc down The river. toward Halo
well The channel is for the main part
open, although it is closed in places,
AMI the ice which, formed Sunday
night still retains its place. Tho ice
along the sheressi is very firm and is
three inclps thick in places. which
rr"hahy means that it has come to
stay II %r
Tho o"t!rOk regarding tho icc hHr-
vest i Of CnuiSc MS il always is, some
thin; 0f = problem. and dependent to
st"m" oNt"nt upon what kind of Il
winter is destined to prevail in Now
York state, but conditions at present
;'r" considered very favorable for Il
rn'rl harvest on the Kcnncbcc. Ono
;-nud reason Cor the belief that the
present winter will be q good one IN
IA" river il the fact that the most
~ the houses between IIalloWoll and
;i"hmoGd are empty. and We're before
the middle of November. At that time
Continued on Page Four.)