Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-07
HOW THEY MAKE ICE.
A DISPATCH MAN VISITS THE PLANT
ON OLD LIBBY,S SITE.
description Of the Method Of Converting
James-River Water Into Solid Two
Hundrcd-Pound Blocks.

Where formerly the gloomy walls of
libby arose OF the corner of Twentieth
and Cary streets-a reminder of the late
struggle between the States-the busy
hmm OF industry now is heard and there
stands upon the site of the old prison
building plant both unique and benef-
cial to the CITY,
Early in the spring Mr.. G. d. Wingfeld,
Of the Crystal Ice Company. Of Ironton,
O. conceived the idea that Richmond was
a place prominently qualified for the
manufacture OF ice, and with this end in
view be succeeded in forming company,
,eitn Mr.. John Pope as president. Thomas
= JefTress. Esq, as vice-ptesident, and
himself az secretary and treasurer. Major
Lewis Ginter and Mr.. Howard Swinetord
are large stockholders and were made d.
rectors.
Through the assistance of the Chamber
If Commerce a site for the proposed plant
was secured upon the old Libby-Prison lot
and the lot adjoining il, the property of
the Southern Fertilizing Company. The
foundations tor the buildings were COM
menced the 30th of last May. and since
then the work has been rapidly pushed
forward, and is now practically completed.
There is good deal yet to be done in the
way of carpenteripg and cleaning up, but
the manufacture OF ice was commenced
there last Wednesday. and by next Monday
the cooling article will be supplied TO per-
sons in the CITY.
AN INTERESTING PROCESS.
A Dispdtch reporter called at the factory
yesterday morning and found Mr.. Wing
field busily engaged in explaining the ope--
rations of the machinery to number of
visitors. both ladies and gentlemen. There
are certainly many things at the plant
which may well engage the attention OF
the visitor. Almost the first sight one be-
holds on entering the building is long
line of pipes. connecting with the tanks
filed with water. These pipes are cover
ed with ice several inches thick. which
give the whole place an aspect of
bound pipes that the anhydrous ammonia
gas Is conducted INTO the water TO
be frozen. There are two kinds
of machines for the manufacture of ice. In
one the gas is manipulated by compress
sion. while in the other the essential prln-
chile is absorption by ammonia. In the
latter process, which is the one employed
by this company. the same result Is OBJ
tanned by chemical distillation. The an
hydrous ammonia gas, when released from
COMPRESSION, eXerts an expansive power
/ COS times it's bulk, and in So doing alb
serbs the heat contained in the water.
thereby freezing 1t.
The machine used in the manufacture of
the frozen article is known as the Stratton
Improved Absorption Machine, which IS
manufactured at Columbus, Ga.
Distilled city water aqua purd) is used,
and not drop is drawnifrom the docks, as
many at first supposed would be done.
MADE BY THE TON.
The present capacity Of the plant with
only one machine completed is thlrty-iive
tons per twenty-four hours. BY spring,
when further improvements have been
made. the daily output will be seventy
tons. and the building is erected to ac-
commodate machines that will make 40
tons per day. In addition TO the manu-
iacture of ice cold storage-rooms Will
shortly be added, and there Will also be
sufficient space tor the storage Oh 4,OUO
tons of ice.
The water is frozen in tanks, and when
turned into ice by this wonderful process
of ABSORPTION comes out IN blocks four
teen inches thick and weighing 2lO pounds.
Ii is perfectly clear and colorless, and a
newspaper could easily be read through It.
Baskets Of fruits and flowers are frequent
ly frozen in the water. and when taken
from the tanks can be seen with perfect
and beautiful distinctness.
The schedule of prices has not vet been
arranged. but the assurance is given that
thew will be reasonable and without huc-
tuation.