New-York tribune., 1918-07-21
Wanted: By the Apartment Dweller, Public Icebox

of high prices, and put them in cold storage
against the time when their cost goes soaring
out of reach
The Cleveland officials were desrous from
the beginning that the individual family
should benefit by the public refrigerator
A good demonstration lesson was given in
the matter of eggs A number of housewives
were induced to use the lockers for the stor-
age of eggs at time when prices had taken
tumble after a season of persistent and
famboyant climbing Some Cleveland fam
lilies in consequence were eating eggs that
season when only the creme de la creme of
the city's wealthy colony could afford to buy
them at the market.
The storage of eggs proved satisfactory
that other housewives were anxious to try
the public refrigerator. Eggs seemed to be the
chief interest, but before long other perishable
foods were put away also. 1t was found that
on another precious-as- gold commodity, but
ter, considerable saving could be effected by
the use of the city's cold storage rooms. But
ter is purchased by the tub and repacked in
small crooks. Quantities of one-pound bricks
may also be purchased; these are Grated for
storage, to be removed as needed Apples
purchased in barrels are repacked in boxes
Cor compact storage. Repacking is usually
necessary in the case of most commodities to
save storage space and make it possible for
the housewife to take out her food in small
quantities, as needed.
For keeping food in this refrigerated safety
deposit vault, with the privilege of withdraw
ing much or as little whenever and however
she chooses, the housewife pays the same fla;
rate as the commission merchant The ser
vice costs so little that even the lowliest poor
afford it.
1t costs 40 cents per crate of thirty dozen to
store eggs for the season. or 10 cents a
month The season is from April to Novem-
ber Apples may be stored for 40 cents Il
barrel for the season. which runs from Oc
tober to April. For butter the rate is Is
cents per hundred pounds for months stor
age; meat poultry and fish cost a quarter of
cent pound for the first month and one
eighth of cent pound for each month
thereafter. Berries and small fruits are
stored at seven cents a month for a crate Of
twenty-fOUr quarts
Besides this provision for long storage at
the above rates, one room in the municipal
refrigerator is set aside for short storage
Here the people may store food during brief
periods of three to fifteen days. The charges
for this short storage are only few cents
lower charge than 10 cents
Even in the first months of It's existence the
Cleveland public refrigerator was sef-sup-
porting, and now profit, though small one,
is realized from its operation Considering
the immeasurable benefits to the people, the
plant would be well worth while were it onlv
able to break even on cost and income
Refrigeration is furnished to the meat and
butter stands in the market itself and to the
fourteen chilled rooms in the public refrigera
tor section by a direct expansion ammonia
system. Electric current is supplied by the
municipal light plant for operating the re
frlgeratng machinery
keeping house for the city as well as keep
ing house for the family means meeting new
standards trying out new methods and adopt
ing new devices almost every day. Municipal
responsibility for the peoples comfort, hap
piness and health is expanding into unsus
pected fields. War time is increasing the com
munity's responsibilities. The public refrig
orator is civic experiment that would play
an important role In food conservation ths
country overs