New Britain herald., 1915-12-11
ICEHOUSE REPAIRS
 A HEAVY EXPENSE
S5,OOO Is Now Estimated Cost and
 More Is to Come

New Britain's costly and much criticised experiment, the municipal Ice plant, came into the limelight again last night when the committed In charge met at the City hall and took up the discussion of much needed repairs. Before the committee got down to business, Alderman M. Irving Jester, the chairman, thought it would facilitate matters and perhaps curb further criticism to exclude the press He didn't believe ill having re- pOrters at such meetings unless they would agree to be good or nice They have an unhappy faculty of writing what takes place and committee mem bers sometimes feel constrained tC hold their tongues on that account, when otherwise speech would flow freer. However, the other members of the committee seemed to hold en- tirely different views and most of them sad so, the result being that the press was not excluded.
 Councilman McDonough presented a sketch of plan designed to give the to stand on it's own legs if sucn a thing is possible. While the sketch was criticised from every angle, 1t seemed to appeal to the committee members The plan was drawn on lines suggested by Alderman Jester, Councilman McDonough and Council man O. F. Curtis. MT. Curtis wanted to know what Messrs. Landers and Dolan thought about it, suggesting that they bring in plan. Mr. Dolan said the plan before the meeting suited him.
 l, Mr. Curtis asked MT. McDonough if the ice house would not settle, and re- ceived a negative reply. After a dis cussion of materials to be used in re- pairing tne building, Mir. Landers asked what the repairs would cost and vas told $5,00O MT. Dolan thought he ice house should have a founda-
 inn. MT. Landers thought the ice :.ouSe too valuable an establishment to lie idle while a foundation was put in, but admitted that he was joking. MT. McDonough said it meant from $7,000 to $10,00O a year to the citizens of New Britain to .wnich Councilman Curtis replied lie was willing to sell out for $7,G00.
 Councilman Curtis moved to get estimates the cost of repairs to include a foundation eighteen inch es wide under the ice house, concrete
  ter on the southwest and southeast sides and n concrete foundation for the road. Favorable action was taken and Mir. Rossberg moved to get an es- innate of cost for white pine sheath ing and five VentilatOrS for the roof and gables, which was agreed to- Next came the question of metal straps to bind the structure together. MT. Jester said the Berlin Construc- tion company had given an estimate of $720 for iron bolts, but MT. Curtis maintained that there would be a fur ther cost for timber and labor in put ting the bolts in place. He then gave the committee an explanation of his plan of studding and bolting the build ing. Alderman Jester favored making the building so strong that it would stave off criticism in future and MT. Landers said it would have to be very strong then. MT. Curtis said 150 studs could be put in as bracers around the building at a cost of $700. It was voted to secure an estimate for straps all the way around, also cross bolts and to make an estimate of MT. Curtis stud plan. It was also vot- ed to have platform and conveyor for each compartment in the building and to secure an estimate of the eX- pense of repairing the road which will be necessary on account of the heavy trucking Alderman Jester and Com missioner Rossberg will secure the es- inmates and report to the committee Tuesday evening. The committee Will then prepare a report for the coun- cil.
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