Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-12-23
ICE HOUSES ABoVE GROUND

tensive experience how common pro-
crastination is, infer that there are
many in various parts of tho country
who intend to build an ice house to be
filed the coming winter, and have NOT
even provided the material for il up to
the present late day. For the benefit
Of this unfortunate class, would say
that have more than once been Obliged
to fill an ice house and build it after
wards. viii explain this seemingly
paradoxical expression. l have pre-
pared foundation, supplying proper
drainage built up bulk Of ice Of the
required dimensions, and subsequently
enclosed it with the material forming
the house. Thestyle Of fhouse to which
] refer is built entirely above ground.
This class Of houses may be made to
preserve ice as well as those in the
ground. 1hc conimcrciol houses OF
the country are all built above ground
All that is necessary is TO build of
liberal dimensions provide drainage,
so that no water can stand under the
ice, in contact with il; be sure and
tap the drain; enclose the ice with
double walls of studs and board parti-
tons, leaving at least 30 inches be-
tween the boards fill the space with
dry sawdust or dry tanbark (the form
er is preierable), and pack il closely I;
build the walls at least one foot above
the top of the ice; leave openings so
that air may circulate freely through
the house over the ice; roof so as to
exclude rain, and bank around the
building with earth, so as to prevent
air from escaping from the house, under
or through the foundations; and cover
the ice with not more than 10 or 12
inches of dry sawdust No straw, tan,
sawdust, or other material, il required
under or between the layers of the ice.
| usually make the floor, on which the
ice rests, of any rough wood, laid closely
on the earth. Neither stone nor brick
foundations are necessary. Blocks on
which to rest the stills, laid on the
ground properly leveled, are a good
foundation. Three by four-inch scant-
ling are heavy enough for the sills,
studding and plates. The boards form
ing the double walls of siding, enclos-
ing the sawdust filing, should be placed
on the outside Of the inner row Of
studding, and ON the inner side of the
outer row. When sided thus, very lit
tie mailing is required, as the pressure
of the dust on either side keeps the
board walls against the studding.--
The dust should rest on board floor
q few inches from the earth, that it
may not absorb moisture from it,
Halfinch bolts should be used 10 bolt
the inner and outer rows of studding
together, to prevent the dust or other
filling from spreading them apart one
every four feet in the height of the
studs is all that is required.
The earth embankmcnt all around
the building should be closely packed
against the outer boards, and if it can
be conveniently obtained without ex-
cayating a trench around the building,
II is better TO avoid making a trench
but the water from the roof, and that
which falls or flows around tho build.
,ng, sbo"id ba onnva,-od c-o..s Il ~
good surface drainage. II is better to
project the caves of the roof well, un.
less cutters are provided, 50 that the
roof water may not wash the embank-
cd earth from the building. Cutters
are preferable. If the ice house is con-
spicuously located, so that il is essen
tial to give it more beauty of exterior
than that produced by exposing to
view the exterior studding, it may be
sided on the outer side Of the outer
line OF studding; but there is no econ
omy in depending on siding on the ex-
terror Of the studding to support the
dust for as soon as the the boards are
weakened by decay they burst of, and
il is impossible to repair on account Of
the falling dust but boards on the sides
of the studding towards the dust will
sustain il until they are utterly decayed.
The door for filing should extend
from sill to caves plate. No hinges are
required for the doors. There should
be filled double rows of cleats on each
of the wide door jambs; between each
double row bin-boards should be loosely
inserted as the filling of the house ad-
vances, and the space between them
should be finally with dust the, same
as the remainder of the walls. The
ice may be removed through the same
door by removing the loose boards and
the sawdust in the doorway should be
thrown in around the ice. As the ice
melts next to the walls the space should
be kept filed with dry dust. The fiji.
ing in the doorway should always be
maintained ono foot higher than the
tho ice should be so placed as TO be
highest IN the centre, and should be 50
kept throughout the season in which
1t IL used, that the melted drainings