The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-07-19
HOW HOUSEWIVES
CAN MEASURE ICE
And Determine the Weight
They Are Getting on
Their Orders.

A method to determine the exact
weight of ice which will be more
nearly correct than the weignl ascer
tanned by the use OF INFESTED scales,
has been suggested by the ice deal
ers and city officials. 1t may be quick
ly applied by the housewife without
Inconvenience.
The method is simple. All that is
necessary is to obtain the exact meas
urements and determine the number
OF cubic inches in the piece of ice de-
livered. The measurements needed
are the width. length and breadth,
which multiplied together will give
the number Of cubic inches. A cubic
foot of ice weighs SIS pounds accord
ing to authorities while others who
have compiled tables on the weight
OF a cubic foot Of ice say it is ISL
pounds.
Method Simple One.
Two tables cited gave the weight of
a cubic foot of ice at SIS pounds,
while third gave 1t at ISL pounds.
In calculating the weight of CUBIC
inch of ice by both of the methods
cited 1t Is found .0336 plus represents
the number of pounds in cubic inch
in using 5s.1 as the correct weight of
a cubic foot, while .0333 minus repre-
sents the weight of cubic inch when
the weight OF cubic foot is based on
57.5 pounds. BY multiplying the num-
Der OF cubic inches of ice a cake con-
tains with either of these decimal fg-
,ures will give within a fraction the
true weight of the ice cake delivered.
The manufacturers have three pat
iterns for the artificial ice blocks At
the Rettig plant in West Richmond
the ice blocks are frozen square at
the base. the dimensions being IA by
II inches. The blocks range in length
from 321. inches to 33 inches. At the
johnson plant on North Sixteenth
street, the 300 pound cake is 1O1s in
ches deep by % inches wide by Al
inches and sometimes greater in
length. The 200 pound cake manufac-
tured at this plant is 10 by 20 inches,
sometimes the length ranging as high
as thirty-two inches. The larger cakes
are used largely for the heavy trade,
and the 200 pound cakes from both
plants for the home trade. In cutting
up these cakes. the ice men cut in
the middleton 100 pound piece and
for n so pound cake, divide either of
the hundred pound pieces in two
parts.
Ordinarily the ice is Clipped off at
right angles, although some times at
the place where 1t is Clipped it sliv-
ers off. making at one end an obtuse
and the other an acute angle. For
those who really wish to ascertain the
weight this. difficulty can be quickly
surmounted.
Public Not MisIed.
That the company has not been mis-
leading the public as regards the sup
ply may be readily discovered in an
inspection of the plants. The ice hous-
es at Thistlethwaite's pond are empty
with the exception of one, which is
nearly so, and, II is estimated con-
tains probably no more than hun
dred and fifty tons of natural ice. The
capacity Of the Rettig plant on West
Third and Chestnut street is seventy
-five 200 pound cakes every twelve
hours, or fifteen tons a day
At the Johnson ice plant fifty 300
pound cakes are manufactured every
IL hours and rs of the 200 pound cakes
in the same time. The capacity of this
plant is 80 tons a day. On Tuesday
the company had considerable artifi-
!cial ice stored at the plants but the
:Quantity would not supply the demand
for more than a day or two The two
iplants had been able to get little
Iahead OF the demand during the few
days Of cool weather The company
has had little trouble with the ice
!machines and has been able to work
them to capacity, considering itself
fortunate In this regard
! The local dealers say that the stu
alton in Richmond is better than in
ineighboring Indiana towns. No one
can buy ice in many places. they say
At New Castle, Muncie, Marion, An
derson and many other places, where
,the company has endeavored to buy
hce. II has been turned down, the deal
ers declaring they were hard pressed
themselves and were cutting down on
the orders of their consumers. For
instance at Muncie 25 pounds is de-
Nvered when demand is made for so.
the dealers stating il to be impossible
to meet the demand in view of the
shortage.