Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-07-14
SMALL CONCRETE ICt-HOusE
BUILD NOW In Time for Next Win
ssr's Ice Crop, Says Authority.

ser's Ice Crop, Says Authority.
During the sweltering heat Of sum
ner, many country family longs for
the comfort afforded by a home-supply
Of ice. Too often autumn passes with
out any preparation having been mad.
for harvesting the winter ice crop.
For family requirements, ice houses
of concrete are growing in popularity.
This type is recommended ny the Edi-
tor. Cement User, 1905 Stock Elk
change Bldg, Chicago since concrete
rs heat resisting. is net rotted bv 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 concrete house, successful
storage Of ice depends only upon care.
full packing. air-trspped 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. II
. should be turned end TO the south.
The size Of the building is dependen.
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. II the
ice is of poor quality. meltage fire.
quently amounts to one-third the guam
tity harvested; therefore it is wise TO
calculated needs For farm with
small dairy, a sufficient supply can be
stored in a building 10 by IA feet Gin
side measurements) by feet to the
caves and 13 feet 20 the comb of the
roof. With an allowance OF foot on
all sides Of the ice for a packing of
sawdust, the capacity of this structure
is 90 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 215 feet deep. To remove
water from the melting ice. lay a
string of finch drain tile from a 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 A inches above
natural ground level. Fill the founda.
ton trenches with concrete proper
toned l to 215 to 5. Above ground
level the walls may be made of
blocks Claid in a to . cement sand
mortarl or of solid concrete. For the
solid wall mix the concrete / bag of
Portland cement to cubic feet OF
sand to cubic feet of crushed rock.
or part cement to 4 parts bank-run
gravel Use movable forms. 8 feet
high and extending around the entire
building, to hold the mushy wet con-
crete until it sets. The day after
they are filled, the forms may be
loosened, moved up and filed again.
During the placing of the concrete, re
inforce the walls,r3 inches from the
with %-inch rods spaced is inches
apart and running in both directions.
Stagger the rods by placing half OF
them inches from the inside surface
Of the walls lmbed two rods or an
old wagon tire in the concrete two
inches above all door openings. During
the construction set service door
frame (21s by Ga feeD between the
forms at one end of the building. Like
wise while pouring the concrete for
the gable ends. make provision, for
small ventilation doors 21z 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 "
inch bolts s inches long. heads down
6 inches into the concrete. Use S.foot
rafters and cover the building with a
watertight roofing material.