The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-06-02
LOUD PRAISE FOR
LOCAL ICE PLANT
Eastern Expert Pronounces II the
Best In the Country and
the Biggest.

Artificial tce-making Is new IN
dustry IN Detroit. although IL has been
a successful business in tropical coun-
tries and in the southern states or
America for 80 years and In some OF
the northern cities for 10 or IL years.
First the idea OF making Ice was
conceived from necessity In climates
where nature has denied the people
frozen streams, but milder winters In
other sections OF the country render
ing uncertain q sufficient supply ana
the greater demand OF an increasing
population attracted the attention OF
enterprise and capital TO artificial Ice
production In the north.
The Murphy estate. OF numerous
advanced undertakings in this city,
took up this industry and for five
months has had In operation what Is
said TO be the best ice-making plant
In the country. This Is said on the
authority of Pierre Keller. manager of
half-dozen ice-making plants at Long
Branch and other New Jersey coast
places, who was a visitor few weeks
ago to the Murphy plant. Mr.. Keller
incidentally looked over all the Muir
ply buildings and was much impress
ed with their solid construction.
Zero Weather In Pipes.
The Murphy Ice plant is on the
north side OF Congress-st, west OF
Cass, I'm the cement block building
next to the Riverside Storage Co., but
part OF the process begins In the Muir
ply power building at the southeast
corner Of Congress and Wayne-sts
Here the chloride OF calcium brine
that serves as the freezing agent Is
brought down TO zero or lower tenn
perature and Is conveyed TO the Ice
plant through pipes in a tunnel laid
through Congress-st. This piping Is
30 perfect and SO thoroughly insulated
that the brine does not vary more
than one degree In temperature on
transmission between the power
house and ice plant.
In the Ice house the space between
the upper floors is filed In with iron
tanks llxl6 feet and one foot wide
which are filled with the water 10 be
changed into cakes OF ice. The zero
temperature is let into pipes by the
side OF the tanks. and the freezing
goes on slowly. II takes six days 10
get a solid chunk of Ice from a tank
full of water.
Water Purified by Ozone.
The water Is as pure as water pos
sibly can be. AS 1t comes from the
city mains. 1t Is treated with ozone,
a form OF free oxygen. obtained
through the agency of high tension
electric current. During the process
OF obtaining ozone one In the plant
gets the same odor as shifted during
a rain storm. The ozone Is pumped
through the water and purifes 1t, en-
tirely destroying all germs and vege-
table matter, leaving the water spark
ling with its good qualities unim-
paired. Numerous chemical analyses
have proved the purity Of the water
thus treated.
frozen they are pulled out OF the
tanks by block and tackle (they weigh
five tons each), are cut In 25-pound
chunks for delivery and piled In the
smaller OF two storage rooms where
each days supply is held awaiting
their delivery. The full product OF two
days can be stored here. but II Is fig
ured to have the make of each day
taken out that day. There Is much
larger storage room In which 1000
tons are piled up in the late winter
and early spring days, for the large
extra demand OF midsummer.
The daily capacity of the plant Is
100 tons. Therefore as the freezing
process requires six days time there
are tanks for 600 tons, In various
stages OF freezing. so as TO insure 100
tons daily. Everything about the
plant is clearly. and the fresh water
in the newly filed tanks and the
solidly frozen cakes are as clear and
transparent as the most perfect plate
glass, and suggest to mind and palate
delicious sensation OF cooling and
refreshing draughts.
Pittmans & Dean Co. are the dis
tributers.