Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-23
ICE AND REFRIGERATION.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

There is no single article of commerce
hich adds more to the comfort OF the
average citizen during the heated period
than a liberal supply of ice and the cool
ing temperature produced by ice and Its
equiv alents. Consequently, there are few
trades more important than the Ice trade,
failure Of the ice supply brings dire
ful results of many kinds Despite the
overworkcd filings at the iceman, he is a
prblic benefactor, especially in this coun-
Try. without whose ministration life In the
summer time IN a great city would seem
almost unbearable. In this connection 1t
Il rather interesting TO note that most OF
the manufactured ice and refrigerating
processes now In use arc produced by aid
Of steam and, therefore. an important
economic problem is the amount of ice
single ton of coal can be made TO pro-
duce.
The annual value OF the ice manufac-
tured in the United States, according TO
the last census, was 81 HS3,Oso, an in
crease OF more than I'D per cent above
the average Of the preceding ten years.
The value of the property now devoted
10 ice manufacture in this country
amounts 10 almost $15,UOO,Op and ice
making plants are now found in most Of
the states. although there are naturally
more OF them in the southern states be-
low the natural Ice zone. Texas now
saows the largest number of ice plants.
according to the latest published reports,
and, strange TO say, Pennsyivan comes
next in number, though this state is we'll
up IN the natural Ice zone. The New
England states, as well as most of the
northwestern states, depend largely upon
the harvest OF natural ice for their sup
Fly, although a number of ice factories
recently have been put in operation in
the state Of Washington.
The natural ice zone includes all the
territory which shows an average mean
temperature of -
Territory Included degrees during
January. II begins
- Aoe 10A'e' in the vicinity Of
the District of columbia and extends as
far southwest as Arizona and New Mex
ico and north through eastern Califor-
lila, Oregon and Idaho and across Wash
ingtoa, thus leaving the Pacific coast en-
tirey outside. For this reason one of the
earliest ice manufacturing plants was
erected in Oakland, Cal The cost OF
harvesting natural ice seems TO increase
each year despite the numerous machines
which have been invented TO facilitate
the work The difficulties of securing la
horers when needed are sometimes insur-
fnountabie. since the uncertainty of the
seasons tends TO make long contracts i'm
possib =. The enormous wageS now de-
branded tend materially 10 reduce the
prorts of natural ice. While many con-
samerS still prefer the natural product,
the Increased facilities for manufacturing
il seriously affecting that branch OF
trade Most Of the ice ships which used
70 ply their cooling trade along the At
iantic coast are now being diverted 70
other uses. Kennebec ice from Maine
costs more IN the Carolinas than the ice
that can be produced al home in a small
1lant which frequently is attached TO
-pue other industry, such a brewery
The history Of ice consumption 70 lows
c,oSeiy the history of civilization. al
though 70 the ancients ice was d luxury
only 20 BE- enjoyed by the wealthy few.
Before the time OF Nero the Romans
served in their cellars for cooling THEN
drinks in summer. Not content with this
supply. Nero conceived the possibility of
bringing il from the mountain tops.
Whcr. II was packed i'll large quantities
}u curously shaped cone-iikc buildings
These We're erected in the mountains and
med well with leaves and grass The
snow wa packd i'll them so closely that
+, became almost solid ice. after which
Z was brought down TO Rome for the
trade The buildings in which this snow
ice was packed for the trade in Rome
during Nero's time differed little from
NOSE used in modern Europe. The ice
trade TINS developed assumed consider
able importance during that period.