The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-12-19

would have an ice-house il It did NOS
cost so much. Now an ice-house is one
OF the most economical and cheap
things in existence, The materials
need cost but trifie, and the farmer
can construct the house himself. If it
Is desired that the house add to the at
Effectiveness of the property. and is
placed where it viii be in plain view,
| then 1T must be more expensive. But it
can be put in some inconspicuous place,
or hidden behind trees or vines. in
which case the necessary cost of it will
be very small.
All that is requiredis something that
will keep off rain. and keep stratum
! OF sawdust abouE the ice. The house
need not be sunk into the ground.
There is no need of double walls. All
parts may be of the cheapest materials.
Refuse boards, slabs, even poles, will
do for the sides; and roof of boards
or clapboards will answer as we'll as
any. Let me describe as satisfac-
tory an ice-house as have yet seen:
1t was in a locality where timber was
plenty, and the sides were made of
poles. These were built up as you
would build up a rail pen. being rather
deeply notched to prevent rolling, and
to make the sides rather close. AS
they projected out over the cracks, q
driving rain did not beat in. The pen
was covered over with boards, Tapped
to form tight roof, and weighted
down with heavy poles. When the ice
was put in. an opening between it and
the poles foot wide was left; and. as
the pile of ice was built up, the sawdust
was packed into this opening. Thus
there was no need of double walls.
The entire cost of the house-a good
sized One-was not twenty dollars.
There must be good drainage, and
the best way to secure this is to make
foundation of broken stones; but these
are not necessary. In iocalities-quite
numerous in the West-where stone
are not quite readily obtainable, sticks
of wood, or rail pieces may be used.
Tramp them down solid till you have q
layer'a foot thick. Then put layer of
sawdust six to eight inches thick upon
this, and it is ready for the ice.
The more ice the better it will keep.
and there must be certain bulk for
it to keep at all. The minimum bulk
that will keep well is twenty-five tons.
As ton occupies about forty cubic
feet. you can calculate the dimensions
of the house accordingly. A house
ten feet each way inside the sawdust
will hold twenty-five tons-thc mini
mum amount.
1t Is very important to pack the ice
closely. There must be no crevices.
Shape the blocks so that they will
fit closely together; cover with a
layer of sawdust eighteen inches
thick. Then it will require watch
ing in the spring. Even March winds
are sometimes so warm that they
will melt the ice. As soon as this hap
pens, get on it and trampit down solid.
closing all holes and creyices. When
air-holes are allowed to form. the ice
VIII waste rapidly. Ventilation must
be provided for. Windows can be
made in the gables, or make
projecting roof and leave the gables
open. Get the ice from the purest
source You can.
The proper time to build an ice
house is now. Have it ready and
fill it at your convenience. After
you have enjoyed the luxury of ice for
one summer. you would not forego it
for five times the labor and expense,
provided you build an ice-house with
out going to too much expense to make
it nice house.-J0hn N. Stahi. in
Country Gentleman.