Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1849-01-04
Darietp.
ICE AND ICE HOUSES.


Few of our Farmers have ever tested,
or are even aware of the benefits Of Il
supply of ice during the months Of sum-
mer.
In warm countries, and even in our
Southern States where it is worth ten
or twenty dollars per ton, and where
the rigors Of winter are not sufficient to
produce il, every public house, and near
" every family u. is supplied with ice but
here IN Maine, where il groirs spon-
faneo,,sly, and where it may be had
merely for its getting, we are compelled
10 sweIter out the hot days Of summer
without ever enjoying the pleasures and
profits derived from its use.
II is not only pleasant and profitable,
but it is conclusive, nay, almost essential
to health. Physicians say that bad wa
ter engenders disease, as well as impure
atmosphere. A pound or two of ice
will keep your water cool and whole
some whole day--a small supply will
make sweet and cool dairy ROOM
your milk will produce more butter and
your butter will bring more in the mar
ket,
The objection may be raised that ev-
cry f9rmer is not, or does not feel able
to build an ice-house. This is very true,
aud euery farmer does not need phole
ice house for his own supply. Why not
build them by nelghborhoods :. We
own cider mills, threshing machines and
stump machines by ncighborhoods, and
why. not ice-houses
About year ago there appeared in
the Farmer an article descriptive of ice
houses, their cost, &c, and after read
ing it, a few of us hit upon the following
PLAN
We formed a joint company, with
capital equal TO the cost of good ice
honse, and divided the capitol into
twelve shares. We made an estimate OF
the cost of materials, and each share was
to pay proportional part in cash OF
building materials, at option and each
share was 10 furnish proportional part
of the required labor. We erected a
Louise, Twelve by sixteen feet, at a cost
of sixty dollars, which made each share
worth just five dollars; and as our house
keeps ice well, perhaps description oft
may not be out of place.
After selecting convenient location,
the earth, TO the depth of two feet, was
thrown out, which we partially filed
with chips and joiner's shavings. We
then laid strong plank floor, SO us to
leaye space all around between that
and the bank. Two sets Of posts with
out sils, were raised, the outer ones
resting on the bank and the inner ones
on the floor, and secured them in small
beams at the top. These posts were
boarded up, leaving spacessf one foot,
which we filled with saw dust--a tight
floor was laid .on the beams, extending
only 10 The inner partition, and saw dust
TO the depth Of six inches placed on this
floor. Finally. d. roof was put on and
well-shingled. By this plan, the commu-
nication of saw-dust, or whatever nom
conducting substance is used. continues
from chamber 10 cellar.
On convenient day oil hands turned
out and stored about seven cords of ice.
The result was, we had plentiful sup
ply of ice during summer, and were able
TO furnish some of our neighbors, at a
ninepence lump in August who said our
ice would all melt before June was out.
We think our profits, for the first
year, have been equal to the whole CAPT
tai invested and we arc of the unanim-
Gus opinion, that whoever else may do
without ice, we will not. Z. n. p.
East Standish, Dec. l849.
.Maine Farmer.