The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1915-11-04


Farmers toehous
Prepared by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture)
The dairy division of the United
States department of agriculture has
been investigating the different types
Of icehouseA in use by dairymen, and
has studied the advantages of each
ype. Only a small number OF the
cehouses examined by the depart
nents specialists were built Of new
lumber.
In many instances ice was stored
n the cellar under the house OF barn,
" in the corner OF some building, such
IS a woodshed, corncrib, or barn, or
1nder the driveway leading to the
earn, and occasionally it was simply
stacked outdoors with no roof tor pro-
lection. Where the ice was stored in
cellars, open sheds or in stacks, the
loss from melting was comparatively
large, depending on the ventilation,
drainage and care in packing. Where
the cost Of harvesting ice is q small
item, dairymen often say that it is
less expensive to store in such places
than to go to the expense Of building
an up-to-date icehouse. Where ice is
stacked outdoors and covered with
some form Of insulation, it is neces-
sary to put up from 80 to so per cent
more than the amount previously al
lowed, so as to provide fer the heavy
shrinkage.
The ice should be stored as near
the mi1khouse as possible. in order to
save labor in removing 1t to the milk
tank. A great many dairymen find it
an advantage to have the milk room
In ono end of the icehouse. In this
way the cost of a separate farmhouse
is eliminated. The small amount ct
time and labor required to transfer
the ice to the cooling tank generally
acts as an added incentive for the
free use Of ice. It is highly impor-
rant that the milk room, whether CON-
Dfned with the icehouse or standing
alone, be located so that objection.
able odors will be avoided.
In comparing the different methods
OF storing ice, it was found that where
The cost Of ice was comparatively
high it was advisable to spend enougl
money in building and insulating thu
cehouse to protect the ice from melt.
ing as much as possible, but in case
where the cost of the ice was sme:i
1t appeared that the owners were often
justified in building a cheaper stor-
age with relatively high loss of leo
from meltage. The dairyman there
fore should consider both the cost
of construction and the cost of the
ice in selecting the type most suita-
bic for his requirements.
Some farmers store their ice in
roughly constructed bins. One OF this
sort was seen, made by placing large
posts Of irregular sizes three feet in
the ground and about four feet apart,
and upon these were nailed miscella-
neous lot of boards; no roof was pro-
vided. The shrinkage was reported
from 30 to so per cent. Ice might be
stored in this manner for some pur-
poses, but this method Is not recon-
mended for dairy farm. Further.
more bin of this sort is very un-
slightly and is an indication of slack
methods in farming. Where ice is
cheap and building material high, It
might be permissible as temporary
arrangement: but it is not so eco.
nomical method as may appear at
first sight, for the cost of the ice
lost in the shrinkage would generally
amount to more than the interest on
the cost OF constructing a serviceable
icehouse.
An instance was observed in which
a corner of a woodshed, about twelve
feet square and ten feet high, had
been converted into an ice shed. This
corner OF the woodshed had been
roughly boarded up and about II
inches OF sawdust placed around the
Ice on all sides, top, and bottom. The
cost of the building was very little,
and the shrinkage was reported at
about 20 per cent. The owner stated
that softwood sawdust is a much bet
ter Insulation than hardwood saw
dust
The icehouse in the illustration
measures Is by 20 feet on the out.
side and feet high. At the front
or south end room Is by 6
teet is partittoned off and used for
milk room. The remaining Sbace.
Is by IA feet by 8 feet high, after
allowing for 6 inches OF wall, IL
inches of sawdust on the sides. ~
inches on the bottom, and 1S inches
On the top, will provide space FOR
about II tens of ice This house is
btilt on high, sloping ground, where
The soil is porous, consequently the
4 ainage is satisfactory. The foundar
ION is made OF concrete mixture /
0 81. IN feet wide at the bottom and
looping gradually until tia top meas.
res 3 tnt:hes. Tho; stIls valch rest
a thu foundation ne 6 by & iachas.