The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-04
ABOUT "CoLD C0MFORT."
How American Ice First Went to Eng
land.

Under the title of Gold Comfort" writer
in CasseNs Magazine gives information con-
cerning the fee supply OF England, and tells
how American ice first found its way to that
country.
Until the ,asttwenty years even epicures in
England only employed ice Is means oi cooi-
ing wine before it was decanted. Gradually
demand sprang up for Ice as an accompanl-
ment to everything that was drunk and Of
many things that were eaten. The Americans,
ouick 10 take advantage OF every means Of In
creasing their revenues, Immediately set To
work to supply this demand. Their own mar
vellous beverages are only compounded OF Ice.
The adoption Of one Of these-"sberry cob
blers'-at Oxford at once caused tremendous
demand for ice there, which has since contin-
ued.
The large hotels in London and elsewhere
throughout the country, finding foreign Yisi-
tors unanimously demanding ice at every meal,
began to extend its use among Englishmen
who frequented their cofee-rooms. The latter
were not slow, having once experienced It's
grateful effects, 10 introduce ice at their home
meals, and when they. went abroad naturally
carried the taste over the sea with them; so
that when hot weather sets in we have. now
learned regularly to expect supply Of ice, at
breakfast with our butter, at dinner with or
wine and pud(linSs. This ever.iIcreosing de-
manl., together with the great quantities
which are now employed 70 keep fish and game
sweet, or to pack round any article ofdonestic
consumption that has to travel many niles by
railroad, has. rs might be expected, created
On erer-growing trade.
Every one who has once been accustomed
to ice with his meals deems It 2 hardship alter
ward to Ge unable 10 obtain it; 80 that il is easy
to see what q tendency 10 enlarge even It's
present ample proportions is always acting on
ii he trade. An enormous quantity OF ice is
used also in all English towns to be pounded
into refrigerating mixtures Tor producing ices
and ice-creams. A great deal Of This is housed
by the confectioners in thin sheets from any
neighboring pond whenever frost sets in suf-
ficienLly severe 10 make it worth while TO break
up and cohect It.; but for the bulk Of the supply,
and for all ice which is to appear on the table,
England is dependent OIL foreign trade. Two
great streams OF this have in succession set in
| toward England-one formerly from the West,
the other, which still continues, from the
| Northeast.
Much Of the supply used to be obtained from
| the Wepham Lake Company. Tl.ey purchased
| q lake Of pure water with the surrounding
| farms al Wenlan, about eighteen miles from
Boston, with which place They connected it by
railway. From Boston cargoes We're dis
patched TO different parts OF The world
especially TO Liverpool. Wenham Lake, how
ever, was speedily found TOO small TO provide
Great Britain and India with its commodity.
The latter country had been wont TO secure
thin films OF icc al 4 Certain time in the yeur
from shallow earihen pans, which sold at Cal
cuta for about siXpence per pound; Dut IN !SSj
a ship arrived laden with Wenham Lake Ice.
which, even after paying all the expenses OF Il
| ION. voyage, could be sold Ill three pence sler-
| linz per pound, and was OF excellent quality
| This was the arani-cCurler ol an enormous
trade with InUlia, which is now carried on, ;lnd
the ice thus imported is disposed Of at II sill
lower rate. Or that exported from Boston only
a small quantity is now sent 10 England, lnilli
absorbing the rest.
Owing 10 the expenses of freight, the Wen
ham Lake Company were soon obliged 10 yic'4
10 ce-felds nearer England. And 50 the Nor
| wegian ice appears 10 have almost entirely
superseded the true Wenham Lake ice, ant
the proximity OF Norway. TO ice-consumlns
countries will no doubt give it q virtual mono
poly of the trade in Europe. England, how
ever, continues to be the chief receiver OF Nor
wegian ice, though in 1865 several cargOe:
were shipped from Norway to Egypt, Spain
and Italy. A lake near Dr06ak, q small iakt
In the Fjory few miles from Christana, fur
nishes the bulk of Norwegian ice that reache!
our shores Its waters are very translucent
and the farms around it have been secured il
order to prevent any Injurious drainage failing
| into il. Tle storehouses take in during lh
| winter about l3, 0G0 .cns.