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Story
March 8, 1863
Daily Ohio Statesman
Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio
What is this article about?
Due to an unusually mild winter, the ice crop in the eastern U.S., particularly around New York, has been limited and of poor quality, with small amounts harvested from local streams for packing but not drinking. Prices for summer ice are expected to rise significantly.
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Full Text
The Ice Crop of the East.
The supply of ice for the coming season will
be exceedingly limited. Although up to the
middle of February no proportion of the ice
crop had been cut, still those interested in the
ice business in this city did not lose their faith
in the weather, and continued to believe that a
very "cold snap" would make its advent before
the month of March arrived and cover the
ponds and lakes, all over the country, with the
very best quality of the desired article. It is
needless for us to remark that their hopes have
been blighted. The cold weather has not come
and perforce of logic the good ice has not made
its appearance. Gentlemen desirous of gathering the usual crop of the necessary material
have made pilgrimages to many sections of this
State in search of ponds, lakes and rivers amply appareled in the thick and shining ice mantle. Their explorations, however, have been
almost as fruitless as the endeavors of the al-
chemist to discover the philosopher's
stone.
A great many small ice houses in Westchester and other adjoining counties have been partially filled, but with an article of very inferior
quality-soft and spongy. This will answer
very well for packing meats, but it is not clean
or sweet enough for drinking purposes. Every
little stream found covered with ice of even
variable thicknesses has been visited by the
butchers and farmers residing near them and
made to yield their share toward the desired
crop.
Of course, the prices of ice during the coming summer will be higher than for any year
within the memory of the oldest inhabitant.
They have not yet been regulated, and they
will not be permanently fixed until the actual
quantity of ice gathered is known. It is to be
hoped, however, that they will not be too excessive, and also that, when the hot and sultry
summer days are come, we shall, as we have
been accustomed to do in years past, be enabled to quaff the Croton, icy cold with the particles which Jack Frost has not failed to bring
to us from his more Northern home-New
York Commercial Advertiser.
The supply of ice for the coming season will
be exceedingly limited. Although up to the
middle of February no proportion of the ice
crop had been cut, still those interested in the
ice business in this city did not lose their faith
in the weather, and continued to believe that a
very "cold snap" would make its advent before
the month of March arrived and cover the
ponds and lakes, all over the country, with the
very best quality of the desired article. It is
needless for us to remark that their hopes have
been blighted. The cold weather has not come
and perforce of logic the good ice has not made
its appearance. Gentlemen desirous of gathering the usual crop of the necessary material
have made pilgrimages to many sections of this
State in search of ponds, lakes and rivers amply appareled in the thick and shining ice mantle. Their explorations, however, have been
almost as fruitless as the endeavors of the al-
chemist to discover the philosopher's
stone.
A great many small ice houses in Westchester and other adjoining counties have been partially filled, but with an article of very inferior
quality-soft and spongy. This will answer
very well for packing meats, but it is not clean
or sweet enough for drinking purposes. Every
little stream found covered with ice of even
variable thicknesses has been visited by the
butchers and farmers residing near them and
made to yield their share toward the desired
crop.
Of course, the prices of ice during the coming summer will be higher than for any year
within the memory of the oldest inhabitant.
They have not yet been regulated, and they
will not be permanently fixed until the actual
quantity of ice gathered is known. It is to be
hoped, however, that they will not be too excessive, and also that, when the hot and sultry
summer days are come, we shall, as we have
been accustomed to do in years past, be enabled to quaff the Croton, icy cold with the particles which Jack Frost has not failed to bring
to us from his more Northern home-New
York Commercial Advertiser.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
What themes does it cover?
Misfortune
Nature
What keywords are associated?
Ice Crop
Mild Winter
Limited Supply
Poor Quality Ice
Higher Prices
Where did it happen?
New York State, Westchester And Adjoining Counties
Story Details
Location
New York State, Westchester And Adjoining Counties
Event Date
Up To Middle Of February, Before March
Story Details
Mild winter prevents formation of quality ice on ponds and lakes; limited poor-quality ice harvested from small streams for packing; higher summer prices anticipated.