The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1890-08-05
ARTIFICIAL FROST.
Ice Machines Being Erected in Jer-
sey City for Private Concerns.

A report has been extensively circu-
lated to the effect that the erection of
number of ice factories was contemplated
by various corporations of this city, and
that several were already in course of
construction. This was indeed refresh
ing news to one who had heard it whis-
pered that the supposed ice famine
threatened not only an increase in the
price of summer delieaci es, but even in
the burial expenses of those that sue
cumb to its terrible ravages. The i'm
pulse to investigate such delicious
rumor was irresistible | could half wish
now that the impulse had not taken such
q strong hold upon me; for after working
through the torrid, putrid, sewer-scented
region in which had been told would
find the ice plants, | was doomed to al
most absolute disappointment Yet,
somehow, / am inclined to think, after
summing up yesterdays investigation,
that even if we are not substantially re-
lieyed of the distress consequent upon an
ice famine or the heartless monopoilZlng
influences of an ice combine this summer,
wew1ll be next.
I first wended my way to the office OF
the New Jersey Ice Company in Provost
street At the desk l found an elderly
gentleman in white whiskers and linen.
He was as cool as an iced cucumber, and
in answer to my question informed me
that the New Jersey Ice Company was
the last body on earth that would COM
template the erection of an ice factory.
IT IS ALL A RUMOR
"But it is rumored that such an idea was
contemplated by your company" said.
1--WE don't hold ourselves responsible
for rumors, young man. | have heard OF
likely that / would have heard some
thinr ahout it If it was So ~
Among the derizens of the neighbor-
hood I learned that Millionaire Brewer
Kruegler, of Newark, who has quite an
extensive ice plant in that city, had
agents in this city yesterday drumming
up saloon customers for his ice at sixty
cents per hundred pounds, and promising
to go ten cents lower than any ice com
pany or com bination of companies. The
Swift Beef Packing Company, on Ninth
street, has almost completed the erection
of an ice plant, that will freeze fifty tons
of ice per day by the ammonia process.
But in the main office / was informed
that ice would be manufactured exclusive
ly for the company's use. About four
weeks ago the Company commenced the
erection of a tall brick wing, 1l0x25 feet.
HOW ARTIFICIAL ICE is MADE.
Mr. w Meeske, who has been superin-
tending the erection of this for the Myers
Freezing Company amid the noise of ham
mering iron and steel, attempted to eX-
plain to me the process by which artificial
ice is made He pointed out three large
tanks filed, near the bottom, with salt
water. Through and above this ran
masses and coils of pipes through which
the ammonia will be forced by powerful
machines on q floor beneath. The tanks
will accommodate 200 cans. Each of these
will be filled with pure water and low
cred into the salt water beneath. which,
by the ammonia process, will be reduced
to temperature of eight degrees below
zero. The pure water in the cans will be
fro zen into solid cakes Weighing 250
pounds each, while 90 per cent. of salt
prevents the water outside from freezing.
Mr.. Il. Kelly, who was experimenting
the erection of a tremendous 100-horSe
power Watt engine, and the construction
of mammoth machine for the forcing of
the ammonia through the pipes, told me
that the company would be manufactur-
ing ice next Thursday. In an adjoining
room two other Meyers machines were at
work forcing cold air into the neat cellars
and through the large buildings. At any
time the company sho uld feel disposed to
erect tanks for these they can augment
their capacity as ice manufacturers.
Mr. Meeske told me that the Meyer
Freezing Company. of New York, had
extensive orders for the erection of ma
chimes in New York, Hoboken and New
ark, but he could not say positively
whether it had any further orders in Jer-
sey City. He thought it more than likely,
+hat had