The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-10-08
ICE IN INDIA.

ICE IN INDIA.
What possible connection can there
be between Lake Ontario and India? j?
The one lies between the United
States and Canada, where the winter
cold seizes upon the rolling waves,
and binds them tight and fast. The
other. thousands Of miles away, burns
and dries under tropical sun. But
it is this very contrast that brings
them together. Lake Ontario cools
and refreshes the people living on the
East India Coast. And this is the
way the good work is brought about.
Lake Ontario is 80 situated that in
winter it freezes over great part of
its surface, forming ice several feet
in thickness. fine grained, compact,
and beautiful transparency. AS soon
as the ice is fairly formed, the ice
companies set small army of men
at work to take it away, and they are
kept busy all the season. Some are
on the lake cutting out the ice in
huge cubic blocks others stow them
away in the wagons which are to con-
vey them to the ice-houses near the
lake, where they are deposited tenn
porarily; some are at work at these
houses, receiving the ice and putting
it in the buildings; others, again, are
taking out the ice that has been
waiting for transportation, and load
ing with it the cars in which it is to
be conveyed to the different cities in
the United States. The scene is a
lively and busy one, and this ice
business gives employment to a
great number of men.
The ice intended for India is sent
to Boston and is there shipped as
soon ss possible. A good many YES
sells are employed in this service. The
holds OF these vessels must be made
very cold before the ice can be packed
into them with safety, and this is done
by letting down blocks of ice, and as
soon as these melt, the water is drawn
off and others are put in. The Sec
ond blocks do not melt quite so soon
/ as the first, and then others are let
down; and the process is continued
until the temperature is so low that
the ice does not melt at all.
The hold is now ready to be filled
for the long voyage. A thick bed of
sawdust is laid on the bottom, and
upon this blocks of ice are carefully
and closely placed, forming . smooth,
icy floor. This is covered with a light
layer Of sawdust. Upon this blocks
are placed as before; then another
layer of sawdust; another stratum of
ice-hlocks and so on, until the hold
1~io 6Aad- This packing mas 10 pe
done quickly, or the ice would soften
somewhat while exposed to the air,
Great cranes, moved by steam, lift the
enormous blocks of icefrom the store.
house or wharf, swing them into the
hold, where the men stow them away
Steam works rapidly, and the labor
goes on day and night. When the
hold is filled, the matches are fastened
down and caulked, and the precious
freight is safely shut up in the cold
and darkness, and the ship starts of
as soon as possible on her long voy
age. These vessels are built for fas
sailers, but, at the best, it takes very
long time to reach India. During
part Of the voyage the tropical SUI
pours its heat upon the decks; bu
when the ship gains her port, and th'
matches are opened and the work O.
unloading commences, the blocks O
ice taken out are as perfect as whe1
they were put in.
| The unloading once begun, it il
carried on without intermission unit
the hold is emptied, the workmen re
lieving each other but it cannot b.
done quite as rapidly as the loading
Some Of the sailors, dressed in thei
warmest winter clothing, are down il
the hold cutting apart the block
which have become frozen together
placing the ropes around them, ant
fastening them to the cable that pas
ses over the pulley. Other sailors
and native East Indians, are on tn
deck, where it is so hot that they ar
glad to dress very lightly. They ar
pulling at the ropes, end in this wa,
hauling the ice out of the hold. 9th
ers are conveying it to the depots o.
the shore, where it is stored away i
vast Quantities. Near these NAV b
seen groups of natives waiting to b
; served with ice, which is to be carrie
> to the hotels and other houses. Som
> Of these natives have already bee
served, and have started upon thei
journey into the city, six or eight c
them bearing q framework Of bambo
sticks and cords, in which is suspend
ed a monstrous block of ice as beat
, tiful and transparent as rock crysta
: And after all the labor at LAX
t Ontario, after the transportation
Boston, the loading of the vessels, th
i sums of moneythat must be paid t
90 many workmen, and the voyage (
t several thousand miles, ice can
= bought in the cities of India, in ord
J. nary seasons. at three cents a pount
4 |-&. Nicholas for October.
There are 728.000,00 gallons
beer consumed annually in Englan