Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-06-04
I(t. AND ICE HOUSES.


1t is quite warn, enough at this prescn, writing to
discourse of ice, but whether it will be when the
types are giving publicity to the labors of the pen,
depends entirely upon the future, which may be
noted as very wise remark. We intend, how
ever, to say few words Of ice and ice houses thai
may interest the reader There are persons yo,in-
ger than ourscli who can remember when the only
ice sold in Boston, was brought to the city in par
GELS OF ten or fifteen pounds i'll the box of a market
gardeners cart and sold as very great luxury nj
a corresponding price. There were then no ice
houses III the vicinity, except "A few "cntlemcn's
country seats, and they were built under ground
and were OF small capacity. Within the last wen-
ty years the consumption has become so general,
and the cost is SMALL thai ice is no LONGER deemed
luxury, but one of the nccessares of life. Tie
amount exported also from Boston to southern eli
mates is Incredible The art of preserving the ice
is worry simple and in well constructed houses. there
is scarcely any loss from dissolution, and it NAV he
preserved for years. We rode ont last winter, vii,
Col. Metcali, OF Cambridge, 10 witness the process
of hlling one OF his Ice houses, on the borders Of
Mystic Fond i'll Nlcdiord, about six miles from the
city l he ice house is built entirely above the
round, as is now the well approved custom, even
IN tropical climates. 1t is SIS feet long. 50 feet
wide, and % feet posts, and holds nearly 1000 ton,
OF ice. The house is built of pine boards, and the
ice Is protected from external heat by filling in the
walls, which are foot and half thick, with the
exhausted bark of tan pits no. on luc o, of ca
lorc that has been found perfectly ciiicacious The
Mystic Fond Ice house is very happily located be-
ing so situated that the ice may be DISCHARGED direct
~ from the house into the boats of the Mildlcsex
canal, or the cars of the Lowell Railroad, and can
therefore be brought to the city at much less cx-
pensc and loss by waste, than from any other es-
adjustment. The pond itself is supplied with wa
ter from another pond Just above it, which upper
pond Is led by such abundant springs, that we are
told it never freezes in the coolest season. The
water, therefore, is of the purcst and most mpd
quality Col. Mctcalf has lately loaded with this
ice vessel for Rio Janeiro, and another for Bonn
bay. lie has also sent trcighs to Norfolk, .savan-
nah and other southern ports. 1t is transported
on the canal, and hoistcd on board the vessel by
machinery made for the purpose, with great facil-
lty.
The process of cutting the ice, getting it from
the water, and storing it in the ice house, is inee-
NOUS, but simple. The ice house is built ON the
border of the pond, and one end projects over the
water. At this end there are two openingS or
doors, which extend from the floor to the root,
When the ice has made to a sufficient thickness
say 5nchcs, spot solicited where it is of the pu
rest, most transparent, and solid quality 1t is then
marked out into oblong squares, u inches wide by
- feet long. Atcvery u inches of width a groove
is ploughcd, halt an inch wide, and or ) inches
deep, by plough made for the purpose, and
drawn by horse the ice is then sawed across, al
a distance OF u inches, and one series OF blocks
being removed, the rest is easily set loose by staff
with broad, chscl-lormcd end, driven into the
groove, and used lever. \ canal of a cores
ponding width to the blocks is then made from the
place where the ice is selected, to the house, and
the blocks are pushed along with stallto one of
the doors, where ii is received into an iron cradle
and hostcd up to the requisite height, when
spring, which has prevented the block from falling
oil, strikes projection and being forced down. the
ice slides into the house. and is there received hy
persons who push it into lis place wtha staff From
the commencement of the process to the end, the
ice is never touched with the hands. The avcrage
weight OF each block is about 100 pounds and be-
ing all cut of the same form and proportions. they
are packed much more closely in the icc-house. or
IN the hold of vessel, than when cut out as for
mcrly, with an axe, in negligent manner.
Boston Transcript.