Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-10-26
CONSTRUCTIONS OF ICE HOUSES.

Inc pIODitHu W ne SOlNcu Ill tilc COLSiTuC-
ton of ice houses is, to have the largest
possible bulk of ice with least possible sur
face exposed, having regard, of course, to a
form and shape that will allow the house to
be readily filled and emptied. Mathe-
matically, globe presents minimum of
surface with maximum of bulk, but it
would be impossible to construct such a
house without expanding sum of money
out Of all proportion to the benefits to be
derived. The next best form is the cylindri-
cal sto surface and bulk Office, but it is found
that houses of this shape have tendency
if dug in the ground, to cave in. The best
of all possible forms is that of an inverted
truncated cone, whose diameter at the top
is about double the diameter at the bottom.
The advantages of such shape are many.
The ease with which they are curbed is one
nothing being required for that pur-
pose but small poles set up in the house
with the larger end uppermost. This forms
a perfect tubin the ground, the poles against
the sides ofthe wall are easily kept in place.
A few strips nailed around at the bottom
and top viii keep them TO their places until
they rot, and when one rots it is easily re-
moved and its place supplied.
There is another great advantage in this
shape. The ice melting at the bottom and
sides sinks down but is kept closely pressed
to the sides and no vacant space is left. The
worst of all possible forms is the square.
A great surface is exposed, the corners melt
away, and the water trickling through the
bulk of ice renders it soft and spongy.
Great chasms are left between the walls
and the ice, admitting the air and inducing
rapid melting. The fact that the corners
always melt away is a simple suggestion of
nature, as to the proper shape of an ice
house. Another very serious objection TO
a square house is the difficulty and expense
of curbing. To be trustworthy log pen
must be built up from the bottom, and as
the lower logs last but few years, the ex-
pense, trouble and danger of taking out the
whole pen often recurs. By all means build
round ice-houses. Nature, science, econo-
my and durability all require it.
After the house is dug and walled, care
should be taken to have good covering
put over, extending at least four feet from
the edges, and sufficient embankment
thrown up to give rapid fall for the water
that runs from the caves. A great mistake is
made i'll fastening up the gable ends. There
should be a free circulation of air by means
of lattice-work, through the roof at all
times, and even fastening the door shutter
operates as disadvantage. We know an
ice house that is dug on the northern ex-
posure of gentle declivity covered with a
forest of large oaks. During the heat of the
day there is good shade resting upon the
roof. The form and construction were such
as we have described above. That ice house
has never had door-shutter, and the ice in
it has been exhausted but once in ten years,
and that was during the last days of OctO-
Der, 1870; but it had, during the previous
summer, supplied ice to about twenty fami-
lies, who used it as freely as water. The
size of this house is fifteen feet deep, fifteen
D feet across at the top and eight at the bot
tom, with well under the floor some six
feet deep. 1t is roughly built, but answers
fully the purposes for which it was CON
strueted. At the present writing, 18th of
October, the ice is three feet deep in the
bottom. The whole cost of its construction
did not exceed forty dollars. e