The evening times., 1900-05-21
ice In SPANISH AMERICA
Small Consumption of this Summer
Luxury in the Tropics.
Refrigerntors n Rarity, Especially
for Family Use-A Natural Source
of supply in the Mountains-The
Natives Buy Food for Immedi-
ute Needs OnIy-ExistinS PIrnts.

In compliance with the request of resi-
dent OF Nebraska. a Department instruc-
tion was sent under date Of August 10,
1899, to certain consular officers in Central
and South America, requesting information
as to the manufacture of ice in the princi-
pal cities.
Consul Caldwell writes from San Jose:
The ice business in Costa Rica is small
There are factories in San Jose, Port Lii
mon, and Punta Arenas. | am informed
that the small consumption is not due TO
any lack of appreciation of the advantages
of ice but rather to the fact that the
opinion prevails that the ice is not pure II
factory equipped with the latest improv-
ed machinery were erected here 10 fur
nish fee made from thoroughly distilled
water, and the public become convinced of
the purity Of the ice, the enterprise would
probably be a success and the consump-
tiun OF ice be very greatly increased
Consul General Beaupre, of Guatemala,
writes:
There are TWO ice factories in opera
tion in this city. and the demand is not
equal to the capacity Of the plants to pro-
duce. The use of ice is mostly confined to
j
is rare thing for a family to own a re-
frigerator or TO use ice, except in small
quantities at intervals. Owing TO the ell
ovation, the weather is never very warm,
and there is no probability of ice ever be-
ing used more extensively than at present.
except in proportion TO the increase Of
population.
In Quezaltenango. the second city OF
the Republic, there are no ice factor es
Natural ice is Obtainable, and is used dur
ing portion of the year, but the extreme
elevation and cold climate Of this city are
sufficient to deter anyone from engaging in
this business At Retaihuleu, the terminus
Of the railroad running from Champerico.
a port on the Pacific, into the coffee grow
ing district, there are two ice factories
the ice being largely consumed on the
coffee plantations. These factories aIe
sufficient for the demand. At Escuint'a d a
station on the Central Railroad. about mid
way between the port Of San jose de Guat-
emala, on the Pacific, and this capital. is
an ice factory which supplies the country
along this railroad.
On the northern, or Atlantic. side OF the
Republic there are no ice plants At
Puerto BarriOs, the port from which the
Northern Railroad starts, there ale re-
eeived each week by steamer from New
Orleans from thirteen to fifteen casks of
ice. weighing about 400 pounds each on
arrival. This is distributed along the line
of this railroad at a price approximating 2
cents per pound in United States currency
At present, there is not sufficient damand
al Puerto Barrios 10 waTran- putting in an
ice plant; but, should operations in the
construction of the Northern Railroad be
resumed. as seems probable in the near fu-
ture, an ice factory either at FL Ra-cho
Gualan, or Puerto BaTrios would be p.ofi a
Die, for the country is extremely hot and
tropical
Under date Of September Il, 1899. Consul
Johnston, Of Udlla. Honduras, says
There are ice plants IN opratior Be
llZe and Puerto CorteZ; there is aisC enc
at La Ceiba, not running at present The
extent Of the use Of ice can hardly he es-
umated as it is bought from the steamers
at 3 cents Q.3 cents gold per pound.
II small ice plant, not costing too much.
could be established. there would be cor
siderable demand plant that would have
an output Of from 500 pounds TO one ton
a day would be large enough as the towns
are small, and the sale of ice is limited"
Small Plant in Sicaragua.
Consul Donaldson writes from Managua.
Nicaragua:
An ice plant has been established in
Manag "a since 1883. with capacity of two
tons per twenty four hours IL furnishes
I
ga, Corinto, and all smaller places connect
ed by railroad and steamboats, with Mana
qua, and as far as Greytown, on the At
lantIc Coast This plant is capable of pro-
ductng twice the quantity Of ice consumed
in all these places"
Consul Jenkins. of San Salvador saws.
The city of San Salvador population
@O,O9O) has three plants with a daily Joint
capacity of 25.O00 pounds Of ice. retailing
at cents COS cent gold per pound The
consumption does not exceed 5000 pounds
per day, owing to a lack of enterprise:
there is no cold-stoFage establishment:
meat sold on the market has been killed |
the previous n Z, ht- There is room for a
welI-conducted slaughtering establishment
Santa Ana has an estimated population
OF Z0,OCO and is supplied with two plants |
producing each 10000 daily; retail price 3 |
cents G-3 cents gold) per pound
S0nsonate has population of I2 coo |
and has two ice plants with joint capaei- |
" OF 5,cCJ pounds, retailing at half a cent |
per pound.
"Ahuachapan, with a population OF 10
200, has single plant furnishing ice. The
electric-ighting company uses its water
power TO manufacture ice in the daytime.
capacity, 5000 pounds; cost per pound -
,ehts l2.z5 cents gold. San Miguel has
population of 2 900 and one ice plant. re
all price. 12 cents per pound"
Consul Mayer writes from Buenos Avres
Republic. that there is u pres
eht NO chance for -Aachinery at that place.
ice is manufactured in abundance and
from three TO four ice machines are now
Tor sale in the market. Consul Ayres. of
Rosario reports that there are five ouite
extensive brewerieS in Rosario with plants
Tor the manufacture OF artificial ice for
Lhelr own use. and a system of delivery
wagons, quite similar to ours in The
United states. for the supply of the pro iuct
70 consumers. Besides the breweries
mere are two independent ice plants
competition is created. the price
o the consumer kept within a reasonable
INIT, and as consequence. the consume
ian OF this artificial ice during the long
mated teEEn is rendered considerable. T.
onaer ua'e OF October 20. 1899, Vice Con-
sun Ha,les' oil La Paz, Bolivia writes that
natural ice can be obtained at extreu,sT,-
low rates the year round. being brought Nv
Indians from the slopes of the nonntain
Huayna POtosi- He knows Of no ice nIant
IN Bolivia, and is positive there would he
no profit in such an enterprise.
Little Demand in Brazil.
Consul Furniss of Bahia. Brazil. SAYS:
Ice making was commenced in Bahia
several years ago by Brazilian company;
but, as there was no demand for the prod
net. the manufacture was abandoned.
About three years ago German purchased
secondhand ice machine at Pernumbueo,
moved II here, ana commenced business;
mis- has since been continued. though NOT
aweys at profit. The machine in pres
eht use was made in Germany about ten
'ears ago 10 is capable of producing three