New-York tribune., 1910-06-19
AS TO OUR ICE
Further Concerning Conditions
at Sources of the Natural.


Attention has thus far been mainly called
to the evil practices in natural ice har-
vesting and to the communicating infiu-
ences that enter into it's transportation,
although something has been said of the
location of ice fields on the Hudson River
with reference to sewage outlets. But these
are not all that bring this supply under
suspicion-a suspicion that is neither re-
moved nor lessened by the defence offered
by those who rally to the support of this
unregulated product. 1t is certainly not
reassuring, after reading a general propo-
siuon that there is hardly thing on the
public market to-day that is consumed in
the households Of this state that is less
liable to infection, to encounter succeed
tnS statement that of several epidemicS
reported as coming from ice only-only.
save the mark.-a couple were well au-
thenticated. Nor is it any more calculated
to restore confidence in the pristine purity
Of natural ice TO learn that one, a typhoid
epidemic. resulted from the throwing of
solid fecal matter upon il, but that this
consequence could only follow through the
said fecal matter being in masses Scarce
y more comforting is IL to be told that,
while several were diarrneal and one of
dySentery, these are about all the evidence
against ice.
Then TO be informed that ice is being
cut from waters that neither the har-
vesters nor its champions would care to
drink. even though Ii is added that nature
in freezing them renders them innocuouS, is
a questionable Recommendation At least: II
VIII not induce this public to chance its
use any more than il will for the latter
to be instructed that ice is solid and that
bacteria cannot exist in it: or for the
harvesterS TO be publicly counselled-in the
DeXt breath-that these assurances will be
useless if the ice delivered is full of eel
regular shape and not in first class physi-
cal condition, especially when. later. the
most stringent law of a neighboring state
is quoted to show that il prohibits the
Use of any ice which is impure or taken
from any polluted source" Laws are not
made against the non-existent.
The truth would seem 10 be generally
recogniZed-if not always or by every one
admitted-that while there is undoubtedly
pure natural ice there are long odds against
the consumers $ being certain that that
which he buys is in that category.
But i'll spite of the boomerang defence
OF the harveSters il must not be supposed
that the blame lies entirely with them:
nor Is there reason to doubt but that there
as conscientious and careful men
One great trouble IS that the industry is
not under control; another. that il is not
possible always 10 prevent contamination
of the surface waters from which the ice
is cut, nor to unerringly trace the enemy
whe ther pathogenic bacteria or merely
pollutlng agency-to the place whence it
came.
Ice Is cut not only from the Hudson
and other rivers whereon are large cities
ana settlements. that use them sewer
mains giant scale it is taken from
ponds and lakes that may, and frequently
are, even more dangerous. In some cases
the menaces are visible ones human ha bi-
tations. their Offices and their other out
buildings. such as stables. barns. piggeries.
henneries, etc, etc, on the slopes adjacent
TO and leading down to their waters: but
there are perhaps. many more where. on
the surface, and even on closer investiga-
tion every condition OF environment would
seem to point TO ideal purity in their clear
cool depths. the while the latter are con-
tributed to-and occasionally from great
distances-through subterranean galleries
into which infectious or polluted matter
has found Its way.