The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-06-25
POOR PLACE FOR THE |CEMAN
PEOPLE IN THE TROPICS DO NOT
WANT HIS WARES.
Frozen Water Is Too Expensive, and
Is Not Considered 10 He Essential,
20 Comfort-Smali Demand in
the south American Countries.

According to the consular reports more
ice is consumed in Chicago during TWEEN
ty-four hours Of hot weather than is con-
sumed by all the Iatin-American states
except Mexico in twelve months. In Chi
cago ice is considered q necessity all the
year round. and IN the Latin states it is
considered in some places a luxury in very
hot weather. but not an overdesirahe
luxury. There are medical men who at
tribute the longevity Of life IN the trop-
les to the absence OF ice-cOld water ana
beverages, which force an unnatural and
hurtful temperature OF the stomach and
open the system TO disease attacks with
little or no power OF resistance. This Is
especially true, they say, of those who are
subjected to much physical exercise. for
cold drinks greatly shock the system
without materially quenching thirst.
The nights in the tropics are nearly al
ways cool. which enables butchers 10 pre-
pare meat in the evening for the next
days consumption. without fear OF II
spoling meanwhile. A. for fruits and veg
etables, they are so plentiful all the year
round and so cheap that II does not pay
TO go 10 the expense Of erecting cold
storage houses or keeping refrigerators TO
preserve them So while nature has not
provided the Latin-American states with
ice-making weather. It has provided them
with a climate and ground productions
which make ice not an absolute neces-
sity. The laws of nature always con-
serve mans best interests.
Most Of the principal cities in the Gen.
trail and South American states have one
or more small ice factories, but none OF
them can find market for the produce
ton. This comes In part from the inahii-
ity OF the people to pay the price. which
runs all tho way from cent to or more
cents a pound in part from no pressing
desire to have ice and in part from a
superstition that ice especially manufac-
tured ice. is not healthy. II may be said
that family ice consumption Is confined
entirely 10 the wealthy and those in fair
circumstances, and they buy Il In quanti-
ties merely sufficient TO serve ice-water
and cool wines at meal time. II IS be-
lieved, however. that IL the factories would
introduce improved machinery so as to
reduce the cost OF production and then
manufacture the article In large quanti-
ties at low prices 20 consumers the peo-
pie in time would give them support
The New orleans and Galveston ice fac
tories are trying to build up trade in
Central and Northern South America,
but the waste by melting is so great that
there is little ~ any profit in the business
II Is said an American company is talking
of constructing number OF floating ice
plants. which they propose to move from
coast town 10 coast town as occasion and
demand may seem to Justify. But IL is
clearly TO be seen by the consular reports
that two things will have to be done be-
fore the ice trade in the Latin states viii
amount 20 much. The cost OF ice must be
reduced so as TO meet the ability OF the
people to pay and the people must he
educated into looking upon II as n neces-
sty rather than as an expensive and I'M
important luxury
But American money and enterprise is
at work and II possible ice will be made
popular commercial commodity In the
tropics.--Chicago Chronicle