The Red Cloud chief., 1882-03-02
4 Cheap Ic"-llouSc.


All of the numerous plans for q cheap
icc-housr. which have been published
recently. have contained one item q.
absolutely necessary for the prcS"rva-
ton of ice, and tina; i Sawdu-t. To
persons who reside near 4 saw mill this
i a small item. because they can pro-
cure this article easily and chcaplv. but
there are hundreds who cannot obtain IL
except nj grcTt trouble and expense.
These will find IN efficient substitute in
straw. To build an icc-hou>" whcrr
straw Is the only material Ia b. obtained
for packing, requires some modification
of the plans used where SawduSt is en-
ploycd.
Here is my plan for an icc-house
which will keep ice through the hottest
ummer. and is the chcapc-, Srryicea-
hle building that can be made for the
purpose. II should bc square. and may
he a large Is desired. For posts u~e
tw"-inch plank. sixteen inches wide.
They NAV be -: in the ground, or rest
on a stone or brick foundation. On the
outside, nail common rough pine boards
with the lower edge bevcled to she'd
rain. For the inside. Gull boards may
be used. When the outside and inside
boards are nailed on. there Will bc n
space between them sixteen inches wide.
This space i to bee packed with straw.
which should be cut shorten or fifteen
inches in lrngth-and firmly tramped in.
Perfect drainage i absolutely neccSsa-
~. To secure this. the floor should
slope a least a foot. and should be- coy
cred with small poles or coarse brush.
laid in the direction If the slope, 10 the
depth of ten or twelve inches. These
should be covered with 4 layer Of straw.
and on this pack yoUr ice.
The ice should bee cut in square blocks
and packed in solid cube. leaving n
space of fifteen or twenty inches between
il and the wall Build the cube up eve
with the caves Of the building, and make
il solid by throwing water over i A. Won
build. When the ice i all in. pack the
space between il and the wall with short
straw. Put on your roOf-it may be of
rough boards. and put on in balloon
style, but il should she'd rain, Fill the
space between the lee and the roof with
short straw; this viii settle enough to
leave sufficient space between il and the
roof for ventilation. An opening. 4 foot
or 80 square. should be- made in each
end of the building just under the top Of
the roof. for the air TO pass through.
The door should be on the Coch side.
aAA-ae14:.. need lie
e We feet wide.
The best straw for packing is the bue3
of sheaves of oats II packs solid. u
clean, and for this purpose is nearly ,
good as sawdust. Many farmers feai
their horses oats in the sheaf during thp
fall and winter, and the butts of theA
can readily be cut of with a sharp baf
knife, and stored away for the purpo<4
Bank the house with earth about q foo
high on all sides exceptthe lower. wbep
the drainage water flows out II farmr
ers would only consider ice q necessifa
instead of = luxury, ansflearn how easily
il may be kept 1 think few Of me-
would ever be withous L. The aboo
described ice-houss Is = very chean
essilr1Lsiif affair, and will serve 3 good
purpose many wears. In the preserve
ton OF fresh meats. fish. vegetableas
butter. in making cooling drinks. and ik
cases OF sickness. ice win save the cost
of the building and labor Of packing
many TINES over IN one summer. Tho
chief ~eSseafsxk of successful zee preser1x
are. total exclusion of air from
body Of ice, perfect drainage under
meath. and . thick envelope Of some
good ncn-cooductcr of heat-G-. e
Sninsv and c-osic,s