Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-01-23
Ice Houses.

Ice is IL summer luxury that all pros
porous farmers in the northwest should
have in abundance. 1t is said Mime
sofa has ten thousand fresh water
lakes, many of which are formed by
springs coming directly from the
limestone formations peculiar to the
upper Mississippi streams. In many
instances these lakes are surrounded
with steep banks which are composed
quite largely of sand and gravel.
The waters are as pure and whole
some as any to be found in the
wide. wide world.
Our city cousins feel that ice is
a necessity rather than u luxury, and.
in fact. IL soon comes to occupy that
place on the farm when It's value is
fully appreciated. AS a matter of
economy the farmer cannot afford to
be without ice, because, with sup
ply constantly on hand. fresh meats,
dairy products. fruits and other pro-
visions may be kept in good condition
for days or even weeks, where 9TH
erwise they would spoil in n short
time in the presence of summer heat.
Where farmers Of a neighborhood
dressing meats at home. they can.
by system of exchange. maintain
a supply sufficient for family use
during the entire season of hot
weather. The boys and girls from
the country crave ice cream, lemon
ade and smaller home made delica-
cies which may be served every hot
day where ice, cream. eggs, etc, are
at hand.
The construction and filing Of an
ice house is not an expensive mat
ter. The building should be so To-
Gated that 1t will be near the dwell
ing and protected by shade trees
during the heat of the day. Good
drainage Is also an important item
which may be secured by a filling Of
gravel, or. proper grading in and
about the building.
The walls should be double. with
six inch space between the board
ings This may be firmly packed
with sawdust or other non conduc-
tors Of heat. Flax straw or clover
ehaf may substitute the sawdust,
providing the boarding is made with
matched lumber on the outside Of
tne DullUlnS. n poTUdDle SttWII III
the neighborhood will make material
for the frame and inside boardings.
Save all of the sawdust for packing
the ice which should be cut and
packed when the weather is below
zero. This precaution will aid Its
keeping qualities and at the same
time prevent possibility of the
blocks freezing together from drip
pings during the process Of packing.
Clean snow is an excellent ma
terial to use for filling between and
Ieveling the blocks of ice as they
come into the house. Do not allow
any open spaces to remain unified
because they may become connected
with the air outside and thus the ice
will melt very quickly about them.
Six to ten inches of saWdust should
be very firmly packed between the
ice and the inside boarding. Flax
straw or chaff is sometimes used for
this purpose, but it is not equal to
sawdust as a non-conductor of heat.
Cover the mass of ice with at least
twelve to fifteen inches of dry. clean,
sawdust This is important, because
good ventilation must be provided
otherwise moisture will accumulate
over the ice which is decided dls-
advantage to it's keeping properties.
For several years we used an ice
house with the gable of the north
end entirely open. Our ice kept
splendidly while some of the neigh
bors with poorly ventilated buildings
lost their ice long before the close OF
the season.
An ice box or modern refrigera-
tor is a necessary piece of furniture
where there is a supply of ice. Don't
buy a little "2x4" thing. but
good, porcelain Lined, roomy ooS
with door in the side to receive the
T, ice. Locate this in the dining room
where it will be handy to the table
and can be used every meal. Build
| and fl the ice house now.-Agricul-
| turist.