Evening journal., 1909-03-27
SHORT ICE CROP
RAISES PRICES
Continued From First Page.

This resulted in some four hundred
thousand tons extra being harvested
in the Maine district. The increase,
however. harvested in Maine seems
hardly "a drop in the bucket as COM
pared with the deficiency noted at the
Hudson River district. where the larg-
est amount of natural ice for all Dur-
poses in and around New York CITY
and contiguous territory is annually
harvested.
According to estimate the Hudson
River people have about 100000 tons
on hand. whereas the actual amount
usually harvested and needed TO sup
ply the demands for Hudson River
ice is about 4,5Oo,OOO.
Again. in the Pocono Mountain
region in New Jersey, which ice is sup
piled to Philadelphia and other con-
tiguois markets. there is about $780,
600 tons on hand this year. after hav-
ing mado strenuous efforts to store
what little ice froze to reasonable
thickness during the past winter This
is a small portion of the normal POGO
no Mountain output of $4,000 tons per
year
Considering the above data showing
the principal sources of supply from
which this general district has to Sc
cure its ice, it is evident that the ma
tural ice people win be some 100000
tons short.
Local Market Affected.
The local Wilmington markets are,
of course. affected by the general
shortage over the country, partly due
tc the fact that the local natural ice
companies have also suffered in har-
vesting their crops on the upper
Brandywine, as the amount harvested
for the local companies is less than
one-third their full capacity.
AS the old rule of supply and de-
mand generally regulates such ques-
tions. the announcement of a
somewhat increased price to house,
holders in this community, comes in
natural sequence. AS the supply is un-
questic nably below the normal
demand it will be important
for all consumers to care
fully guard their consumption and
waste Of ice so as to keep the actual
amount required to the lowest point
possible This will have as much an
effect on preventing soaring prices
later on in the summer as anything
else. though with the extensive de-
mands every year on the part of such
large consuming points as Philadel.
phia and New York il is hard to say
how the supply can fill such demands
to a fair extent.
The hope is expressed that Whining
ton householders will suffer no extreme
increase in their purchase price of ice
this year. but will be able to get along
with the ten cents increase
due 10 reasonable proportion of manu-
factured ice produced in this city.
Getting Ice From Maine.
Inquiry has revealed that the loca
dealers have been making extra efforts
10 secure some additional stock of ice
to partly make up for the deficiency
in the local market.
The Cold Spring Ice and Coal Com
pany received a cargo of Maine ice q
about SOC tons a week or two ago. an'
the Consumers Ice and Coal Compan,
report that they have two schooner
loaded with ice on their way here from
Maine. This company has a crop o
$500 tons on hand, and when it i
known that they have a capacity q
81. 900 tons it may be realized how shor
they are of their usual crop. Th
Charles Warner Company, the manu-
& facturers of Diamond Ice. have beer
h urable to store much ice ahead during
= the past winter because of the in
t creased local demand running through
y the mild winter. To meet this stu
Il alton the Charles Warner Ccmpan!
s also have a couple Of small schooner
of the best grade of Maine ice on tn
- way to Wilmington, which will prob
n ably add 1900 or 1000 tons b thei
n storage capacity. II is expected tina
= with the addition of these stocks AM
n what can be manufactured IN vii
mington during the next few month
that the deficiency can be met to
considerable extent.
Though the local companies repor
many inquiries every day from near
= by towns, particularly in the Del
- marvia peninsula, which have n
source OF supply for the coming sum
: mer, they plan to hold their suppl
for the Wilmington customers rathe
. than sell it at the much higher whole
sale prices already ruling for earl
shipment.
Wholesale Prices Increase.
This increase In wholesale prices a
this early season indicates that tn
wholesale prices later in the summe
will probably run extremely high. TIL
only factor that can mitigate agains
this increase in wholesale price wi
" be cool summer. and in the interest
of all consumers this is to be hope
., for The local companies qucstione
!, on the ice situation all express the dc
sire that the consumers will husban
r. their consumption from day to day a
i closely as possible.
In order to meet the expected heav
% demand in Wilmington. the Charlie
i Warner Company is already gettin
4 shipments OF ice from Maine. 9Th
o City of Gloucester" a three-mas
= schooner, is now unloading for III
% company at the b. and O. wharf at I'll
~ foot of Shipley street. and anothC