Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-12-31
w. ID. SVALLACH.
ICE HOUSES,


We have recently made some experiments
with ventilating ice houses, showing the great
advantage OF admitting warm air to the saw
dust which covers the ice at the top. A house.
with double walls filed with sawdust, received
last winter its usual supply Of iee and the up
per door through which the ice was passed,
carefully closed. 1t Hss found this summer
u be rapidly melting. The door was opened,
and the melting ceased. This has been since
repested, and invariably with the same re-
suits. When the door is closed, and the air
above the ice thus enclosed becomes cold, the
tce sinks away; when il is opened, and air sd-
mitted freely from the outside, the melting
ceases. This will perhaps be accounted for in
different ways by different persons, but the
true explanation is probably this-when the
door Is closed, the air above the ioe is reduced
In temperature, and, as q necessary conse-
qusnce, becomes heavier and sinks or forces
Ia way downward through the saNdust It's
temperature being above freezing, (although
much below that Of the common air,) it car
ries constant stream Of warmth to the ice
and melts IL. When the door is thrown open
and the air outside admitted to blow over it.
this air cannot become cooled, and does not
sink, snd the lee Is unharmed
We have many inquiries from our CORES
pondents Why their ice melts away 80 rapidly
As q general answer, we might say, you take
too much pains in building fight ice-houses.
shanty. The air must blow freely over the
top Of the sawdust, and this shanty was open
all around. A rough floor admitted free drain
age; about eight inches Of sawdust was spread
evenly over this floor; the ice was then built
In square blocks, leaving about eight inches
around next to the siding Of the shanty, which
was filed and packed in as the structure of
Ice went up; and lastly the top was covered
with about eight inches Of sawdust This was
the whole process. The ice kept perfectly.
was used all last summer, and about two tons,
which was left over, was thrown out last win
ter, when the building was re6lled. A thick
ness Of eight inches Of packed sawdust may
be regarded as q perfect non-conductor Of
heat, for all prsctissl purposes-perhaps six
If not packed, II may have cavities or orifces,
and admit enough warm air to melt the whole
Country Gent.
The season IL at hand when a new stock of
Zee should be provided for. If necessary, old
structures are to be repaired, or new ones
erected. An abundant supply Of ice the year
round Is luxury which may be enjoyed by
ten Of our well-to-do farmers where one now
possesses it. When not In reasonable distance
Of some large lee establishment from which a
regular supply may be obtained, some pro-
vision should be made for storing it for indi-
yidual family use.
The cost need not be large. An ice-house
that will stow from forty to sixty tons of ice
may be constructed at q small expense when
style or appearance Of structure Is not essen
tial.
We have copied above q communication
from the Country Gentleman, Which presents
some important suggestions In respect to strus.
tare and ventilation.
The writer speaks Of ''double walls filed
with ssvdust" We are satisfied that double
for
important to preserve ice In the best manner
We do not, however, believe that both spaces
should be filed. II the outer chamber is left
vacant or as an air chamber, while the inner
Il suitably filed, greater protection will be
given to the ice than without such an air
chamber.
We built q house one year since, twenty feet
square, ali above ground, enclosing the same
with tongue and groove Plank-Ons and a
quarter inch plsnk-with bsttened joints.
NEXT inward Of this We placed another par
dticn six inches distant, Of ungrooved boards
nailed on horizontally. Within this was placed
another partition Of dressed boards, tongued
and yroossd, snd placed also horizontally.
The latter space or chamber was packed with
spent tan, charcoal dust, and rice chat, n
equal parts. This We are satisfied 10 the best
arrangement for the protection Of ice frsm
the exterior heat OF summer. However heat
ed the cutter surface may become, il will not
communicate that heat through the air cham
Der to the contiguous chamber filed with pack
Ing. Besides, the space packed ia constantly
chilled by its cOntiguity to the large body Of
Ice within.
In our own structure We carried the inner
ceiling to and under the rsfters, so as to cre-
ate 40 siS-spaoe snder the roof In this, how
ever, were left Tentilating openings, 30 az to
avoid the objections named by the writer
above.
Ia, ol1 Ia harso waa hyiIt Nth tuaIva Eat
Ct il below ground. The natural warmth of
the earth always caused a waste Of ice, 50 as
70 cat short our supply before the season was
closed With the structure entirely above
ground, the ice has been well preserved, and
half our stock still remains y. ObseTver
Loss from Weeds,