The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1880-12-09
Now for Your Ice. Houses.

lhero are very lew farmers at the
present time. who conduct a mixed
husbandry and are within reach of
metropolitan market, or of a railroad
station, who has not provided himself
with an ice-house of sufficient capacity
to meet his wants throughout the year.
He finds, too, that in providing himself
with what was formerly considered an
almost insuperable attainment, an ice.
house costs no more than many good
hog pen We had one built ourselves
twenty-five years ago, which cost about
five hundred dollars, and we could now
provide far superior one, for its actual
value, for fifty dollars. characterization
is quite out of place on an ice-house.
1t is not put in conspicuous location
to be admired and commented on for
its architectural beauty; but where it
will be quite out of sight, if possible,
and where it can be easily approached
to be filled, in a cold exposure, and
where the drainage is perfect.
In saying what we now do about the
cheapness of an ice house, we do not
wish to be understood that we approve
of the many plans, or rather no plans,
in which to keep ice throughout even
the hotter portion of the summer. In
fact there is q '.plan" now before us,
appearing in leading journal which
undertakes weekly to furnish informa-
ton and instruction to farmers and
others on agrestic pursuits, of which we
are very certain it possesses not single
practical idea. In regard to keeping
ice, it recommends, as sufficient for an
ordinary family" merely the forma-
ton OF a cubical body of ice of about
eight feet, the "blocks to be cut as
smooth as possible and square, so they
will fit closely, and then ice must be
chopped up fine and crowded in be-
tween the pieces 50 as to make q solid
mass" and so on, and great deal
more of it. This body must be COW
ered-up with sawdust; but large mass
does not even require sawdust, " only
straw or double wall of boards" etc.
This is to do everything; but try it and
see.
Nevertheless, the cost of house in
which ice can be kept for say nine
months in the year, is very triaing.
A frame building of rough boards and
timber, raised from eighteen to twenty
four inches from the ground. double
walled with boards at the bottom and
sides, from eight to ten inches apart
and filled in with sawdust, well-covered
on top with straw and sawdust, is about
all there is to do. The straw on the
top in addition will answer as q substi-
tute for double roofing. The ice
should be packed closely in blocks. of
course, and on the completion of every
layer the small pieces Of blocks lying
around-and if not enough the smaller,
irregular blocks should be broken for
the purpose should be thrown over to
fill up the crevices. The door or
aperture of the house should be in parts.
to slide down in a groove, one on top
of the other, so that they can be taken
out or put in as the process of filling or
empty ing may require. Ventilation is
an important matter, and is perhaps
best secured by allowing a strip of say
three inches open around the whole
building directly at the top of the
square The water dripping from
the ice should be directly carried away
from under the building.
From twenty-five to thirty two-horse
loads of solid ice are sufficient to sup
ply q good. sized family for all it may
need for every ordinary purpose. But
IT you follow the advice of the theorists
who tell you that from four to six loads
are enough, you will not follow it more
than once.-Gernsa'sto,0n Telegraph.