The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-11
Hundreds of Visitors Pass Through Big Plant Lo-
 cated on Avenue E
LADIES INVITED
 TO ATTEND TODAY
Unique Souvenirs Are Given-VisitOrs See Hundreds of Tons of Products in Cold
 Storage

One of the most unique openings ever held by a business concern in Blr- mingham was the reception at the plant of the Birmingham Ice and Cold Storage company yesterday afternoon between the hours of 2:30 and 5:3o o clock Hundreds attended and were shown through the huge plant, the most modern in the south, and were shown just how everything from peanut to expensive furs were kept in perfect condition indefinitely
 Mrs J. B. Reid was the hostess of the occasion and will be in the re- ceiving line today, which is ladies' day. The ladies of Birmingham are invited to attend today's reception and special preparations will be made for their coming The reception begins this aft ernoon at 2:3O o'clock and will last until s:30 o'clock by request.
 The visitors yesterday were received by Mrs. Reid and asked to register, following which they were led to one of the most unique punch bowls ever seen. The bowl was huge block Of ice, with a large hole cut from the top in which the punch was made. The  frozen fruit of many colors and from many lands, and formed one of the most beautiful sights of the day
 START IN ''FREEZERS" From the receiving room the guests were lifted by elevator to the fourth floor where meats and other food pro- ducts are kept in the 'freezers." The temperature of this room is main
 
 but visitors are provided with heavy coats before entering the room. All the piping is covered with a thick layer of crystal frost and the floors and walls of the room are lined with six inches of cork.
 From the freezer" the visitors were taken into the fur room on the same floor. where furs, rugs and expensive garments are safeguarded from moths and other blighting influences. It is a curious fact that cold storage not only protects furs but it is claimed actually improves their texture
 The next look was in one of the ap- pie rooms which has a capacity of $500 barrels. Virginia, Illinois and Ten nessee were represented by the fruit stored here
 visit to one of the egg rooms com pleted the inspection of this floor Eggs from all over north Alabama are stored in this room and other states will soon be represented
 IN BOX APPLE ROOM
 Descending to the third floor a short stay was made in what is known as the box apple room. This has a capacity of 5000 boxes. or 5000 barrels. It was interesting to note that apples from far away Washington and Oregon were stacked side by side with those grown on the mountain slopes of north Ala bama, and it was stated that the aual- ity of the latter. both as to the fruit and the manner of it's packing, com pared favorably with that from the Pacific coast.
 Dropping to the second floor on the ground levei. the visitors found them selves in the large space allotted to citrus fruits and vegetables
 It was explained that cold storage en- ables Birmingham dealers to buy celery in car lots during the warm sea son. and consequently people in Birmingham and vicinity are assured an abundant supply of this vegetable in summer as well S in winter. This room. it was also pointed out, is especially interesting as it will make Birmingham a more attractive mar ket for vegetables and also encourage the growing of truck in this district
 Still another drop placed the visitors on the first floor beneath the ground Here Tn one or the large rooms are stored dry fruits, nuts cereals etc. Dealers in this section. it was remarked. utilized this room for the storage of sur plus stocks of this goods and thereby avoid the losses which they have hitherto suffered for lack of this facility. Here also were found brine cooler and electric pumps which circulate the refrigerating fluid throughout the plant. The visitors were then taken across the hall into the room where heavy goods. such as pickles. molasses, etc. are stored in casks and tarrels. They were informed that tun- rel runs from this room to the main fac tory Of the company across the street by means of which ammonia, the refrie- erant, is brought into the cold storage plant and returned to the factory after having accomplished its mission
 SOUVENIRS PRESENTED
 Before leaving the building each visitor was presented with a ripe apple, cold and crisp. In response to the comments on the exceptional fine flavor it was plained that the taste was largely due to refrigeration and apples and citrus fl uits are always better when eaten cold | The first lady to register today will re- ceive in tomorrow mornings mail check for s25o The last lady to register will receive a check for a similar amount, and the lady who registers at a point nearest the center of the number of registrations also will receive a similar check.