New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-07-10
AS TO OUR ICE
Water for the Artificial Must
Receive Drastic Treatment.
VII.


Scientific investigation has determined
the deleterlous properties to be found IN
the surface waters from which the supply
OF cities is generally obtained-the waters,
With their greater or less burden of pollu-
ton infection, either in the shape OF
soluble or of insoluble impurities. wherein
the Northern winters plant and mature the
natural ice crop.
And science has prescribed the methods
and has invented the machinery whereby
the said impurities may be eliminated
the first are employed, and the second
is to be found in active operation, in any
and every thoroughly equipped artificial ice
plant. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES here. is
synonymous with acknowledgements
such a plant must turn out pure ice. And,
therefore. it would be nothing against the
integrity Of the principle involved if care
lessness or dishonesty should turn out a
suspicious. faulty, or even an evil, prod
uct; for there il would be solely the fault
of the management. In the case of the
natural ice it is through Natures own
processes largely that evil factors are IN
troduced; although, as has been shown,
the human equation also enters.
To say that the product of a given fac
tory is unsafe, contains impurities, is sim
ply to charge the plant with unclean con-
ditions, with wornout and leaky ma
chinery or with a violation of approved
practice in artificial ice making There are.
doubtless, incompetent, careless and even
dishonest manufacturers in all lines; but,
in this day of keen competition such do
not stay In the business of artificial ice
makng-the clean, careful, enlightened
manufacturers take their trade away in
short order. For the latter know that the
very best advertisement of their wares is
the having and the exposing to the Gus
toners inspection establishments in which
the last word in sanitation is spoken, in
the scrupulous cleanliness of paraphernalia
and surroundings: the last guarantee of
perfection in product is given, in the thor
ough efficiency of the machinery employed
to turn it out.
The briefest explanation Of the processes
employed to purify the water will suffice
to show, on the one hand. how utterly i'm
possible it is for any impurities to remain
in it after passing through them; while a
mere enumeration of the important and
costly machines and appurtenances will. on
the other hand. create surprise that any
one should doubt the initial impurity.
varied impurity, of water in its natural
state, when science so demonstrates it to
the level headed and experienced men of
affairs who own these plants that they are
forced to recognize the truth that without
all these they would be unable to produce
sound and safe goods. 1t is unthnkabIe
that shreWd business men would make vast
plicated machinery if Natures simple
efforts at water publication were at all re-
liable: it would be so much cheaper to
initiate her.
Why not, in such case filter the water.
CONCEAL it. hold il for the period the nat
ural ice harVeSters' champions claim is re-
quired 10 kill seemingly. the only
impurities that, in their purview, count as
menaces to health--and then melt, strain
out the dead and freeze again? or, simpler
still, why not have left the task Of supply
ing clean, healthful ice entirely 10 the
Dame herself? Instead, these manufaCt-
urers. very many Of them leaders in other
quired specific knowledge of chemical and
bacterial action, have persisted in in
creasing their investments in this partic-
ular enterprise that Greater New York S
daily output of artificial had risen, at the
latest count. from less than 1880 tons a
decade ago to 5000