The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1911-03-17
Boy Lets Pals Filled With Water
Freeze and Stores Cakes.
Got Idea by Thawing Out Pail in Hen
yard and Now Is Capitalist Him
self-Seils Product to His
Neiohbors.

Ware. Mass.-How would you like
TO be Independent OF the ice trust
next summer VIXEN the hot rays OF
the sun are beating down and your
refrigerator is empty. though you
have had a card in your window for
several days and have telephoned the
Ice trust and been choked off with the
reply. You will get your ice when 1t
arrives and not before?"
The 11-year-old son of Ware sign
painter has solved the problem. Hav.
ing already made two tons of ice and
sold II to his father for 30 cents
hundred pounds, he is busy making
further supply which he proposes to
sell to neighbors next summer. Je-
rome is the son of Mr.. and Mrs. A.
Henry Eldredge of 81 East street and
/ Is one of nine children.
II is a case of hustle to keep the
'amily supplied with the necessities
| of life, aad to each OF the children old
enough to be of assistance is assigned
task which makes the burdens light
sr for all. Jerome feeds the hens.
z
lily table supplied with fresh eggs, but
usually fail in coming up TO expecta-
tons. He also feeds the lone family
/ pig and keeps Mrs. Eldredge supplied
with coal and kindlings from the
shed. Jerome has a longing to get a
college education and become n law
yer. but has been told repeatedly
hat a college education costs money,
and the only way he can get 1t is by
strict economy and thrift.
! II was while watering the hens one
,old morning that Jerome hit upon
The scheme Of the ice plant. The pan
containing the water was filed with a
cake of ice each morning, and IL was
necessary for Jerome to turn the pan
bottom side up and pour hot water
IN II. the cake OF Ice then dropping
gut. In a short time there was a pile
,f ice that worried Jerome. because
I came from water that had been ren.
Tered muddy and impure by the hens
and was unfit for use. but II occurred
20 him that he could draw water from
he kitchen faucet that was pure.
1 "
freeze. then get the cakes of ice out
in the same manner as he did from
he hens pen. He asked his father II
he would pay him the same price for
ice that he had paid the iceman last
year. Mr.. Eldredge said he would be
glad to do SO II the ice were of good
quality and he would contract for two
IONS. The ice has been delivered and
paid for.
Jerome has about two dozen recep
tacles of various styles and sizes. lie
FIRST began with what stewpans and
kettles he could abduct from his moth
er's pantry, but now he has pressed
the family washtub, coal hod. wash
pan. wash basin and about everything
else into use. and has made square
wooden boxes. which he fills with wa
ter and makes large cakes of ice in
These boxes he has already sold I,
his mother for use next summer fol-
flower beds. The price was more
than cost OF the lumber to make
them.
The cakes OF Ice vary in size from
two to seventy-fiye pounds. and dur
ing zero weather Jerome has made a.
many as fifty cakes Of ice in a day
Jerome attends the seventh grade IN
the South street school. His four
rear-old brother. John Harold. sug
rested a Few weeks ago that he b.
AIKEN into partnership on a percent
age basis. and he would keep the
business moving while Jerome was II
school. The suggestion was fayorabl!
received. and Johnny Is as interested
In the business as any one could be
When the neighbors' boys eom'
around johnny keeps his ewes opel
!