The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1856-01-03
From the Genesee Farmer
ICE HOUSES, KEEPING ICE, &c.


A correspondent requested information on
the subject Of ice houses, keeping ice, &c.
We handed the natter over to one who has
had much experience in this matter, and the
following is his reply:
"Ma EpTToR:-At your request | will
describes the best manner of keeping ice, as
as far as | have had experience.
lee houses should be built above ground,
with an air-tight floor, and sides near enough
so as 10 prevent a current of air from passing
through The frame should be built a
TO cell inside and out, as suits convenience
or fancy,l leaving a space between to be
filed with charcoal, ashes, tan-bark, sawdust:
or cIaff:-fcoal or ashes most durable) The
roof should be water-tight, with chimneys
openings equal to one square foot in twenty
five, for escape Of vapor arising from the ice.
A brick or stone building should be ceiled
with wood inside and filled as above.
The floor should be made to slope to one
side; or, better, from each side 10 the center,
to a spout, to conduct the water under ground
to a drain; or else with cell or syphon in il,
filed with water, to prevent air from passing
up. On the inside place scantling one or one
and half feet apart, and fill in between-with
the same as the sides. Cover lightly with
straw, and stow on the ice, taking to fill
in closely betw cen the cakes with ice broken
fire Keep little straw between the ice
and ceiling When filled. cover about four
inches deep with straw, and in warm weather
turn il over every two or three days.
The size will depend as much upon the
length OF time the ice is needed to be kept,
upon the quantity to be taken out, rs ice melt-
from the topmost. Itappears to require about
ten feet square by fifteen feet high 10 keep
the whole season, well taken care Of; conse-
eucntly it is economy to bny rs needed, when
convenient TO large ice horsc, where ice
can be purchased
"Rcfrgelators for keeping ice may be
made like a cupboard, Of any required size,
Of matched boards: the bottom may be made
double, filed lightly with coal or ashes
Construct a double CRATE of wood one foot
below the top, by placing tier Of wooden
troughs thick enough to sustain the required
weight from two 10 six inches wide, with
space between responding with the width
and sloping enough To pass the water to "A
conductor that may be trough fastened to
either side to support the CRATE, and conduct
the water to vessel. Across the first tier of
trouehs place two three Stats one inch or
one-half inch thick. then over the space be-
tween the first tier place another tier of
-troughs that water drop from the ice
below the troughs, thus giving a free chance
for the heated air to rise, and the cold from
the ice to pass down. causing the space unde-
meath to BE cold aud dry, which will preserve
most OF the necessaries such as vegetables,
meat fish, milk and bread and the luxuries,
as pastry, fruit. sauce, oysters, Nc.; and the
water thus saved will furnish most families
with the purcst soft water for drinking purpo-
ses Nentil;ic over the ice at least one square
inch to twenty five. Covering the ice with a
flannel cloth or piece of carpet will keep it
still longer Avoid the use of zinc other
metal rs Zee viii keep much longer lying on
wood. Fruit dealers might construct the
troughs III a room of the size they require, at
a small expense and great benefit, and dairy
men also.
The great error has been in placing the ice
in the bottom of air-tight metallic boxes, and
putting the articles to be preserved over the
lee which is ike putting furnace i'll the gari ct
to warm the house. have found ice to keep
the greatest length of time covered about one
inch thick with sawdust. COVERT a foot deep,
and il will melt at once.
The cleanest ice is generally obtained
from running water, or lakes, distance from
the shore As the surface water runs into
small ponds il cannot but freeze To form the
ice But when the surface water flows into a
running stream. il causes the current to quick
en-. and thus prevents the ice from forming uIl-
Ill the surface water has passed down and the
water becomes STILL and the stream only fed
from its springs Of pure water.
"Fleezirg appears to soften all water alike.
so ii is not essential to get ice from soft water.
.R. W. SA>BoRN.
"RocHEsTER, Oct. p, 1850