Evening journal., 1905-03-06
ICE DEALERS ARE READY
FOR THE HEATED SEASON
BOTH THE NATURAL AND MANUFACTURED
PRODUCT is USED IN THIS CITY TOA
VERY LARGE ExTENT-HOW ICE
is MADE
is MADE
SUPPLY FROM THE BRANDYWINE

Although summer is several months off
the ice companies of Wilmington have
practically completed their preparations
for supplying the demand during the
heated season. The demand is naturally
Increasing each year and the amount Of
ice now used in Wilmington is enormous.
A fair estimate would probably be 1900
tons a year.
An interview today with officials of the
Consumers Ice Company and Diamond
Ice Company, the two largest in the city,
brought out many interesting points in
regard to the industry. Although the Con-
sumers' Company uses only natural ice
and the Diamond Company manufactures
it's own product. the large business that
these two concerns have built up is evil
dence that they both put out an excellent
quality of ice.
Twenty Thousand Tons Harvested.
Twenty thousand tons of ice have been
harvested this winter by the Consumers
Company to supply its trade.
This statement was made by Miller
Stradley, president of the company to a
reporter of The Evening Journal. Mr.
Stradley stated that his company has all
Of its supply in the storage houses. The
price. he stated, would be about the
same as last season.
The Consumers Company's ice was cut
at Ioedale, formerly Ferndale. on the
Wilmington and Northern branch of the
p. & r. Railway The company has
reservoir dams there covering about 80
acres and fifteen feet deep.
NEAR the head of Brandywine.
Icedale is on the Brandywne about
eight miles above Coatesville, Pa, and
but a short distance from the head of the
stream. The Brandywine forms about
two miles from there in the Welsh
Mountains.
At Icedale is situated the old Mackel-
dun flour mill which is probably the old
est mill on the Brandywine. 1t is $50 years
old. The dam has been built up by the
Consumers Company.
Mr.. Stradley stated that 10000 tons
of ice were harvested early in January
He explained that the first crop of ice is
always the best and for that reason the
company cuts as early as possible.
Ice Better This Year.
Continuing he said: ''rhe crop this yea
is much better than last 1t is clearer an,
more durable. Our crop will averag
from Il to 12 inches in thickness, bu
some of it is 20 inches thick. The ice is al
stored in several houses which are unde
one roof, 40 feet by 100 feet and 40 fee
In neight We bring it to Wilmingto
during the summer in refrigerator car
just as we need it. During the summe
months we run 20 wagons"
rtt-as l1sl
In regard to the plant Mr.. stradle
said: "Our plant at Icedale is one of tn
best equipped in the country. We hav
our own electric plant and well equiv
ped machinery. The company has estal
lished a large boarding house there whei
the crew. who handle the ice, boards.
"The water we use" continued NJ
Stradley, has no chance whatever I
become polluted. There are no village
or factories above us and only two mile
from Icedale the water comes out of Il
ground in it's purest state"
Mr.. Stradley said his company supple
most Of the ice cream factories of Wi
mington.
The Manufactured Product.
The impression the public has th
ammonia can be tasted in manufacture
ice. is purely imaginative. General Ma
ager James Bowers, of the Diamond 1
Company took reporter of The Evenii
Journal through the company's plant
Thirteenth and Lombard streets tod'
and explained how it was impossible f
the ammonia to in any way get in 4
water which is used.
rft.f. .,,,r,,,.v hoe 4, 10 roo too N,,~g,,.o
and sells nearly all of its product at I
tail In summer 26 double and two sing
wagons are kept busy. During sor
parts of the season as much as 500 to
Of ice are sold in one day.
Where The Ice Is Frozen.
The building where the ice is frozen
oLD POINT COMFORT, RlcHMoN