Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1900-12-22
ICE FOR HEATING.
- Curious Device Mentioned In ths
GoYernmenI RuIlefin.

4
Government Bulletin
Ice used for heating purposes il
one Of the most curious devices men.
7ioned in bulletin soon TO be issued
by the weather bureau at Washington
ON the subject of projecting perish
able goods in transportation. a new
Kind of car is double lined and has az
each end four galvanized iron cylin.
oerS reaching from the floor to near
the top. In summer these cylinders
ore filed with ice and salt, tamped
down hard, and 1t is claimed that
refrigerator vehicle thus equipped
does not need any renewal ofEtsstock
Of ice on a Journey clear across the
continent.
The remarkable point, however, is
that the car is iced in winter just the
same for the purpose of preventing
freezing Ice is normally at about
about 30 degrees Fahrenheit, and it
as very reluctant to give up amy of its
temperature. Hence, when it is zero
weather outside the cylinders of rela-
lively warm ice act as stoves, helping
to keep up the thermometer inside.
Another novel device by which ice
is employed for protection against
cold consists IN throwing upon the
car when the weather is near the zero
point a stream of water, which
promptly freezes and forms a com.
pfete coat all over the vehicle. This
prevents radiation of heat from the
car, and so tends to keep up the tenn
perature inside.It is a plan frequently
adopted in the transportation of ban.
anas, which are particularly suscep-
chile to cold. Fruit of this kind is put
III paper bags inside of heavy canvas
bags and covered With salt hay when
the temperature is dangerously low.
Large shippers OF fruit in the South
have found out by experience thaASt
does not do to take fresh fruit, esp1
ALLY peaches and canteEoupes, and
load it upon the cars without shilling
1t first. Accordingly, one railroad in
that part of the county is about to
establish at the largest shipping points
along Tits lines cooling rooms, in
which the perishable merchandise may
pu. Tor a while before sending it
on its journey. Oranges on the trees
Will endure &c degrees for an hour or
lwo, but in four hours Will freeze in
side.
One Recommendation made by the
weather bureau in regard to lemons
is that i'm large hotels and other
places where quantities of them are
used for lemonade and other purposes
they shall not be taken from the
ney shall not be taken from the
cold storage room to a heated room,
tut shall be squeezed in the cold
storage room. They lose quality
quickly after being out of cold storage
One very curious fact that has been
ascertained Us that perishable products
such as fruit and vegetables, will
stand a, lower temperature when the
car lis in motion than when at rest.
No theory has been suggested to ae-
count satisfactorily for this phenomen-
count satisfactory for this phenomer-
on, which is certainly interesting. 1t
IS suggested by the weather bureau
that growers may derive suggestions
of the utmost value from the weather
reports and predictions, thus avoiding
the shipment OF their goods when a
cold wave In winter OF p hot spell in
summer.
They ought to learn at what points
en- the railroad transportation is liable
TO be blocked by snowdrifts, and from
the United States geological survey
they can find out ais to attitudes of
regions trayersed by shipping routes.
8ourse the temperatures encounter
IN crossing mountain ranges arc
apt to be much lower than IN the val
leys.
The use of paper for protection
against cold is increasing very much,
and dts effectiveness in this way is
wonderful. Fruit wrapped in heavy
paper will endure Is degrees more
cold than without it. Potatoes are
sometimes packed in barrels lined
with paper, and when the weather is
unusually severe the barrels are COW
cred with paper also.