The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-02

SOMETHING ABOUT ICE.
Once 1t Was = Great Luxury, Now II II
GOn raOn Neccxsffv

Once It Was = Great Luxury, Now II II :
Common Necessity.
At one time In the worlds history ice
was considered great luxury. and only
the rich could enjoy what is now looked
upon as an absolute necessity. In an
cient days snow was used as sub~ti-
tute. 1t was brought from the noun
tains and stored away in pits dug in the
earth. and was covered with straw or
other substances that proved non-con-
ductors of heat and also protected il
from the air.
Mention of this fact is made in the
Proverbs of Solomon. and it is frequent
* alluded to in the writings of the an
cient Greeks and Romans. 1t is still in
vogue in Italy. where snow gathered i'm
the Apprentices is brought by peasants
to the principal cities and stored in cell
lars made especially for that purpose.
In many parts of France and England
the wealthy have ice houses built on
their estates. and fill them with ice
from the neighboring lakes and streams.
1t was not until 1916 that ice was pub
licly sold in London and then only in
very small quantities
In America ice houses have been
known for at least 200 years. They were
at first very primitive affairs, being moth
ing more than deep cellars. the flooring
made of boards or stone, upon which
was placed layer Of straw or sawdust
The sides were lined with boards set
about foot from the wall. and this
space was filled in with sawdust. tan
bark or straw. A rough, matched
roof completed the structure, which was
then filled with ice. between the layers
of which tanbark or sawdust was
Strewed
As matter OF course, the supply of
cut ice was very limited for long time.
ard If was not until about fifty years
ago that il became a commodity. admit
ting OF purchase by persons Of moderate
means In New York City alone. at
the present day, the yearly consnmp-
ton Of ice amounts to about 1000, 900
tons.
In addition to its employment for cool
ing water and other beverages. in the
course of time its value as an agent for
preserving meats. fruit. etc. was recog-
nlzed, and as consequence the demand
for it was greatly increased.
Trustworthy authorities state that
the use of ice for preventing the decom-
position of dead bodies was known in
very early days, as there was a tribe in
Finland which, during the latter part of
the seventh century, preserved the
bodies of their dead for many months
without embalming them. using either
snow or ice for the purpose.
The first person to attempt to export
ice from this country to foreign lands
was an American named Tudor. and al
though his first shipment. in 1905. met
with poor success he at length cstab-
lishcd the business on a firm basis
Now it is shipped to tropical clincs and
proves paying industry. In many
warm countries. however. the sole sup
ply of ice depends upon its artificial
manufacture. as it would be impossible
to export it without absolute loss. OF
late years the manufacture of artificial
ice has assumed large proportions in the
United States, the high price and search
ty at times of the natural article re-
curing the employment of cheaper
means of production. - Detroit Free
Press