Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-10-30
SMALL CONCRETE lCE-HOUsE
BUILD NOW In Time for Next Win
ter's Ice Crop, Says Authority.

During the sweltering heat of sum-
mer, many a country family longs for
the comfort afforded by hOme-supply
of ice. Too often autumn passes with
out any preparation having been made
for harvesting the winter ice crop.
For family requirements, ice houses
of concrete are growing in popularity.
This type is recommended by the Edi-
tor, Cement User, 1905 Stock Elk
change Bldg, Chicago since concrete
is heat resisting, is not rotted by the
continual dampness from the ice, and
is ready for filling every winter with
out first repairing the building. An
ice-house of concrete is likewise fire
proof, an advantage especially valuable
in the country.
Size of Building and Location.
With a concrete house, successful
storage of ice depends only upon care
full packing, air-trapped drainage at
the floor line, and well regulated venti-
lation beneath the roof Therefore the
icehouse must be located on a well
drained site and, if possible, in the
shade of other buildings or trees. 1t
Should be turned end to the south.
The size of the building is dependent
on the needs of the family. Nearly any
household will consume one hundred
pounds every day, or ten tons for the
season. One cubic foot of ice weighs
81 pounds and a ton in the ice-house
occupies about 40 cubic feet If the
ice is of a poor quality, meltage fire.
quently amounts to one-third the guam
tity harvested; therefore it is wise to
build house of a capacity twice the
calculated needs. For farm with
small dairy, sufficient supply can be
stored in building 10 by IA feet Tin
side measurements by feet to the
caves and Is feet to the comb of the
roof. With an allowance OF l foot on
all sides of the ice for packing of
sawdust the capacity of this structure
is 20 tons.
Method of Construction.
Either concrete blocks or solid con.
crete may be used for the walls. Dig
the foundation trenches 10 inches
wide and 211 feet deep. To remove
water from the melting ice, lay a
string OF finch drain tile from q point
outside the building and ending at
the service door, so that the top Of
the last pipe, a sewer goose neck"
will be at floor line 4 inches above
natural ground level. Fill the founda-
ton trenches with concrete proper
toned 1 to 2A to 5. Above ground
level the walls may be made Of
blocks (laid in . to 2 cement-sand
mortar) or of solid concrete. For the
solid wall mix the concrete l bag of
Portland cement to 2 cubic feet OF
sand to cubic feet of crushed rock,
or / part cement to 4 parts bank-run
gravel. Use movable forms, 3 feet
high and extending around the entire
building, to hold the mushy wet con-
crete until it sets. The day after
they are filed, the forms may be
loosened, moved up and filed again.
During the placing of the concrete, re-
inforce the walls, 8 inches from the
outside, with woven wire fencing or
with "a inch rods spaced 1S inches
apart and running in both directions.
Stagger the rods by placing half of
them 8 inches from the inside surface
of the walls Imbed two rods or an
old wagon tire In the concrete two
inches above all door openings. During
the construction set a service door
frame (252 by 615 feet between the
forms at one end of the building. Like
wise while pouring the concrets for
the gable ends, make provision for
small ventilation doors 2h feet
square.
A wooden roof, while not durable
like one of concrete, is more easily
built To hold the plates on the top
of the side and gable walls, sink r.
inch bolts inches long, heads down
6 inches into the concrete. Use S-foot
rafters and cover the building with a
watertight roofing material.