Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-06-18
ANOTHER BIG PLANT
The Finest Cold Storage Plant
South Of Philadelphia in Norfolk
Hcndy For Busincss- VIII 10 n fntc-
rial Factor I'm incrcn.ing Nor
folks importance B. IL Distribute
ing P"i"t OF Fruit, Dairy Pro-
duets ana Eggs.

formed citizens, are aware that one of
the finest cold storage plants in Amer
lea, and one pronounced by experts TO
be the finest in the South. has just been
completed in this city, but such is the
case.
This handsome plant was erected by
Mr.. Il. Il. Fentress at cost of about
sixty thousand dollars. and stands fac
ing Fosters lane, opposite the clyde
line Offices between East Main street
and Water street. being about $50 feet
from Water street. 1t is surrounded on
all sides by an open space of about 81
feet. except on the west, and here also
there is ample open space. Fifty trucks
can az one time back up to the building
and load or unload.
TIE BUILDING
Briefly described the building is of
brick. five stories high. with front
OF 80 feet and Il depth of nearly so
feet. Connected ut the rear but sepa-
rated from the main building by solid
fire wall, is the boiler and machine
room, % by 40 feet, and about % feet
high.
This is equipped with an Ames boiler.
from Oswego. n. y. of 20 horse power,
two ammonia pumps. polar refrigerat-
ing and ice making machines. made by
the lsbell Porter Company.of New York
ana Newark, y. j.. and all necessary
smaller machinery, tools. etc. The re-
frIgeratinS machine is of the absorption
system. consisting of Il generator,
anaiy2er. heater. rectifer, cooler. alb
sorber and condenser. all In duplicate
and all of the latest design.
The machines work SO perfectly and
easily that they are almost noiseless
The floor of the boiler and machine
room is of solid concrete, 1o inches
thick.
CHLORIDE BRINE USED.
The brine used to cool the building is
not ordinary brine. but one made from
chloride of calcium. This is used in
preference TO ordinary salt brine, as 1t
Will stand = much lower Temperatures
before freezing. This brine can be run
at temperature of - degrees below
zero, while ordinary salt brine will only
run at about or 10 degrees below with
out freezing
BY this system any room in the build
ing can he brought below the freezing
point, while many can be brought down
TO zero ana less. The butter freezers
arc kept ut about > degrees above zero.
Any temperature desired can he oh
tanned according to the character Of
goods in storage in the various rooms.
Thc temperatures maintained for the
various stored products arc guaged ac-
ccrding to the best scientific known
edge Of the day
DESCRIPTION BY FLOORS.
The Office of the plant is on the first
floor ut the northeast corner of the
building. This room is 15xl5 feet. fitted
with all modern Office requirements and
heated by steam. Just westerly of the
Office is tho main entrance to the plant.
opening into n large ante-cha,nhcr.
Here arc set of Fairbanks scales.
flush with the floor. of a capacity OF
4o0O pounds. Here also is the elevator.
Back Of the Office is The fish room. capa-
bic OF holding many c"r-loads Of bar
relied fish. Already several carloads are
stored there
Westerly from tho fish room is the
meat room. capacity six to eight cars.
next the butter freezer room. then the
butchers meat room.
THE BUTCHERS MEAT ROOM
This latter room is of such import
ance TO Norfolk's meat handlers as to
deserve special mention. 1t is divided
into FIFTEEN separate compartments. with
"a hallway in the center. Al the south
end of the room is one large compart-
ment and the fourteen smaller cnmpart-
inentS range seven on either side of the
han way. Along the hall way is an
overhead railway for the handling of
beeNcS 10 any part of the room. This
room has electric lights and Il complete
AIR circulation. 1t is approache by n
separate lane on the west of the build
ink. for the exclusive use OF the patrons
of the room. 1t gives the butchers of
Norfolk opportunity for iirst-class stor-
age of meats at a nominal cost. and
nearly all of the small rooms are al
ready rented.
THE SECOND FLOOR.
Tho second noor is entirely devoted to
butter free2ers. and is laid off into four
rooms Here an absolutely uniform tenn
perature IS maintained. The capacity of
each room is about Twenty-Five car
loads. In one freezer there are now
stored about twelve carloads.
THE OTHER THREE FLOORS.
The third floor is divided into four
rooms for storage Of eggs. ana ii will
keep the hens Of Virginia ana the Car
oiinas working fun time ana perhaps
extra hours 10 keep this Immense space
niisd with hen fruit" Already several
age
The fourth floor. also divided into
four rooms. is used for storage of cheese
and other articles.
The nth floor. four rooms. is used for
fruits of all kinds. both foreign and
domestic In this connection it would
seem that the opening of this cold
storage plant ought II he of great
value in the extension OF Norfolk's
stcnaily growing trade in tropical
fruits.
SPECIAL. FEATURES
The entire building IS lined within
with white spruce, absolutely sweet
and odorless. thus afioYding 10 posi-
bic danger Of contamination TO butter
on other delicate products hat need 10
be guarded with the closest care.
The plant furnishes its own lights
ana elevator service. The electric cur
rent is produced by generator Of
1p ~ cole,